A huge thank you to everyone who returned to Townley Road for the fantastic Alumni Decades Reunion on Saturday 21 March for a day celebrating lifelong friendships!
Bringing together alumni from the Class of 1956 who left Alleyn’s 70 years ago to those celebrating their 10-year reunion, and every decade in between, we loved welcoming you all to catch up, reconnect and see Alleyn’s today. We hosted everyone from alumni couples who met at school and alumni who joined us from overseas, to partners and children of alumni joining us for the day, and plenty of former teachers.
The reunion kicked-off with a welcome reception in the Great Hall – a space fondly remembered by so many, and a brilliant chance to catch up with each other before decade group photos on the steps of the iconic Main Building (a few alumni particularly enjoyed this as the front steps were out of bounds during their time at school!).
During the reception, Head, Jane Lunnon thanked everyone for coming:
“Today we are welcoming alumni from seven decades – which is quite extraordinary. That’s seventy years of Alleyn’s history… seventy years of friendships..."
She continued "...And for all of us, with all that is currently going on in the world, could there be a better time for us to connect with the stuff that matters most, the friendships, the warmth, the memories, the things that make us human, the things that really count.”
Jane shared some recent school updates including Alleyn's Oakfield becoming a proud member of the Alleyn’s Schools Group family, and Alleyn’s expanding north of the river with the opening of Alleyn’s Regent’s Park - and the opening of Alleyn’s Hampstead to come in September 2026. As well as highlighting recent achievements, she took the opportunity to celebrate historic milestones too, including 50 years of co-education at Alleyn’s and the enduring spaces and values of the school.
She said: “I suspect, as you wander around the school, that you’ll spot lots of things that have changed… but I hope you’ll also find plenty that feels reassuringly familiar.”
“Schools like this are not built by buildings alone. They are built by people – by generations of pupils, staff, families… and all of you in this room. We are deeply grateful for the support so many of you continue to offer: your time, your experience, your encouragement, your generosity. It makes a real difference. And it shapes the Alleyn’s of today just as you shaped the Alleyn’s of your time. So, thank you for coming back. Thank you for staying connected. And thank you for being part of this extraordinary story.”
Reflecting on some of the things that connect us, and drawing on the power of music to evoke memories, Jane shared the number one song in the charts in March of the year each alumni group left Alleyn’s. Many of the songs (if not their titles!) included lyrics that served as wonderful metaphors for their time here, including
On the latter, Jane mentioned its relevance to school days: "There’s something beautiful and nostalgic there, full of the joys of growing up and growing up together, with your friends around you…"
Development and Alumni Relations prefects handed out some unofficial prizes, including to those who had travelled the furthest to be with us on the day – awarded jointly to Andres Giusto (Cribb’s 1996) all the way from New York and Andrew McKinna (Tyson’s 1976) all the way from Bermuda!
The sun was shining brightly as current Year 12s and 13s led tours of the school, sharing their own experiences as they showed alumni through the classrooms and corridors they remember so clearly, as well as some of the changes since their school days, including the Chris Marvin Observatory, the Sixth Form Centre (formerly known as the buttery), and the All Studios creative Hub which sits in the old fives courts.
About the day, Christopher Fleming (Tyson’s 1966) said: “It has been a truly memorable day getting re-acquainted with old friends and meeting a few new ones as well. The pupils did a magnificent job of showing us around the school facilities. Quite frankly we could have spent even more time chatting to them. It gave us an awful lot to reminisce about and a real appreciation of what an immense amount of talent has been stimulated through this school environment."
He concluded:
“I’m sure that we all feel so very proud to have been part of the School, whatever decade we belong to.”
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us. We look forward to bringing the 7’s back together next year!
Photos from the reunion can be found below and on our Always Alleyn’s Flickr page.
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Last updated on 23 03 26 at 10:37
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