Forthcoming and Recent Events
Forthcoming Events
The NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND DINNER will be held on Friday 5th March, 2010.
Details from Douglas Coughtrie (if you are not on the mailing list) Tel:0191-251 4158
The 2010 LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER - CHANGE OF DATE
The Annual Dinner was scheduled for Saturday, 24th April at School but we are conscious that many Old Lorettonians will attend the Memorial Service for Michael Mavor being held at St Giles Cathedral at noon on Friday 16th April. In these exceptional circumstances, we have decided to move the Dinner to the evening of Friday 16th April. Our apologies to those who had already planned their weekend around 24th April; this is, necessarily, a last minute communication.
Friday 16th April falling in the Easter break unfortunately means that the planned sports events cannot take place. However, we believe that Dinner at the School after the Memorial service would be a very fitting conclusion to such a significant day.
At the Dinner, The President, David JR Strang, QPM, (1976), Chief Constable of Lothians and Borders Police, will propose the Toast to the School and the Headmaster, Peter Hogan, will reply.
ALL OLs and their spouses/partners are welcome and there will be Reunions for those who left in 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, 1980 .... etc .... - anyone willing to help organise these reunions should get in touch with secretary@lorettoniansociety.org.uk
Click here for full details and an application form.
The 2010 LORETTO DAY for OLs, parents and friends of the School, will be held on Sunday, 20th June (note that this is the second last Sunday of the term).
INFORMAL REUNIONS AND OL GATHERINGS: If you are interested in organising this sort of event, whether it be a reunion of a year-group, House, play-cast or rugby tour, or simply a regular get-together in a pub somewhere, we are happy to assist you with the 'admin'. The website's Message Board can also be used to publicise these events. Contact: secretary(at)lorettoniansociety.org.uk
Recent Events
2009
Over 60's Lunch - Sunday 11th October at Loretto
After the Harvest Festival in Chapel (at which the preacher was Jonathan Tan (2006)) 34 OLs and guests enjoyed coffee in the Dining Hall before the pre-lunch drinksand lunch in the Old Library. Henry McCreath (1933) said Grace and the Headmaster spoke about the School.
For more pictures of the Loretto Over 60s Lunch, click here
Over 60's Lunch - Thursday 8th October at Middle Temple Hall, London
Some 39 O.Ls and guests enjoyed a superlative lunch in a magnificent venue. Robin Walker welcomed the company and the Headmaster spoke about the School. The last few O.Ls finally left the Temple gardens after 7pm - now that IS a GOOD lunch! Many thanks to Colin Davidson (1983), Manager of the Mifddle Temple for making the venue available to us. Watch this space for next year's event!
For more pictures of the London Over 60s Lunch, click here
A BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORK EVENT was held on Thursday 25th June at Deloitte's in London courtesy of Jack Kelly (1982) .
LORETTO DAY for OLs, parents and friends of the School, was held on Sunday, 21st June, 2009, with excellent weather throughout the day.. The Headmaster preached at the Morning Service : to illustrate the importance of the past to the present he traced the relationship of the diameter of the space-shuttle rocket back to the distance apart of the wheels of Roman chariots (for full text, click here & follow link). An excellent Art Exhibition, the Nipper Concert , the Lorimer and Science buildings and the renovated public rooms in Pinkie (including the Ronald Graham Library) could be visited before the traditional Pimms in the marquee in Pinkie walled garden, which was accompanied by a concert by Upper School singers and musicians. This concluded with a performance by the Pipes & Drums and Highland Dancers.
In the Cricket match the OLs managed to beat the School - only slightly helped by Michael Powell, the School's cricket coach and former Captain of Warwickshire!
Roy Martin, Chairman of the Governors, paid tribute to Hector MacLean (who was in Belgium with a 2nd Form trip to the Battlefields) and Richard Selley, who both retire after many years service to the School. Sheila Low, Chairman of the Society, presented Richard with an inscribed salver and cheque from parents and OLs. Hector will receive his presentation at a later date.
THE LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 2009 was attended by 104 OLs and guests in the the Middle Temple Hall in London on Friday 24th April. The reception was held in the Middle Temple garden, at which Archie McLellan, the Pipe Major, played. At the AGM, David Strang (1976) was formally elected President and Alec Watt (1955) elected Vice President for 2009-10. Following an excellent meal, Craig Cameron, the outgoing President gave his thoughts on what he felt Loretto represented, the Headmaster replied and Rosanna Single and Abishek Ruia, the joint Heads of School, both spoke warmly about their time in the School. The Society Chairman, Sheila Low, wished Richard Selley well in his retirement after 30 years at Loretto, most recently as Headmaster of the Nippers. He spoke briefly about his time at the School, recounting anecdotes about several of those present. After the formal proceedings, Fergus Roy (1990) assumed his professional persona, Roy Davenport, to give a brilliant performance of the magician's art. The stragglers finally moved off to the fleshpots of London soon after 1.00am ...... Tremendous thanks are due to Colin Davidson (1983) for making such a superb venue available to us .
THE NORTH-EAST OF ENGLAND BRANCH DINNER was held in Newcastle on Friday 13th March, 2009. Some 28 OLs and Guests enjoyed the magnificent setting of the Mansion House in Jesmond where we were served an excellent meal.. David Hall introduced Peter Hogan, the Headmaster, who gave an overview of the School. Congratulations and many thanks to Douglas Coughtrie who organised the event.,
2008
An Over 60s Lunch was held at Loretto following the Remembrance Sunday Chapel Service on 9th November 2008.
An Over 60s Lunch was held in the Middle Temple, London on 24th October. The lunch was held in Middle Temple Hall which was provided by Colin Davidson (OL) who is the Director of Banqueting and was attended by more than 30 O.Ls who enjoyed the change in venue. Lunch was held in the Parlimentary Rooms where normally the High Court Judges have lunch - they were moved for the day into the public dining area! The food, wine and service was fantastic and we would hope to be back for the 2009 lunch.
A BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORK EVENT was held in Edinburgh, for ALL employment sectors on 30th October. The evening was held in the offices of Baker Tilly and hosted by Sheila Low - over 30 OL's attended and the atmosphere was very relaxed. All who attended had the opportunity to swap business cards and the general feeling was that the evening had been a success and had served it's purpose! One 86 leaver was very surprised at the age range as she thought it would be attended by much older OL's only to find that she was one of the "oldies"! The next B & PN event will be held in Edinburgh early 2009 and we hope to organise one in London around the same time. We will keep you posted!
LORETTO DAY was on Sunday 22nd June 2008. Despite trorrential overnight rain and an unpromising forecast, the day was blessed by good weather throughout. Following a packed Chapel Service, at which Michael Mavor preached his last sermon as Headmaster (including driving a golf ball up the aisle - the Health and Safety assessment, he said, rated it as a 'High Risk'), there was an excellent art display and drinks were served in Pinkie Garden to the accompaniment of choral and instrumental music. Presentations were made to Michael Mavor and Dorothy Barbour to mark their retirement after which the Pipes & Drums played and there was a display of Highland Dancing. The OL Cricket XI (augmented by several non-OLs) failed to beat the School XI in an 'overs' match.
THE LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 2008 was held at Loretto on Saturday 3rd May 2008.
At The Annual General Meeting of the Society prior to the meal, Craig Cameron (1959) was elected President for 2008-9 and David Strang (1976) was elected Vice-President.
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie (1963), out-going President of the Lorettonian Society, proposed the Toast to 'The School', and the Headmaster replied. Some 108 OLs and guests attended: there was a very large turn-out from the 1998 and the 1988 Leavers. The 1998 Leavers enjoyed leading the singing after the meal of Blessed be the God and Father and Zadok the Priest, as well as excerpts from Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. amongst other items!
LONDON: PROPERTY NETWORKING EVENING: For those O.Ls working in Property and allied sectors, an informal drinks evening was held at the In & Out Club, 4 St. James Square, London, SW1Y 4JU on Thursday 1st May 2008. Organised by: Stuart Mitchell (2000)
LONDON: FINANCIAL SERVICES & BANKING SECTORS: A very successful inaugral B&PN event was hosted by Jamie Matheson (1972) on Wed. 5th March at Head Office of Brewin Dolphin plc.
YORKSHIRE BRANCH DINNER: Some 20 OLs and guests attended a dinner at Grants Hotel, Harrogate, on Friday 18th April. Many thanks to William Gaunt (1985) for organising the event. Yorkshire hospitality at its best!
A COMMEMORATION SERVICE in tribute to JIM CLARK OBE, 1936 - 1968 (Loretto, 1949 - 1952)
World Motor Racing Champion, 1963 and 1965 was held in Loretto Chapel on Sunday 13th April 2008. Following a photographic introduction, there were tributes from Graham Gauld, read by Bernard Buss, Vice Presidenrt of the Scottish Motor Racin Club, Ian Scott-Watson, Anthony Reid, OL racing driver, Dario Franchitti and Sir Jackie Stewart.
2007
The North East of England Branch Dinner: Thirty-five OLs and guests attended the dinner at the Mansion House in Jesmond on Friday 1st February. 17 of the OLs had left in the last ten years - one of whom had travelled from London and one from Glasgow. David Hall, who was in the chair, made a presentation of a piece of Lindisfarne silver to the Headmaster and Elizabeth Mavor to mark their retirement later in the year. An excellent meal was served in attractive surroundings in good company - need one ask more? Congratulations to Douglas Coughtrie who organised the event and his son James who was instrumental in achieving such a good turn-out from the young OLs.
Over 60s Lunches
Sunday 28th October and Thursday 1st November 2007
Two highly enjoyable lunches have been held this year. The Lunch at Loretto on Sunday 28th October was attended by 39 O.Ls, the new Chairman of the Governors and three guests. The Chapel Service, at which the lesson was read by Alastair Lean, Head of School in 1940, was followed by coffee, when several pupils gave us an excellent musical interlude. There were then tours of the School, during which the O.Ls were entertained by their pupil-guides (and vice-versa!). Drinks in the Old Library preceded lunch in the Dining Hall where the Headmaster spoke briefly, a magnificent grace was recited from memory, at a minute's notice, by 'the father of the gathering', Henry McCreath (1933), and the fellowship continued in the Old Library until very late in the afternoon.
For the fifth successive year the London Luncheon was held at The Cricketers Club off Baker Street. An encouraging gathering of 35 O.Ls enjoyed yet another very convivial and enjoyable day spent in a family spirit. It was especially gratifying to have a larger than usual number of first attenders come on board this year. A big thank you to Dean Carswell (1958) who flew in from Midlothian - wait for it - that's Midlothian near Fort Worth, Texas!
Loretto Day
Sunday 24th June 2007
Old Lorettonians, Parents and Friends filled the Chapel for a lively Morning Service and many more were able to enjoy an impressive Art exhibition and concerts. Unfortunately the Cricket match was concelled because of the rain-saturated pitch and field, but the pipers and dancers were able to perform on Pinkie Lawn during the Reception there.
The Lorettonian Society Diamond Jubilee Dinner
Friday 20th April 2007
A record turnout of 162 Lorettonians filled the new Music Room at the Caledonian Club, London, to enjoy an excellent dinner.
Andrew J.R. Brown was in the chair and Andrew Marr proposed the toast to the School, reminiscing of his own days at Loretto. The Headmaster replied with some words about the School as it is now, 30 years on.
With the large number of Lorettonians present for this Jubilee event, most people met enough contemporaries to make for a pleasant and convivial evening, and it is hoped that similar numbers may feel encouraged to come to the annual dinner in future.
The West of Scotland Branch Dinner
Friday 23rd February 2007
Over 40 OLs and guests attended an excellent dinner at the Western Club in Glasgow on Friday, 23rd February, 2007. Mark Simmers was in the chair and Dougie Donnelly, the well known sports commentator, reminisced entertainingly about his career as he proposed the toast to 'The School' and the Headmaster replied.