1998 Upper VI leavers return.
Saturday 15th September saw the reunion of St Augustine’s Priory girls who left the school twenty years ago, in 1998. The former classmates greeted each other with warm embraces as many had not seen each other for years. They brought with them photos of their school days, St Augustine’s Priory tea towels and school magazines which were called ‘The Augustinian’. They discussed their memories of teachers, their school days and the fun and happy times they had growing up here. The excitement of reuniting with former classmates was clear in overhearing them talking animatedly about the different lives they now lead, whilst proudly showing each other pictures of their children and families. Mostly they found that they were much the same personalities that they had always been.
The event began with a talk from Mrs Raffray about the recent developments at St Augustine’s Priory which was then followed by a tour of the School led by Mrs Raffray and Mrs Savic, who were both interested to hear about the various ways the School had changed in the past twenty years. The Priory Farm was a particular point of interest and excitement on the tour, along with the new Science Block and Clock Tower, which have been built since the class of ’98 left the School.
As it was a glorious warm and sunny day, the tour was then followed by tea and cakes in the rose garden where the group continued to reminisce about their school days. The class of ’98 then re-constructed the photos that they had brought with them of their final year at the School and exchanged phone numbers.
Now… And then…
The reunion was a hugely successful event, which took the former students on a trip down “memory lane”, and allowed them to renew old friendships and to relive the fun and feelings that they had at school.
With staff 20 years ago… In the Prep Playground… In the Rose Garden…
One former student wrote to Mrs Raffray after the event:
‘I would just like to say a big thank you to you and your team for the reunion event you held for the class of ‘98 on Saturday. We all had such a wonderful time on our trip down memory lane.
It was, to quote a phrase I heard very often in Vietnam from dodgy sellers, “same, same but different!”
It was great to see old girls and Mrs Sampson, and even better to see that no one had really changed that much at all! I really enjoyed your talk about what you are doing with the girls these days. It was very inspiring. I particularly was impressed that you highlight to the girls the issues surrounding careers and having children. It is a difficult transition period in life that I myself and so many of my friends are going through. It is extremely hard to have both. So it was lovely to hear you promote the idea that just being a mother is great too. We can always re-invent ourselves with a new skill set.
I was so impressed with the school. You are doing a wonderful job. School days can be tricky, so enjoying new experiences and having fun are so important. I hope to meet you again at another alumni event in the future.’
Categories: Priory Post The Association Whole School
