OB Club Events

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Events

Date / Time		Event	Venue	Contact
Ongoing (term time)
Tuesdays 6:15pm		Blundell's Association (current & past parents) Running Group Weekly on Tuesday evenings	Prep School car park	BA
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30pm		Blundell’s ‘The Braves’, touch rugby training group Weekly on Thursday evenings, followed by drinks in Beale 8:30-9:30pm	Astro Pitch	OBC
2024
Dec	4th	Winter Lunch – Orlando Murrin (FH 1971-75) Topic: "A Culinary Caper For Christmas" Purchase your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DLXR	Beale Centre	OBC
Dec	7th	Private Wine Tasting for end of Rugby and Cricket Season - after matches	Beale Centre	DO
2025
Jan	8th	Winter Lunch – Rachel Hazell (GH 1987-89) Topic: "Bookbinding in Antarctica and other stories: Adventures in paper and ink" Purchase your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DZMC	Beale Centre	OBC
Feb	12th	Winter Lunch – Kate Hodges (née Hunt, GH 1985-87) Topic: "Stories from a Career in Chinese Art: from a chance encounter with the Dalai Lamai to priceless Ming vases, fakes and the occasional life-changing discovery"	Beale Centre	OBC
Mar	1st	The Young Chef Showcase Dinner	Big School	DO
	8th	The Russell	Blundell's	DO
	12th	Winter Lunch – Jaye Cowle, née Buchanan (GH 1994-96) Topic: TBC	Beale Centre	OBC
	14th	Sir Francis Popham Society Dinner	Beale Centre	DO
	14th - 22nd	OB Sport weekends Including girls’ and boys’ hockey, football, fives, netball, Rifle target shooting (tbc) and Touch Rugby	Blundell's	OBC
April	-	-	-	-
May	-	-	-	-
June	14th	OB Day	Blundell's	OBC
July	4th	OB Club OB Parent and OB Grandparent Speech Day Lunch	Beale Centre	OBC
July	4th	Speech Day & Leavers Ball	Blundell's
Aug	-	-	-	-
Sept	-	-	-	-
Oct	8th	Winter Lunch – Jessica Fulford-Dobson (1985-87) Topic: TBC	Beale Centre	OBC
Nov	12th	Winter Lunch – Gaby Borradaile, née Joyner (GH 1992-94) Topic: TBC
Dec	3rd	Winter Lunch – Saskia Jones-Perrott (née Joyner, GH 1988-90) Topic: TBC

Fixtures for fives, golf, shooting, hockey, soccer, cricket, tennis and squash against the School and others will be arranged by Sports Club Secretaries.

Induction events for Westlake pupils will take place in the Beale Centre during the year.

Contact abbreviations:

DO = Development Office. Contact devoffice@blundells.org
OBC = Old Blundellian Club. Contact obclub@obclub.co.uk
BA = Blundell's Association. Contact Kate Wheatley, kjw@blundells.org

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Further Information

Winter Lunches

Further Information

December 2023 - Further context from Ian Seaton about his talk on "The City of London Corporation and the London Livery companies"

The City of London Corporation, the local authority for the City of London and much more, was recognised by William the Conqueror in 1067. We have the signed document. The Corporation comprises the Court of Common Council with its head being the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The Lord Mayor and the two sheriffs are elected annually by the members of the Livery companies. As a Past Master of one of the Livery companies and a member of the Court of Common Council since 2009 I have been able to see how these two ancient institutions interact for the common good.

Janet Wooff also has a couple of copies of a book Ian left following his talk, which are priced at £20: "The City of London Freeman's Guide" by Paul Jagger. Information about the book:

"The City of London Freeman's Guide is a vital companion to the Freedom of the City of London as it is in modern times. Each year circa 1,800 people are admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, more than half of them coming by way of one of the City's 110 Livery Companies. Contrary to widely held belief the Freedom of the City of London and the Livery Companies remain vital, relevant and active aspects of the City, upholding its traditions and reputation as a global centre of excellence and innovation for so many aspects of commercial and civic life.
This guide is a concise almanac to the customs, ceremonies, traditions, institutions and offices of the City of London and its diverse Livery Companies as they are today. The guide signposts such annual events at The Lord Mayor's Show, The Trial of the Pyx, The Lion Sermon and the Ceremony of the Quit Rents. It also explores the modern role of the various trades, crafts and professions represented by the Livery Companies. The guide highlights the activities of the Livery Companies in charity, education, industry and fellowship, and their links to the Armed Forces, Royal Family and other institutions.
Whether you are a prospective Freeman, a long standing member of a Livery Company or simply interested in the living history of the City, this guide will be your constant companion in a life-long journey of exploration and discovery in the great and famous City of London."

Transcripts

December 2023

At the 6th December Winter Lunch, Ian Seaton discussed "The City of London Corporation and the London Livery companies". You can read a transcript of Ian's talk, and also read the related Pan Livery Impact Report 2022.

March 2023

At the 8th March Winter Lunch, the Revd Tim Hunt spoke about "Is there a continuing relevance for regular chapel worship/services at school in an increasingly secular age and if so, what is it?" Please read a transcript of Tim's talk.

October 2022

At the 12th October Winter Lunch, Michael Wade spoke on the topic of "The Rise and Fall of Our Extraordinary Language". You can listen to Michael's recital of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, and you can also read the transcript of his talk.

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Winter Lunches

Winter Lunch dates are now included in the main Events list above. Please book onto these events via the Trybooking Links provided, where payment of £20 is taken for the cost of the two-course lunch, including cheese and coffee. Please book your ticket no later than 9:00am on the Monday before the respective Winter Lunch.

The OB Club will unfortunately be obliged to charge for cancellations not provided before this date and time and trust this meets with your understanding.

Bar available 12:30-1:00pm, with contactless payment only.

If you have any difficulty whatsoever booking onto any of these events, please contact Janet Wooff on 01884 232010 or by email.

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Every second Wednesday between October and March the Beale Centre sees a gathering of 40 or so who meet for drinks and conversation, then sit down to an excellent lunch followed by a short talk by an invited speaker. These are the “Winter Lunches”, managed by Sue Beale and Janet Wooff, which have now become a cherished annual institution since they started back in 2005 at the suggestion of John Hollands and Ted Crowe. All who have a Blundell’s connection are welcome to attend and there is always a good mix of OBs, former staff, parents and others. The speakers are drawn from the same pool and have covered a wide range of subjects – historical, cultural, military, educational – even breeding prize pigs. If anyone is interested in receiving this monthly nourishment for both mind and body then please contact Janet Wooff at The Beale Centre on 01884 232010 or obclub@obclub.co.uk.