Old Stoic Day
3 October 2015
We were delighted to welcome Old Stoics from far and wide to Old Stoic Day this year, with over 180 Old Stoics and their guests making the trip to Stowe. We focused particularly on encouraging OSs from the years of 1960 – 1975 to attend and included celebrations for the 50th Anniversary, for those who left Stowe in 1964, 65 and 66. The result was a group who had not returned to Stowe for a good number of years and were delighted to come back to their old school.
The day started with a short Chapel service, giving everyone the chance to sing Jerusalem at the top of their lungs, before taking a trip down memory lane as they visited their old boarding houses. Stoics from each house led a group of Old Stoics on a tour. We have received some excellent feedback about the Stoics and would like to pass on our thanks to them for making our guests feel so welcome, as they returned to their old houses.
Old Stoics, young and old, gathered on the South Portico for drinks before lunch. The Headmaster gave a short speech mentioning some of the historic occasions that happened at Stowe in the ‘swinging sixties’, all of which went down very well with the crowd – especially the mention of the Beatles concert!
Lunch was served in the State Dining Room and Temple Room, with the catering staff laying on a delicious feast. A great many thanks must go to all of the catering team for looking after us all so well throughout the day.
During the afternoon, Old Stoics were able to explore old haunts and see the recent changes around Stowe. Tours of the Landscape Gardens, Music School, Equestrian Centre and State Rooms took place and guests were encouraged to cheer on Stoics at sports matches. The OS Fives team played the School, which raised quite a crowd and perhaps helped the OS team win the match!
A stream of thank you letters are now trickling into the Old Stoic Office which is a sure-fire sign that our guests had a wonderful time and were delighted to bring their families to their old school. I would like to thank Caroline Whitlock for all of the effort she put in to arranging such an excellent event for everyone to enjoy. It is no easy task and, once again, she pulled it off with great triumph. Thank you to everyone who lent a hand and made the day so special for our guests.
Anna Semler (Nugent 05)