News & Events

A wonderful evening was had by all who joined our host, Sir Christopher Greenwood and his wife Sue, at the annual Oxford and Cambridge dinner at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Discussions over drinks flowed in the Master’s Lodge, and continued over a fantastic dinner provided by the catering team at the College.

Written by our hosts, Jeyes of Earls Barton

On Thursday 13 February we were delighted to welcome Wellingborough School for their termly Business Networking Meeting.  Guests were made up of Old Wellingburians, current parents, staff and students and it was wonderful to see the connections being made around the room – there was a great buzz and positive atmosphere.  We were able to showcase our famous family recipe for JEYES’S Northamptonshire Sauce serving refreshments including sausages served with Jeyes’s Mustard, cheese & chive scones topped with Jeyes’s Chutney and fruit scones served with our delicious Jeyes’s Jam.  Pip Jeyes (Marsh 1985-1991) said “This networking meeting is the first event in our newly refurbished Garden Room and Wellingborough School did not let us down – a great turn-out with people from across the school.”

OWs are invited to attend the Wellingborough School Summer Ball 2025, organised by the Wellingborough School School Parents’ Association.

This very popular function will take place at the School and is open to parents across the whole school, former parents, OWs, staff, governors, friends, family and Year 13 leavers.

Click here to find out more information

The OW Golf Society continues to be well supported by both new and old leavers, with a variety of events throughout the year to cater for every type of golfer.  If you are interested in receiving more information throughout the year and attending one of the events, please contact Secretary Tim Poole at poolet@utileengineering.com

Click here to access the OWGS Calendar of events 2025

A huge thank you to the class of 2023 who joined us at their One Year Out drinks on the 18th December at The Priory, Wellingborough. It was great to see so many of you.

A huge thank you to the 50 OWs, guests, staff and our Heads of School who joined us on Saturday 9^th November at the annual autumn lunch. Drinks followed the AGM in the Senior School Hall before a wonderful lunch provided by our catering team in the Spencer Room. Our thanks to the outgoing OW President, Sophie Timms, who hosted the lunch and Headmaster Andrew Holman who shared an update on an excellent start to the new year by our pupils and staff.

The Long Johns is the final OW Golf day of the year held at its spiritual home of Wellingborough Golf club. This year the Autumn weather was kind and the course had stood up well to the wet weather preceding the day.

There was a good turn out of 20 OWs including some first timers who all enjoyed the relaxed golf, dinner and AGM.

The Hugh Denton Salver was won by Richard Jackson with 38 points with second place going to Philip Saxby with 37 points and third place went to Chris Barltrop on count back with Ed Tate.

Old Wellingburian, Doug Roy (1978 – 1985, F) and his wife Emily, joined staff and pupils (who were visiting New York on an Art and Photography trip ) for a drink outside the Rockefeller Centre.

Doug shared how they ‘thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing about the school. The Sixth Formers were truly a delight and wonderful Ambassadors.’

Reunion report provided by Hilary Arimoro (04, W)

There is always something rather heartwarming about reminiscing over childhood memories. So, when our new Foundation and Development Director, Graham Papenfus, noticed that it was approaching 20 years since I left the school as a pupil and wondered if I could help organise a reunion, I jumped at the opportunity.  

Unfortunately, life events such as the birth of a child, or attending a wedding, got in the way for a few, but the enthusiasm and fun that the eight OWs from the 2004 cohort who did attend made up for the lack of numbers! We were thrilled to welcome back former teachers Mr. Bowe, Mr. Farley, Mr. Askham and former OW liaison officer Debbie Whitmore, and seeing old sports’ team photos and Chapel Choir photos, not to mention our yearbook, enabled more regaling of stories.  

Following the tour of the sixth form center, the requests by both the 20 and 5 year leavers to visit their Houses was palpable and we were grateful for this to be facilitated. Finding names on boards and looking for faces in House photographs was special and for some of the boys, stepping into a girls’ House for the first time was eye-opening!

Meeting report provided by Toby Hemsley (2009, P)

We had a great day at Luffenham Heath, the course was playing fairly firm and provided a good challenge for us all. As a result the general scoring was quite tough, leaving us with a 3 way tie at the top with 34 stableford points. With a countback to determine the winner of the OW Cup, Phil Saxby (82) prevailed to take trophy. 

Chris Barltrop (09, C) took the Wright Cup which is the best combined scores from the spring meeting (Gillet Vase won by Chris Barltrop at Woburn) and OW Cup played for at Luffenham.

Around 50 supporters of the School gathered on Saturday 29^th June in glorious sunshine for drinks on the Headmaster’s Lawn prior to enjoying a wonderful lunch prepared by our catering team in the Spencer Room. The Headmaster thanked them for their ongoing support, shared an update on another very successful year for the School and explained why the Wellingborough Foundation, a separate Charitable Foundation, had been established to safeguard donations and legacies going forward. He also updated on progress with Project Copernicus and our exciting plans to grow our Transformational Bursary Fund.

After lunch visits to the Sixth Form Centre, School Hall and Chapel concluded a very enjoyable event.

Old Wellingburians were invited to enjoy a drink in their house with the current Housemaster or Housemistress on Friday 21^st June 2024. This is the first step in reconnecting Old Wellingburians by House at what is likely to become an annual event. Most of the 50+ OWs stayed on to watch the annual cricket/hockey vs School and join the BBQ and drinks.

The annual OW vs School cricket and hockey matches were contested on Friday 21^st June. Both matches proved to be close encounters and were watched by over 100 appreciative members of the OW Community. A BBQ and drinks were laid on by our catering team for all playing and supporting after the matches.

Wonderful to see over 90 OWs spanning 72 years of Wellingborough School and the London Dinner earlier this month.  We were lucky to have Alison Mitchell (91-98, W) join us and give us a glimpse of her fascinating career journey as a global sports commentator as well as reflections on the role Wellingborough School played in that journey.

Sophie Timms
OW Club President

The annual OWs vs School football and netball matches took place on Saturday 23 March. The OWs fielded two football teams and one netball team against the school in what were very enjoyable and keenly contested matches.

Mother nature threw everything she had at the footballers in the second half (not affecting netball in the sports hall) but nothing dampened the spirits of both teams. Our thanks to the catering staff who laid on refreshments after the matches.

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Over many years, OWs and School staff who have graduated from Oxford and Cambridge – and their guests – have enjoyed visiting and dining at many Colleges in both universities – often in the company of an OW undergraduate at the College where the dinner has been held.

This year the Dinner was held at Somerville College, Oxford where OW Max Buckby graduated and is now carrying out post graduate studies. OWs were joined by the Headmaster (himself a graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge) and the incoming Foundation Director, Graham Papenfus. The Somerville College catering team excelled, and a fine evening was had by all.

On Saturday, 10th June,  2023 the Headmaster welcomed some 51 supporters of the School to celebrate the newly built 6th Form Centre, most of whom had contributed to.

We were treated to a marvellous buffet luncheon followed by tea and cake in glorious sunshine.

The Donor Wall was well received, as was the spacious area for the 6th form students.  The Headmaster is delighted with the new addition to the Site and warmly thanked the guests for their support and contribution.

On Wednesday, 30th November, 2022 the OW Drinks finally took place after an absence of 3 years!  It was a pleasure to see OWs return to Davy’s Wine Bar at St James’ who looked after us with plenty of Beer, Wine and Food.  Headmaster Andrew Holman met most of the group for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed their company throughout the evening.  Thanks to all those who came and here’s to next year’s drinks, venue to be advised.

OW London Dinner – House of Lords

After two failed attempts to organise the London Dinner due to COVID, we finally made it to this most prestigious event on Friday, 18th March.  The Cholmondeley Room looked glorious and it was just lovely to admire the view of the Thames at Night from the Terrace Bar. Current Club President Professor Peter Crisp and Past President Julian Amey enjoyed a fantastic evening welcoming over 100 OWs and guests.  The House of Lords Team did the Club proud and the food and speeches did not disappoint.  Guest Speaker, Michael Ellis MP spoke fondly of his old school and was clearly delighted to be back in the company of his contemporaries.  There was a great mix of young OWs and not so young OWs with the Headmaster Andrew Holman referring to the unbroken line of Wellingburians from Major General Richard Peck who started at the School in 1947, to the current Heads of School, who are soon to become OWs in July 2022.

It was a special night – thanks to all those who came along and supported the Club.  Roll on next year…..

Picture shows Headmaster Andrew Holman and Guest Speaker Michael Ellis MP.