On Saturday 3 September, the Class of 2018 (along with current and former RGS staff) returned to school for their Graduation Brunch.

Just a few days into the new school term, we were delighted to welcome back more than 70 guests from the Class of 2018 to celebrate their recent successes and hear their future plans.

Meeting in their old Sixth Form common room in what was then the newly-opened Harrison Centre, guests enjoyed tea, coffee and a sumptuous spread of cheese and tomato croissants, sausage baguettes, pains au chocolat, fresh fruit, cakes and other treats.

Everyone found the display of old photographs quite funny and it’s fair to say that our guests had changed somewhat since First Form! Guests included former Head Girl, Laura Hawrych, House Captains, Elizabeth Gosnold (Bird), Samuel Jones (Cranston) and Ellie Milne (Hodgson) and numerous Vice House Captains, Prefects and Foundation Ambassadors.

Former students enjoyed catching up with their old Form Tutors and other long-serving members of RGS staff, including Martin Russell (RGS staff 1975-2019), Stuart Nicholson (RGS staff 1979-present), Dai Bader (RGS staff 1982-2019), Malcolm Cline (RGS staff 1983-2021), Linda Stephens (RGS staff 1984-2018), Simon Rushby (RGS staff 2003-2017) and Nick Lobb (RGS staff 2004-present).

After picking up a glass of bucks fizz, we headed out to the terrace outside the Harrison Centre for speeches.

A toast from the Headmaster

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, began by welcoming everyone back, highlighting that they were such an impressive year group that we built a whole Sixth Form building for them!

He then ran through some of the exciting changes that have happened in recent years, including the improvements made to pastoral support and the emphasis on student wellbeing; plans to build a new sports centre and create a performing arts space. He explained about the value of the RGS International programme, with music students travelling from Reigate to Hanoi in October and plans for gap-year students to teach in RGS schools overseas.

There was a round of laughter as Mr Fenton mentioned the joy of welcoming the new First Form students to school, with blazers that they will grow into by Third Form!

Finally, he raised a toast to the Class of 2018, wishing them the very best for the future and reminding them that they will always be Reigatians; that it is our community that makes our school so special.

The value of the Reigatian network

As a former student himself, Associate Director of the RGS Foundation, Jonny Hylton (’99) mentioned that however old you are, it will always feel a little bit naughty to address your teachers by their first names! He then spoke about the value of keeping in touch and engaging with the wider Reigatian community through the RGS Professionals group on LinkedIn – for introductions, advice and opportunities.

It was time for us to say goodbye, and for guests to head into Reigate to continue catching up! We look forward to seeing them again in 2028 for their 10 Years On reunion – if not before!