On the eve of the coronation of King Charles III, we were delighted to welcome back some of our 1675 Society members for the first time in 2019 to join us for lunch. After welcoming our guests back to the school, we spent some time catching up with our dear friends over refreshments and fresh pastries in the headmaster’s study. Some reminisced over the memorabilia we had laid out, old photos and RGS caps, whilst others caught up with friends and shared a tale or two with our Foundation Ambassadors who delighted our visitors their own experience of RGS in recent years.

Foundation Director Jonny Hylton took a moment to thank everyone for their attendance and ongoing support for the school before moving on to update our guests on the forthcoming plans for the 350 anniversary that will be celebrated in 2025. Jonny wrapped up his words by telling everyone that today was special to us as a school with it being not only a day to celebrate the pending coronation but also as today is Founder’s Day. Celebrating the founder of RGS, Henry Smith and asking everyone to enjoy the time we had planned for them with a tour of the school followed by a delicious lunch.

Settled in with their refreshments, our guests were then treated to a music recital from our Lower Sixth with Zac S performing the Flute Concerto Movement by Reinecke, followed by Emma T singing ‘Cry Me a River’. With such a beautiful interlude, guests were reluctant to finish their time in the headmaster’s study but excited to see the school they all feel such admiration for. Separating into two groups, Foundation Director Jonny Hylton, Foundation Executive Tracey Thornton and Reigatian Community Officer, Jodie Lazarus lead our guests, along with some of our Foundation ambassadors up to the Old School Library where we heard memories of it once being a gym, before moving on to the concert hall, Wright gallery and across the playground to the Harrison Centre.

Our last stop was for lunch in PMH and with the table decorated in Union Jacks, flowers and jugs of chilled juice, our visitors were delighted to traditional British fare of fish and chips with peas and tartare sauce followed by sticky toffee pudding and toffee sauce. We spent some time chatting and enjoying our lunch before the time came to bid them farewell. It was a beautiful day and despite threats of rainy showers, the sun shone on our stroll round the grounds and continued into the afternoon making the day a perfect way to start the coronation weekend.

A big thank you to everyone involved in making this day special for our guests and to our Lower Sixth ambassadors and music students. Click to see more photos from the event in the gallery.