Old Cornelians reunite at the House of Lords
Over 150 Old Cornelians and their husbands, children and friends joined us for our first official London reunion at the House of Lords on Thursday 18th February.
After an exclusive tour around the ornately labyrinthine corridors and decadent chambers of the Houses of Parliament, the guests were escorted to our cocktail reception in the equally decadent Cholmondeley Room and Terrace.
The conversation flowed as freely as the wine, and even over the excited hubbub one could hear the occasional squawk of delight at the discovery of a long-lost friend or an involuntary hoot of laughter as a long forgotten moment of school-day hilarity was unearthed once more. We enjoyed Westminster’s finest cuisine as the lights of London danced on the Thames behind us.
We were delighted to welcome old girls not just from Mayfield but also from her sister Holy Child schools which have sadly now closed: St Leonards and Harrogate. There was also an astounding age range of former students, but who all seemed to find something in common. An old girl who left Mayfield just after the war in the 1940s was spotted deep in conversation with a leaver of 2008.
We were also very pleased to see several eminent figures among our guests: Sr Anne Murphy, Sr Jean Sinclair, Sr Teresa Joseph Barret, Sr Mary Hilary Daly and Sr Maria Dinnendahl represented the SHCJ, while there were also several former members of staff present, including Mary MacLachlan, Anne Barker, Mike Fradd and Lesley Evans.
The event seems to have been very successful, and we owe great thanks to the Baroness Hooper without whose endorsement it could not have taken place in such a unique and prestigious setting