King’s School Alumni reconnect at 157th annual dinner

On Saturday, 20 January, the Vanbrugh Theatre was filled with happy faces as alumni, along with current and former staff, gathered for the CAOKS 157th Annual Dinner.

Sam Gregory, a current sixth form student, welcomed guests by playing the grand piano outside The Gallery with many commenting that it added a special touch to the evening.

Attendees were delighted with a superb three-course dining experience delivered by the school’s catering team, accompanied by flowing wine and lively conversation.

The highlight of the evening was the after-dinner speech given by Andrew Green (OKS 1970).  As a former BBC broadcaster and oral historian, he shared his experiences of interviewing no less than two Prime Ministers, two Archbishops of Canterbury, and Sir Paul McCartney. 

His speech was certainly well-received and left guests pondering on how their own memories could be recorded for future generations.

It is CAOKS dinner tradition that the head of school team are in attendance and Gwen Olson, a member of the team, expressed her what it meant to her to be at the event.

She said: “It was great to hear people’s memories of their time at King’s. It made me imagine what it will be like ten years from now when we attend the dinner in a different capacity.”

The event also featured a tour of the new Sixth Form Centre, which was a nostalgic experience for some guests who hadn’t visited the school in years.

CAOKS President Mark Thorp (OKS 1981), commented on the special atmosphere of the dinner. 

He said: “This evening has been a magnificent opportunity for alumni to reconnect and reminisce about their time at King’s.

“The annual dinner is always a very special event as it celebrates the school’s traditions while providing a chance to see how far things have progressed over time. I believe it’s an event that everyone should attend. “

Click on the image below to scroll through the gallery of photos from the evening: