Reunions and Events

OA, Eugenie Tomlin shared a photo with us of a recent reunion with 15 other classmates on Saturday 25 February, to celebrate 30 years on from Leweston.

Eugenie described it as “the happiest reunion ever”.

Leweston was delighted to welcome over 60 OA’s back to the School for their annual Gaudy Reunion on Saturday 10 May 2014.  It was delightful to see such a large gathering of Old Antonians from years 1984, 1989, 1994 and 2004 back at school.  The day provided the old girls with a chance to come back to school, meet up with peers and reminisce about old times.  Having had a delicious lunch, a particular highlight of the day was the tour of the School which bought back countless memories and wonderful stories.

We were also very excited to have a Master Chef finalist in attendance:  congratulations to Angela Langford (‘89) for reaching the final stages of the revered competition.

A huge thank you to those OAs who were instrumental in getting their year groups together. It was a very memorable day for all, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Leweston in the not too distant future.

Anna Ashfield (née de Halpet) hosted a small Leweston Reunion at her house for the Year of 1994.

From left to right:  Michelle Fattorinni, Alex Durnford, Emily Ullah (nee French), Juliet Biggart, Eugenie Tomlin (nee Wilkinson), Eliza Gluckman (nee Patten), Amy Dugmore, Charlotte Durrant (nee Bullock), Anna Ashfield (nee de Halpert).

On Saturday 13 September 2014, OAs Caroline Moore (née Mason) and Karen Bourne-May (née Laver) held a 35 year reunion for the Class of 1979 in Hampshire.

The lunch was attended by Susan Macklow-Smith, Fiona Mitchell-Innes, Maggie Rigby, Caroline Tite, Fiona Cronk, Susie Ryan, Vicki Dickenson, Clare Lloyd-George, Nicky Bystram, Clare Berry, Jane Martin, Kate Hooper, Lizzie Law, Georgie Thring, Judy Seymour, Cathy Faulkner, Tessa Young and Rosie Marsh.

Caroline comments, “It was a very jolly, lively day and it was great fun to get together after all these years.  Some of us had not met up since we left Leweston 35 years ago, so there was lots of catching up to do and reminiscing about our time at school and what we got up to.  Many people had brought their photographs which made us all realise just how much time had elapsed….!”

Bobs (Susan) Macklow-Smith commented, “We were blessed with a glorious day. The years just fell away as we all reminisced and caught up with what everyone had been up to in the intervening years. There was much laughter, excellent food, and plans made for our next reunion next year… when hopefully more of our year will be able to join us!

Melanie Moore who now lives in Perth (Australia) was over in the UK visiting in August and had a mini celebration for her 40th birthday with friends from Leweston; six of them met up and had dinner at Yauatcha in London.

From bottom left going clockwise around table: Rachel Hepworth (née Kershaw), Kate Burkey (née Mitchell), Kate Dawson (née Parsons), Melanie Moore, Victoria Ridgewell (néeBroughton), Fiona Ward (née Dalzell), and Hermione Evans (née McEwen).

Suzie Ruse (née Oliver) who lives in Sydney, Catherine Broadbent (Fairlie) living in Marlborough and Isobel Williamson-Jones (Williams) – all 1988 alumni enjoyed the day together at Isobel & Andrew Williamson-Jones’ house, in  Hampshire on a hot July day 2013 with their children.

Written by OA Anne Cronin (née Weaver)

We were celebrating 60! Tania Linares asked us to go to La Isla in Northern Spain. Her mother Pilarina was a fabulous host to us all and ended up mothering us for the holiday. She was amazing at producing wonderful meals, food like you have never eaten – it was heaven!

One of the girls summed it up perfectly:  What an injection of friendship which has left me with a glow and grin.  How diverse our lives are and yet the touchstone of Leweston has bonded us with such a strong rope.

Written by OA, Camilla Hulf

The rain held off and in fact the 1st June turned out to be the most wonderfully sunny day. Balloons and bunting provided the directions from the front gate towards the picnic venue next to the old dining room.

OA’s came from around the world, some we hadn’t seen since we left all those years ago but there wasn’t anyone we didn’t recognise immediately. It was the most special feeling as many an anxious face appeared from the formal gardens to a sea of old friends and their families but all the memories and laughs came flooding back.

Children were playing everywhere around us as husbands tried to keep them amused as we chatted and reminisced for hours. As the afternoon wore on most of us had a stroll down to the Belvedere and around the grounds.

Later some of us went into town and met up with the Sherborne boys of 1993 who were also having a reunion and had tea with them in the Quad in Sherborne School.

Our evening function was in true Leweston style with a black tie dinner being held in the Pensebene Hall (now dining room) which those of us from our era would remember as the old study and exam hall. Margo Liddle and the catering staff laid on the most fabulous evening for us with pre-dinner drinks and a three course meal. The evening culminated with much dancing and the resurrection of some dance moves made up over 20 years ago!

In total we had 37 OA’s on the day plus husbands and children, which made it a truly magical ‘BIG Reunion’.