This year, as of course is customary, the annual Old Edwardians’ Association Dinner was held on Maundy Thursday at Baldwin’s on Psalter Lane, Sheffield. This year’s attendance figure was slightly down on last year's total but it was wonderful to see so many people attending the dinner for the first time replacing the old guard and encouraging to see that they in the main comprised Old Edwardians from the post Sharrock era. This was sadly the final Association dinner to be held at the the traditional venue of Baldwins as the venue is to close later this year. A huge loss to the city and we wish David and his family and staff well in all their new ventures.
This was undoubtedly the most enjoyable and successful Association dinner in many, many years and those, that for whatever reason, were unable to attend missed an absolute treat.
The School, this year, were represented by members of the teaching staff, both past and present, and the Head, Linda Gooden addressed the diners with an excellent and beautifully delivered frank account of the School's future and how its close links with the Association are so important to its continuing success.
The guest of honour and main speaker was Nabil Nayal. Nabil attended the School between 1999 and 2003 having come to England from Aleppo in his native Syria. After studying at the Royal College of Art, Nabil has become a highly successful fashion designer and in 2010 pioneered the use of 3D scanning and printing techniques. Also in 2010 his entire design collection was exclusively purchased by Harrods and was invited to the British Clothing reception at Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to Her Majesty the Queen. Many of his designs are worn by celebrities including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Claudia Schiffer and Victoria Beckham.
Nabil was an inspirational speaker who held the audience enchanted as he recounted details of his life and successes in his chosen field. My personal thanks and those of the Association go to both Nabil and the Head for their attendance and wonderful contribution to the evening.
The raffle, like the speeches, was a much shorter affair this year with exceptional prizes being donated by both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday and a huge thanks should go to Philip Bramwell and Kevin Clarke who undertook to raise funds for two remarkable prizes.
A heartfelt thank you must also be extended to the Association committee who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the dinner was a success and of course to Nicol Garnon, who yet again, spent most of the evening sneaking up on people and photographing them.
The 2019 dinner is already scheduled for Maundy Thursday but the venue is currently very much a work in progress.
See you all next year wherever that might be.
John Parr (1968-75) President
This was undoubtedly the most enjoyable and successful Association dinner in many, many years and those, that for whatever reason, were unable to attend missed an absolute treat.
The School, this year, were represented by members of the teaching staff, both past and present, and the Head, Linda Gooden addressed the diners with an excellent and beautifully delivered frank account of the School's future and how its close links with the Association are so important to its continuing success.
The guest of honour and main speaker was Nabil Nayal. Nabil attended the School between 1999 and 2003 having come to England from Aleppo in his native Syria. After studying at the Royal College of Art, Nabil has become a highly successful fashion designer and in 2010 pioneered the use of 3D scanning and printing techniques. Also in 2010 his entire design collection was exclusively purchased by Harrods and was invited to the British Clothing reception at Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to Her Majesty the Queen. Many of his designs are worn by celebrities including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Claudia Schiffer and Victoria Beckham.
Nabil was an inspirational speaker who held the audience enchanted as he recounted details of his life and successes in his chosen field. My personal thanks and those of the Association go to both Nabil and the Head for their attendance and wonderful contribution to the evening.
The raffle, like the speeches, was a much shorter affair this year with exceptional prizes being donated by both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday and a huge thanks should go to Philip Bramwell and Kevin Clarke who undertook to raise funds for two remarkable prizes.
A heartfelt thank you must also be extended to the Association committee who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the dinner was a success and of course to Nicol Garnon, who yet again, spent most of the evening sneaking up on people and photographing them.
The 2019 dinner is already scheduled for Maundy Thursday but the venue is currently very much a work in progress.
See you all next year wherever that might be.
John Parr (1968-75) President