GORDONIAN COMMUNITY REPORT:

Gordonians gathered after Whitehall Parade in January for the first reunion of 2023. We welcomed over 50 Gordonians who left school between 1960 to 2022 and it was wonderful to hear memories and stories from their time. The Gordonian Advisory Panel met the day before Whitehall. In attendance were Paul Ivory 7937 (1980), Jonathan Bell 7918 (1980) and Jess Kruger 11840 (2016). Susan Meikle (School Bursar), Jennifer Taylor (Head of Finance and IT) and myself, Harriet Turk (Gordonian Officer) also attended.

We held our first online Gordonian Pipes and Drums Reunion in November which was led by Gordon’s Senior Pipe Major, Iona Scotson. It was wonderful to chat to past members of the band during this and the following meetings and we look forward to meeting in person later this year!

It was lovely to welcome back Gordonians Tilly Phillips 12284 (2020) and Callum Sumpter 12526 (2018) at the end of the Autumn Term. Callum, who has just completed a degree at Oxford University and Tilly who is currently studying at Pembroke College, Cambridge spoke to students about the application process, the interview and studying at these universities. As part of the ongoing careers programme for current students Gordonians Ellen McCarthy 12714 (2019), Isobel French 12333 (2017), Sammy Norsworthy 10069 (2004), Tom Robinson 11822 (2019) and Jesse Holmes 12100 (2021) came back to School to speak to students about their career journey providing insight on everything from apprenticeships to starting their own business. Thank you to all for giving up your time to help our students.

All students from Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 were given assemblies about LinkedIn; why to use it and how it can work for them, by Ram Banga, a parent of a Gordonian. Ram presented 17 sessions in total, a huge task and we are so grateful to him for giving up this time. Make sure to follow Gordon’s School on LinkedIn to keep up to date with us!

We are looking forward to welcoming back Gordonians to school on Saturday 1 st July for Annual Parade and the Gordonian Memorial Service. Full details can be found on our website and page 12. For those who joined us last year, I’m sure you’ll agree it is a great opportunity to come back to school, catch up with old school friends and meet more of the Gordonian community.

In February the Advisory Panel unanimously agreed that the Gordonians would fund a plaque to commemorate the 156 Gordon Boys who died in World War 1. The plaque will be placed in St George’s Memorial Church, Ypres and the dedication will in July 2024 when our Pipe Band visit. We will share further information on this next year as Gordonians are welcome to attend. Students will also visit this plaque as part of their History trip each year.

Thank you to Robert Hucknell 7258 (1970) and Tony Perry for sharing this photo with us (top right). Robert and Tony managed to catch up with each other whilst Tony and his wife, Angela, were visiting Sydney, Australia.

New website! In May we launched a brand new Gordonian website. The website features increased functionality, events and photos. Please head to www. gordonians.co.uk to keep to up to date! You can also search for old school friends and update your profile.

We do hope you enjoy this edition of the Gordonian.

Harriet Turk Gordonian Officer

SCHOOL NEWS:

Aproud moment for our students and staff as The Duke of Edinburgh visited the School on January 17th to officially open the new Sports Hub and unveil a plaque commemorating the occasion. The Duke toured the new fitness suite, rowing centre and watched football and rugby on the sports pitches. His Royal Highness also spent time over a coffee with the School’s student Wellbeing Prefects and mental health first aiders and learned how pastoral staff care for boarding students, particularly those whose families are in the Armed Forces.

As well as chatting to players and teaching staff, His Royal Highness enjoyed the opportunity to take on some of the students in a game of table tennis!

WHITEHALL PARADE AND GORDONIAN REUNION:

Students, led by the Pipes and Drums, brought Whitehall to a standstill for the annual Parade in January in memory of General Charles Gordon, in whose honour the school was founded. Over 200 students took part in the Parade to the General Gordon statue on the banks of the Thames. There, during the Memorial Service, wreaths were laid at the foot of the statue by Tom Gordon, representatives of the School and Paul Ivory 7937 (1980) on behalf of the Gordonians.

After the Parade Gordonians from 1960 – 2022 met to catch up and meet other Gordonians, whether they were at Gordon’s at similar times or had a very different school life. There is no doubt that all Gordonians have different memories from their time at school given how much school has changed over time, but a phrase a Gordonian said during the reunion is the perfect summary: ‘I love Gordon’s for what it was then and for what it is now’. The afternoon really showed how Gordonians from across a wide range of peer groups can always listen and appreciate another’s experience all whilst finding similarities between their times at the School.

Each January Gordon’s welcomes its new cohort of Prefects and student leadership team. The Development Office interviewed students following their application and appointed three new Marketing Prefects. Our Prefects continue to write to older Gordonians to share with them what school life is like now and via their own research in the archives and old school publications learn about how different it used to be.