Foundation Office

Foundation Office & Lancing Society

The first half of this term has certainly been one of important landmarks; the completion of the Chapel after 154 years, the OL Rovers beating the Old Tonbridgians (the first time this has ever happened!) in the first round of the Cricketer Cup and our two parent associations, the Lancing Association and the St Nicolas Association have joined forces to become one and are now known as The Lancing Parents Association.

We have another landmark approaching in September 2023 which will be the College’s 175th anniversary. Next year’s celebrations will give many members of the Lancing community the opportunity to come together to celebrate the first 175 years of the College. We are planning anniversary events which will give us the opportunity to talk about some exciting plans for the future.

But before all of that, in these last few weeks of term and looking through to the end of August, we have a veritable cornucopia of events on offer: a group of 1995 leavers playing tennis on the grass courts; a University Ambassadors event with 11 young OLs (representing Oxford, UCL, Durham, Exeter, Nottingham, Southampton, Glasgow, Warwick, Aberystwyth and Winchester); the Leavers’ Ball; The OL Club Summer Reception; the Rovers in the quarter final of the Cricketer Cup against the Bradfield Waifs; the Rovers Cricket week from 11–15 July; a 30-year reunion for our 1992 leavers at Lancing on 6 August; and the Sense of Place Flower Festival in the Chapel on 18–21 August.

It is wonderful to be part of such a vibrant and energetic community and I look forward to seeing many of you here at Lancing over the summer.

My best wishes, as always CATHERINE REEVE Foundation Director

First time on grass

As one of my contemporaries said, it was truly special to be back and playing on the hallowed turf.

We were blessed with fantastic weather for our tennis and it was great to be able to play finally on the grass courts, something we had never done in our time at school! It was surprising how well we quickly fell back into our old game style with a lot of enthusiastic shots and laughter ...

It has been many years since we were back at Lancing and in some ways it is like coming back to an old home. We walked around remembering all the times here, noting all the little differences that have happened whilst we have been away and hearing the different memories from old friends about our school days.

It was really difficult to get a date that suited everyone which meant we were missing a few people, but a good a time was had by all, and I am sure we will meet again, hopefully before our 30th reunion in 2025 which I dare say is coming round more quickly than any of us would like!

Thank you again to the Foundation Office for helping organise a memorable day out for us. Alex Suddaby (Olds 1990–1995)