Every year, the development team run a decade reunion where OEs are invited back for a tour of the school, fantastic archive display from their time at the school, photographs together and a wonderful meal provided by Phyllis and her team. It’s a great opportunity for OEs to reconnect, reminisce and see how the school has developed in the intervening years since they left.
Last year, we welcomed back our oldest OEs, those who left the school in 1959 or before. It was a wonderful occasion and so heartening to see that friendships forged over seventy years ago (for some) were still going strong. One OE, remarking on the fact that over eighty OEs had returned so long after leaving the school commented, “I believe it is a testimony to how we value and are grateful for what Emanuel gave us in our formative years. From what I can see of the ethos of the school now, that influence continues and thrives, which is reassuring.”
Whilst the 1980s reunion scheduled for this year has had to be cancelled, the Development team will be calling OEs over the coming weeks to chat about their memories of Emanuel and what they have been doing since leaving. For many of our older OEs who are self-isolating, we hope to offer a friendly ear and to share our Emanuel experiences but it is also a wonderful opportunity for us to gather interesting stories from Emanuel’s’ past. We hope to share some of these with you over the coming weeks. The response to our email asking OEs if they would like a call has been overwhelming, demonstrating the strength and connection of the Emanuel community.
Anna Van Es (Development & Alumni Manager)