The Class of 2020 arrived at their reunion to the strains of Can You Feel The Love Tonight, from The Lion King which was the last song they sang in the Chapel before the headmaster announced the school would close due to Covid -19.

On Saturday 30 August we were so delighted to welcome them back as they returned to Oakham for a special Leavers Service in the Chapel led by Father Tim with Harry Jacques accompanying him on the organ.

Father Tim regaled them with tales of his memories of their time at Oakham in the Chapel and the interesting times since they had left. He also reminded them that whilst not heavily into traditions we are always delighted that as the leavers leave the Chapel they graduate from Oakhamians to Old Oakhamians. A belated opportunity for this was not missed on Saturday.

The headmaster recalled his virtual speech given in place of the usual leavers service in chapel which began ‘Though we cannot sit together here I hope that you know you sit together in spirit..’  and then went on to say  ‘This year we celebrate 100 years of Chapel and I hope it’s nice to be back in a place today, where you have sat, have sung, where you have daydreamed. This is a place of beginnings, of renewals, reassurance and relationships. I hope you feel the power of being back in this place with people you care about and with people who care about you.’

The weather hadn’t been kind, so the celebrations continued under the cover of a Gazebo and the familiar welcoming walls of the BAF Smith Pavilion. After an arrival drink and delicious wraps courtesy of Tori and Ben’s Farm food truck the reminiscing began in earnest. Thanks must be given to our barmen in the familiar guise of the Headmaster and Senior Deputy Head who manned the OO Bar for the evening.

We were really thrilled so many of the 2020 cohort were able to join us and we enjoyed hearing about their lives since leaving Oakham. We wish them well and look forward to welcoming them back again in the not to distant future. As the headmaster said ‘You may be leaving Oakham but Oakham never really leaves you.’

See you all soon!