Friday 13 February, 6-7.30pm, College Theatre
Wine-tasting event
Old Eastbournian Rupert Bairamian from Hallgarten Druitt wines will be hosting and leading the wine-tasting. The cost will be £10 per head. Wines will be available to be purchased at 10 per cent discount and there will be a competition with prizes. There are a limited number of places for this so please let Claire Shattock know soonest if you wish to join us.

Wednesday 18 February
Lunch at The Butchers’ Hall, London
The Worshipful Company of Butchers is one of the seven oldest of the City of London Livery Companies and the Hall is suitably located in the historic Smithfield area. Collegial Society member Gwynne Pickering is organising this and the suggested plan is to leave Eastbourne on the 9.56am train (for those travelling from Eastbourne), change at East Croydon for the Bedford train, getting off at Farringdon and arriving at the Hall in time for drinks at 12.30pm and a three-course carvery lunch. At about 2.30pm, Gwynne will take us through Smithfield Market, on to Bunhill Cemetery, the cemetery of Puritan England. Land was first set aside as a cemetery during the Great Plague of 1665. Apparently the ground was never consecrated and 20 years later it became a popular burial ground for non-conformists, who were banned from being buried in churchyards because of their refusal to use the Church of England prayer book. Although much is now cordoned off, it is still possible to walk through. Among those buried here are John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake, as well as members of the Cromwell family. The writer John Milton lived in Bunhill Row, on the west side of the cemetery, from 1662 until his death in 1674. Some of Milton's greatest works were written here, including his famous epic poem Paradise Lost. And then we will go to Wesley’s Chapel (behind which Wesley is buried) and the Museum of Methodism. We have booked for 20 maximum and cost will be £38 per person, including wine. We need to know if you intend to join us by Monday 2 February.

Sunday 29 March, 3pm, College Theatre
The Norah Sande Award Recital
Reduced ticket price (£7) for Collegial Society members (please buy in advance from College Box Office 01323 452255); £8 on the door. The piano soloist is Caroline Tyler (who won the award in 2007). During her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama she made her concerto debut and also won the Intercollegiate Sir Anthony Lewis Memorial Prize 2006 and the Christopher Duke Piano Recital Competition 2007, giving her opportunities to perform solo recitals all over the UK. Her solo and ensemble performances have included appearances at the Barbican Hall and in Salzburg , Vienna and Prague. Hosted annually at the College, this Award has become an established major competition for the rising international stars of the concert circuit. Competitors have included BBC Young Musician of the Year finalists and winners of prestigious international piano competitions. The fifth Award will be held on 11 and 12 July 2009 and is open to the public. See www.sande-award.co.uk 

Saturday 23 May, 12.30 to 1.30pm, College Theatre
College Reception
The College hosts a reception for Collegial Society members and parents new to the College 2008/9, College Theatre. To ensure that we cater adequately, it would be helpful if you could let Claire know and your support for this would be hugely appreciated.