Our most recent theatre trip was in December 2008 when we saw Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Members of the Collegial Society are pictured here in the bar during the interval.
An annual feature of the Collegial Society’s programme is an official guided London walk. On a beautiful September Saturday, a group met at Canary Wharf to have a tour round London's Docklands. This visit lived up to the high standards of previous walks and opened up the history of the Docklands area from before 1066 up to the present day.
The picture shows the group pausing for breath by one of the many statues (Couple on Seat by Lynn Chadwick) and other artistic features of this fascinating area of London.
June saw members of the Society heading to Chelsea. We started with a guided tour around the Royal Hospital led by Chelsea Pensioner Fred Bland (above, top left), giving us a very interesting insight into this great institution. After lunch, we took a short walk along to the Chelsea Physic Garden, where we had an opportunity to look round one of the oldest apothecary gardens in the capital - a real hidden gem! The day finished with a chance to explore the National Army Museum next door.
In March 2008 we took a coach to Fishbourne Palace (above, top right) followed by a short visit to Chichester. A few weeks before we had our annual dinner and quiz night with a record turn out of 56 members.
Since we began, our members have been involved in more than 150 events, including visits to West End theatres (Round the Horne, Billy Elliot, The Sound of Music) and College-based drama and music shows, guided London walks, dinners, some with quizzes and some with magic, talks and shows in French and Spanish.
We have had visits to Glyndebourne; Finchcocks, a fine early Georgian manor and a musical centre of international repute; the Dovecote Garden in West Dean, home of Julian Martyr OE; and a guided tour round Greenwich with a boat trip on the Thames.
Some of our talks are tied in with the Sixth Form programme of weekly visiting speakers, so continuing, where appropriate, the integration of parents and friends and those who are in the top years of the school.
We have had a tour round BBC TV Centre; a concert with the songs of Edith Piaf; a visit by BBC correspondent Kate Adie; an evening's entertainment with Jimmy Perry, co-writer of Dad's Army; and a 'hypnosis' presentation from Martin Taylor.