On Thursday, 14 November, 62 Old Boys gathered at Brasserie Blanc in London for the annual Old Greys Europe Dinner. Special guests, Rector Chris Erasmus and Headmaster Grant Butler, flew in from Port Elizabeth to connect with Old boys and share the latest news from The Grey Schools.
As always the dinner is host to a span of generations, from the eldest attendee, Mike Darlison, Class of 1950, to the youngest, Matthew Wilson, Class of 2015. The evening also saw proud father-and-son duos in attendance, with Andrew ’88 and Daniel ’13 Morton, as well as James ’82 and Matthew ’11 Luckman and strengthening the bonds across family lines were brothers Terry ’04 and Neall ‘00 De Beer. Our thanks to the classes of 1996 and 2000, who had the strongest representation of the evening, making their presence felt through both numbers and enthusiasm.
A key highlight of the evening was the fundraising efforts, which surpassed expectations thanks to the generosity of those who participated in the raffle and auction. A record amount of over £1000 was raised to support bursaries through the Grey Foundation UK charity. Among the auctioned items was a signed autobiography by South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi, titled Rise, which generated excitement and significant bids.
The event was also an opportunity to recognise and honour the long-standing contributions of those who have given much to The Grey community. Ron Baynes was celebrated for his 30+ years of dedicated service to the Old Greys Europe. Ron, one of the co-founders of Old Grey Europe in 1992, has been instrumental in fostering alumni relations and supporting the Grey Schools’ initiatives. He was presented with a framed photograph of The Grey as a small token of appreciation for his remarkable commitment.
Thank you Chairman Mark Molyneux, and to all those who attended and made the event a resounding success. The London Dinner remains a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our shared legacy and we look forward to a future of continued connection and support.
