120 Old Lawrentians and their partners joined the Head of College, Barney Durrant, and his wife, Charlie, for this special black tie OL Dinner in the House of Commons on Thursday 10th November 2022. For those with an appreciation of modern and medieval British history, there are few locations as awe-inspiring as this!
On the way through to the drinks reception, guests passed through the Great Hall which was built by the son of William the Conqueror and provided the venue for such momentous occasions as the coronation banquets of Henry VIII in 1509 and his daughter, Elizabeth I, as well as the trials of Guy Fawkes in 1606 and King Charles I in 1649. More recently, everyone will recall the use of the Hall as a place in which Winston Churchill, the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II would each lie in state before their funerals.
On reaching the Strangers’ Dining Room, OLs of all ages enjoyed meeting friends for drinks before sitting down for an excellent three-course dinner. Buoyed by speeches from the OL Vice-President, Nick Marchant, and the Head of College, OLs and their guests concluded the evening with a rousing rendition of the school song.
