Old Princethorpians

The OPs' events calendar offers plenty of opportunities for past pupils, former parents, staff and friends of the College and the Foundation schools to catch up.

This year some events are being run virtually, but the popular Pub Meets and Summer Reunion, are still booked to take place later in 2021 and we very much hope they will be able to go ahead.

All alumni, former staff and parents of Princethorpe College, St Bede's, St Mary's Priory, St Joseph's School, Crackley Hall, Abbotsford and Crescent School are welcome to participate in any or all of the events.

Click here to download the calendar or visit Princethorpe Connect to sign up to our new online alumni community and register your interest in our events.

Saturday 27 February 2021

Calling all Old Princethorpians in the USA and North America.

Don’t forget to register for our first ever OPs in the Americas Virtual Reunion that will be taking place on Saturday 27 February 2021.

Following the success of our Hong Kong and Far East Reunion we are now offering former pupils located in the United States and North America the chance to meet up and reconnect with their former school. OPs based elsewhere are also most welcome to join us too.

The reunion will commence with a Mass from the Princethorpe Chapel celebrated by Father Teddy O'Brien MSC, followed by an informal online get-together including a virtual tour of the College and campus, a fun Princethorpe themed quiz, a look at the archives and plenty of time to chat and reminisce.

The reunion will take place at:

18.00pm - 20.00pm GMT
10.00am - 12.00pm Pacific
12.00pm - 14.00pm Central
13.00pm - 15.00pm Eastern

OPS can find out more and register for the event on Princethorpe Connect here.

Please do share details of our Americas reunion with any Old Princethorpians you know now located across the pond!

A Zoom link will be sent out to registered attendees just prior to the event.  

We look forward to seeing you then!

Friday 5 March 2021

Due to the ongoing Covid restrictions, our Old Princethorpians' London Meet at French restaurant, Balthazar in Covent Garden on Friday 5 March unfortunately needs to be rescheduled to later in the year, we will advise as soon as we have got a new date to share with you.

Thank you for your understanding.

Saturday 6 March 2021 - 10.30am to 11.30am 

On Saturday 6 March 2021 Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery are holding a Virtual Open Morning.

The event will begin with an address by the Headmaster, Rob Duigan, it will include some short, pre-recorded videos including a tour of the school, interviews with our pupils and an overview of the admissions process. The open morning will give prospective parents information on the education the school provides and on how Crackley Hall nurtures and supports its pupils to achieve great things.

The school has places available in Reception and Year 3 next year with some spaces in other years. The final deadline for applications is Friday 21 May 2021.

The nursery has recently undergone a refurbishment and places are currently available in our Badgers (Pre-school), Hedgehogs (3s) and Dormice (2s) age groups.

For more information and to register for the event please contact Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk.

Friday 12 March - 2.00pm to 3.00pm

This online workshop led by Princethorpe’s Assistant Head (Development), Alex Darkes and our Development Director, takes a closer look at leaving a legacy gift to Princethorpe College in your will.
 
Many people have big demands on their finances during their lifetime which may preclude them from making a gift. Supporting Princethorpe with a gift or a donation in a will is a very personal way of giving that can have a hugely positive impact on the College for future generations.
 
The workshop will outline the different sorts of legacies that you may wish to leave, how you may wish to go about this and give an insight into our bursaries scheme.
 
Anyone that makes a legacy pledge will be invited to join the Jules Chevalier Legacy Society – and we want to hear from you about what you would like out of a legacy club, and how we should approach this during the COVID-era. We also want to hear about your views on legacies and their appeal.
 
The meeting will be hosted on Zoom and log-in details will be emailed to those that sign-up.
 
There will also be time to ask questions at the end of the session. If you want to find our more about Legacy Giving at Princethorpe, please view our legacies webpage for more information.

You can register for this event here.

*The content of this workshop will be the same as the event ran in October 2020*

Saturday 13 March 2021 - 10.30am to 11.30am

On Saturday 13 March Crescent School will be holding a Virtual Open Morning.

Hosted by Joe Thackway, Headmaster, the event will comprise some short pre-recorded videos, including a tour of the school. There will be the opportunity to listen to presentations by senior members of staff that will give an insight into different aspects of the education the school provides, how Crescent supports its pupils to achieve great things and the admissions process. There will also be the opportunity for parents to ask questions during the live event.

The school has availability in Reception and Year 1 for September 2021 entry, there is quite limited availability in other years, for details please speak to our Registrar, Helen Morley. The final deadline for applications is Friday 21 May 2021.

For more information and to register for the event please contact the Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley, on 01788 523851 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk.

Friday 19 March 2021 - 11.00am

To mark St Joseph's Day on Friday 19 March, Crackley Hall School, formerly St Joseph's Convent School, is holding a Virtual St Joseph’s Day Mass.

Celebrated by Fr Kevin Hooper, the event will be live streamed and we cordially invite all former St Joseph's and Crackley Hall pupils and former staff to join us.

Back in December, Pope Francis announced that 2021 would be the year of St. Joseph, who is the patron saint of the school. So this year's Mass will be particularly special, and although we can't invite past pupils and former members of staff into school to help us celebrate, as we would normally do, we hope that by livestreaming the Mass our community will be able to join in the commemoration.

All are most welcome so please do sign up for the event on Princethorpe Connect. 

A link to the mass will be shared with all those registered shortly before the event takes place. 

Image courtesy of the Union of the Sisters of Mercy GB Archive 

Saturday 24 April 2021 - 10.30am - 12.30pm

If Covid restrictions allow we are looking forward to offering OPs and former parents the opportunity to visit the College and catch up over a croissant or two. As well enjoying a leisurely complimentary brunch (served until 12.00 noon) visitors will hopefully be able to watch the always exciting Saturday morning sports matches and take an optional tour of the school campus.  

OPs and parents will have spent a considerable amount of time at Princethorpe over the years, and may be missing their involvement in school life. The Old Princethorpians' Association organises the brunch as an opportunity for all to reconnect with both the College and each other in an informal, friendly environment.

If you would like to attend please register on Princethorpe Connect or RSVP with the number in your party and any special dietary requirements to oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk or call the OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, on 01926 634284.

Friday 14 May 2021 - 6.30pm to 10.30pm 

The OPs annual Local Meet will take place on Friday 14 May 2021 at Inside The 22, on Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby, CV22 5EJ.  

We hosted a very successful meet here in March 2020 with well over 50 OPs and Old Crescentians in attendance, including current and former members of staff.

The OPs Commitee will of course be laying on a delicious hot and cold buffet, so do let us know if you plan to attend either by registering at Princethorpe Connect or by emailing oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk so we can cater for you.

Partners and friends are most welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday 9 June 2021 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm 

The College's annual Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 9 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.  This event will be for prospective parents and pupils who are looking at entry to the College in September 2022 and beyond.

It will be an informal opportunity to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils. There will be activities in each department for children to participate in, and the Headmaster will also address visitors in the Chapel during the evening. Light refreshments will be available.

Do put the date in your diary.

Friday 25 June 2021 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 25 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Leavers of year groups ending in a 0, who missed out last year, and other year groups are also most welcome. 

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces.  By focusing on year groups ending in a 1 and a 0 we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years will of course be welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please go to Princethorpe Connect or email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk by Friday 11 June to reserve your place.