Foundation Day, held in conjunction with the Haileybury Society, was once again a wonderful celebration of the Haileybury community. We were delighted to welcome so many Old Haileyburians, families and friends back to the School to reconnect, catch up with old friends and revisit familiar corners of campus.
The day began with refreshments and lively conversation in the Attlee Room, before guests gathered in Chapel for the Old Haileyburian service. The beautiful service was a particularly special and nostalgic moment of the day.
Following Chapel, guests joined pupil-led tours of the campus, taking in boarding houses, Dining Hall, Big School and other familiar buildings across the site. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the Attlee exhibition in Clock House, curated by Dr Sam Koon, Director of Teaching and Learning. The exhibition offered a fascinating insight into Clement Attlee as a man and a Haileyburian, rather than simply as “Earl Attlee”, with archival items providing a thoughtful glimpse into both his life and the School’s heritage.
Sport was at the heart of the afternoon, with OH vs. pupil matches taking place across the School. We were delighted to welcome Old Haileyburians back to compete in Cricket, Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, Netball, Rackets and Tennis. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and represented the OH community with such enthusiasm and spirit.
Director of Sport Andy Searson presented the following trophies and results:
Guests gathered on Pavilion for a buffet lunch, with the gelato stand proving a particular hit in the late-summer sunshine. We were delighted to hear from the Master, Eugene du Toit; President of the Haileybury Society, Fiona Illingworth; and Chair of Council, Martin Rayfield, who reflected on the strengths of the School and, in particular, the remarkable community that makes Haileybury such a special place.
‘Foundation Day was a wonderful celebration of the strength of our community and it was a delight to see former pupils, parents and staff enjoying being together at Haileybury. An uplifting chapel service, tours of Houses, the opening of our refurbished rackets court, a wide range of current v former pupils sports fixtures and a delicious lunch made the entire day a delightful occasion.’ – Eugene du Toit, The Master
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped to make Foundation Day such a memorable occasion. It was wonderful to see so many members of the Haileybury community back at the School, and we look forward to welcoming you again for Foundation Day next year.