Last night (20/11/25), Old Honitonians gathered at the prestigious Royal Society in London for one of the most anticipated events in our calendar—the Annual London Cocktail Party and AGM. From start to finish, the evening was filled with energy, good conversation, and a wonderful sense of community.

We opened with the AGM, where members received updates on all areas of club life, including finances, the West Country Lunch, the OH Golf Society, the Magazine, website developments, social media communications, and the evolving club structure. It was a productive and positive session that set the tone for the rest of the evening.

After the AGM, we were honoured to hear from Jeremy Harding, who delivered a heartfelt tribute to his uncle, Ralph Harding, the Father of the Club. Ralph, who passed away recently at the age of 99, played a central role in shaping the spirit and history of our community. Jeremy’s words painted a vivid picture of Ralph’s journey—from his days at the school in Honiton and the move to Rousdon, to his family’s farming heritage and his wartime service in the Home Guard. It was a beautifully delivered reflection on a truly remarkable life, and we look forward to sharing Jeremy’s full tribute soon.

We were then treated to a captivating talk by Richard Anderson (Middlemist 1966–71), Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire, who joined us to speak about his newly released book, A History of Rousdon Mansion and Allhallows School. Richard’s talk was filled with stories, memories, and fascinating details about a place many of us know so well. His book, enriched with unique anecdotes and photographs, is a treasure for anyone connected to Allhallows. It was a pleasure to welcome Richard and his wife, Angie, to the event.

For those wishing to explore the history further, copies are available at: https://richardanderson.uk/work

With the formalities complete, the evening flowed effortlessly into our legendary London Cocktail Party. The room soon filled with laughter, storytelling, and joyful reunions, reminding us once again why this event holds such a special place in the OH calendar. It was a night of warm connections and shared memories, enjoyed by all who attended.

We were delighted to be joined by:

Angie Anderson

Richard Anderson

Myfanwy Adams

Stephen Bath

Lucille Bath

Victoria Berry

Trevor Blevins

John Campbell Clause

Gerald Classey

Jon Crosse

David Danskin

Stephen Dixon

Tessa Everleigh

Nigel Fawcett

Patrick Groves

Charles Harding

Jeremy Harding

Richard Heard

George Hayter

Clare Hopkins

Dudley Hopkins

Andrew Hamilton

Tim Huxtable

Jamie Jemmeson

Richard Le Fleming

Nick Lerwill

Robert Morton

Tom Morgan

Andrew Poë

David Richardson

Michael Shaw

Chris Shallow

Tom Simpson

Peter Sloan

Seb Warner

Roddy Wakeford

Steve White

David Woollatt

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so memorable. Special appreciation goes to Jeremy Harding for his moving tribute, Stephen Bath for his introduction to our guest speaker, Richard Anderson for his excellent talk, and to the Royal Society for once again providing a superb venue.

We look forward to sharing even more in the next edition of the OH Magazine and to seeing many of you again at future gatherings.