This summer the Old Augustinians were able to hold a black-tie dinner in the House of Lords for the first time in eleven years. The event commemorated the passing of 30 years since our school’s closure, and the inauguration of the Coeducational Ursuline College in Westgate which many boys from our school went on to attend.
The speakers were Old Augustinian, Colonel Paddy Williams, the first ever Head Boy of the Ursuline College after our school closed and Deputy Speaker, Judith Cummins MP, who also attended our last dinner in Parliament in 2015 and who supports Catholic Education. Old Augustinian and Actor, Jude Akuwudike, gave the vote of thanks.
Just over 100 guests were present, mostly from the Old Augustinians who attended the school through the decades 1950s through to its closure in 1995. There were guests also from alumni members of the Ursuline Convent School and College, Les Oiseaux Convent School, and representation from the Douai Foundation. Guests came from as far afield as Australia, USA and Central Europe as well as those more locally.
Other guests included Catholic educated MPs, Dame Siobhain McDonagh who jointly hosted an event in Parliament for the Ursulines in 2017 and from Merseyside, Peter Dowd.
We were pleased also to welcome our guests, Ian Wallace and Charlotte Rigden, (Headteacher and Senior Assistant Headteacher) from Hartsdown Academy, Margate which we have given some support to in the last year. Hartsdown Academy has been recognised nationally for the work it has done of Social Inclusion and Progress Eight. Rt Hon Baroness Angela Smith, Leader of the House of Lords met with the school leaders prior to dinner.
The Old Augustinians as well as the Ursuline Alumni are providing some practical support to Hartsdown Academy as we have endeavoured to support the Ursuline College and education in Thanet over many years.
The Old Augustinians will continue to hold other events including the Westgate lunch on 19th September; the Remembrance Mass, Reception and lunch in Ramsgate on 7th November and next year around April time, a lunch in Central London.