150 years of the OPC

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Throughout 2021-22, the School will be celebrating 150 years of Pauline
alumni engagement.

It was in 1872 that the Old Pauline Club was founded, and over the last 150 years the Club has acted as the focus of alumni activity.

Now, to celebrate the 150th anniversary, OP President Ed Vaizey (1981-85) has announced a re-naming of the Club.

Speaking at the Club’s Annual Dinner on 14 October, Ed said:

“We want to use this anniversary year to re-launch the whole concept of alumni engagement with the School. In September 2022 we will be changing the name of the Old Pauline Club to the St Paul’s Alumni Association, and will be seeking to work ever more closely with the School to ensure that Paulines feel able to maintain a lifetime of connection with their school and fellow alumni.

Once a Pauline, always a Pauline — our aim is to ensure that anyone who has experienced a St Paul’s education should be able to enjoy an enduring relationship with the School, with frequent opportunities to celebrate the School’s values and what it gave them, as well as to support the current pupils and partner schools where appropriate.

During the next 12 months we will be running events to mark 150 years of alumni activity. As part of this initiative, we are launching  The 150th Appeal, providing former pupils with the chance to ensure socio economic diversity is retained in the school by supporting potential Paulines who need financial assistance, and to help the School fulfil John Colet’s vision of a School able to educate boys “from all nacions and countres indifferently”, regardless of race, creed, social background or financial circumstances.”

The Future of… a new series of fireside chats between Ed and alumni at the forefront of their fields, including:

  • George Osborne (1984-89), Chancellor of the Exchequer 2010-16, former Editor of The Standard and current Chairman of the British Museum, on Politics.
  • Sir Simon Fraser (1970-74), former Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and school governor, and Tom Tugendhat (1986-91), MP and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, on Britain’s position in the World
  • Matthew Gould (1984-89), CEO of NHSX, and Lord Winston, (1954-59), Professor at Imperial College London, on Health.
  • Patrick Spence (1981-85), Creative Director ITV and Simon Fox (1974-78), Chief Executive of Frieze UK on the Arts
  • Lord Baker of Dorking (1948-53), former Education Secretary and OPC President, and The High Master on Education

The Feast Service will be celebrated at St Paul’s Cathedral in February, followed by a buffet supper at Mercers’ Hall.

The Earliest Vintage Lunch for all alumni who left School before 1971 returns in March.

150TH APPEAL VIDEO

We are encouraging OPs to make a donation of an amount relating to the anniversary, i.e. £150, £1,500, £15,000 – whether as a one off or regular donation

OPC 150th Anniversary Events 2021-22
30 October Pauline Continuum Cycling
30 November The Future of Politics — George Osborne
18 December OP Rugby Club 150th Anniversary Dinner at Twickenham
20 January  The Future of Britain in the World — Simon Fraser and Tom Tugendhat
7 February The Feast Service at St Paul’s Cathedral and Mercers’ Hall
23 February   The Future of Health — Matthew Gould and Robert Winston
2 March  The Future of The Arts — Simon Fox and Patrick Spence
31 March   Earliest Vintage Lunch at School
25 May  The Future of Education — Kenneth Baker and the High Master
18 June    Pauline Festival and Reunions at School
23 June 150th Dinner at The Tabernacle