Friends of St Mary's

One of St. Mary's College's most illustrious ex-pupils was the VIP guest at the Crosby school's first-ever London reunion event on Saturday 8th October 2011.

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, was the principal speaker at the fifth annual dinner hosted by the Friends of St. Mary's, the organisation for former pupils, parents, governors and staff.

The Archbishop also celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving prior to the event in the crypt of St. Mary Moorfields in Eldon Street, the only Catholic church in the City of London.

More than 60 people attended the dinner including other well-known former pupils of St. Mary's like poet Roger McGough and Sir Ivor Roberts, former British Ambassador to Italy and the current President of Trinity College Oxford.

These guests has the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane when St. Mary's Principal, Michael Kennedy, produced the college banner that had been in use when they were at school in the late 50s and early 60s.

Following the dinner, a successful raffle and auction generated more than £2,000 for the Friends of St. Mary's who are currently helping to raise funds to replace the school's fleet of minibuses.

Friends Chair, Tony Bradshaw, commented: "The London dinner was an exciting new venture for us which was organised in response to demand from our southern-based members.

"It turned out to be a terrific evening of good food and good company in an atmospheric venue and an ideal opportunity for members to catch up with their former schoolmates and colleagues.

"The presence of several of the most renowned former St. Mary's pupils really added to the occasion, and I would particularly like to thank Archbishop Nichols for attending and for celebrating Mass prior to the event," added Mr Bradshaw.

One of the most illustrious ex-pupils of St. Mary’s College in Crosby is to play a key role in this year’s school reunion dinner.

Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, will celebrate a special mass prior to the event on Saturday October 8th, which is being held in London for the first time.

This will be the fifth reunion dinner organised by the Friends of St. Mary’s, the organisation for former pupils, parents, governors and staff.

Guest speakers in previous years have included two classmates of Archbishop Nichols, who left St. Mary’s in 1963, a vintage year for the school.

They were former BBC Director-General Lord John Birt and Friends of St. Mary’s Patron Sir Ivor Roberts, a former British Ambassador to Italy and the current President of Trinity College Oxford.

This year’s dinner will be held in the crypt of St. Mary Moorfields in Eldon Street, the only Catholic church in the City of London.

The event will get under way at 7pm, following the mass conducted by Archbishop Nichols which will begin at 6.15pm.

Friends of St. Mary’s Chair, Tony Bradshaw, commented: “The London dinner is an exciting new venture for us which has been organised in response to demand from our members.

“Many people in the St. Mary’s ‘family’ are now based in southern England and they have specifically asked us to organise an event in the capital.

“The fact that Archbishop Nichols has agreed to take part really is the icing on the cake. I am sure it will all add up to an evening to remember, and one that many of our northern members will also travel to London to attend,” added Mr Bradshaw.

For more information about the event, and how to book tickets, ring St. Mary’s College on 0151-924 3926