CAOKS 158th Dinner Celebrations

On Saturday, March 22, we had the pleasure of welcoming back over 60 Old King’s Scholars for the CAOKS 158th Annual Dinner.

The Vanbrugh Theatre was alive with joyful faces as alumni reunited with each other alongside current and former staff.

The evening was especially meaningful this year, as we honoured two distinguished guests: Mr Steve Downey and Mr Seb Neal, who both announced their retirement after an impressive, combined total of 74 years of service.

Guests enjoyed a delightful three-course meal prepared by our exceptional in-house catering team.
The highlight of the evening was the after-dinner speeches delivered by Head of School ,Jonni Ashton, and long-serving teacher and former CAOKS president Mr Steve Downey.

Jonni shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “What a wonderful way to conclude my time here at King’s and to be invited to speak. It was truly inspiring to meet so many alumni, of whom I will soon be one, and to hear their stories.”

CAOKS President Mark Thorp (OKS 1981) remarked on the atmosphere of the gathering: “This evening has provided a fantastic opportunity for alumni to reconnect and reminisce about their experiences at King’s. It was especially touching to hear how many had fond memories of being taught by Steve or Seb.”

“The annual dinner is always a special event, celebrating the school’s traditions whilst showcasing how far we’ve come over the years. The tour was an enjoyable addition to the evening, allowing everyone to explore the newly refurbished library and Sixth Form Centre.”

Click on the image below to scroll through the gallery of photos from the evening: