GRIFFEN 2024 | 9 Members of the 1563 Society, Abingdon’s legacy society, and their guests enjoyed lunch at Abingdon School for their annual get together on 17 June 2023. On an extremely warm sunny day they were treated to a three course meal followed by a talk from our Archivist, Sarah Wearne, entitled ‘Abingdon School – facts and figures’. We are so grateful to Christopher Pickup (1960) who has been Chairman of the committee since 2021 and supports our legacy society. We have 61 members of our legacy society of which 48 are OAs. GIVING DAY 2023 OAs around the world If you would like any further information about supporting Abingdon School please contact Alexa Broad, Director of Development and Alumni Relations: +44 (0)1235 849117 Harriet Alderman, Development Manager: +44 (0)1235 849107 Email: [email protected] Development Tom Digby (2016) continued his glittering rowing career by being crowned World Champion in the Men’s VIII in Racice, Czech Republic in 2022. To commemorate the occasion, Tom kindly had an Abingdon Oar signed by his whole crew and donated it to be sold at auction at the Abingdon Boat Club Dinner to raise funds for the Club. The Boat Club is very grateful to Kevin and Olga Senior. Already significant supporters and donors to the Club and having a pair named “the Guvnor” after them, the Seniors were victorious in the bidding to secure the oar. They very generously immediately donated it back to the Club in the hope that it would inspire future generations of Abingdon rowers. The Oar is commemorated by a plaque and now occupies pride of place on the famous pink wall display which celebrates the achievements of current students and OAs at the boathouse. Mark Earnshaw Director of Rowing he extensions to Austin and Crescent boarding houses were officially opened in October 2023 and the pupils are benefitting from the enhancement of the bedrooms and social spaces. Room naming opportunities are available for anyone who attended Abingdon as a boarder. Further information can be found on the school website. John Bunce (1962) and others from his peer group who meet regularly have kindly sponsored a room in one of the boarding houses. The room will be aptly named ‘The OA Sixties’. T bingdon held its second Giving Day on 8 and 9 November 2023 raising awareness of, and funds for, its bursary campaign: ‘Seven years to change a life’. Abingdon’s ambition is to increase bursary support to enable 110 pupils to benefit from bursary support. The Giving Day raised £103,046 from 326 donors. Our global OA community came together from twelve countries to support us and we are extremely grateful. Thank you to Tony Edwards (1962), Patrick McLeod (1983), Gareth Morris (1976) and Will Stockdale (2007) for supporting our Giving Day by recording video testimonials which were used on the emails to encourage donations, to Peter Kandiah (1959) who donated £8,555 at the end of the Giving Day to take us over the £100,000 mark and to Tony Edwards (1962) who donated £10,000 for £ for £ matched funding. A OA Sixties sponsor a boarding house room Oarsome’ Inspiration 1563 Legacy Society Annual Lunch 110 CLUB Abingdon’s 110 Club was created to recognise anyone who commits to support a pupil for a period of seven years at a level that provides at least 10% of the cost of a bursary place. We currently have 26 OAs who are members and we are so grateful for their contribution to our bursary campaign.
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