This year’s annual Quondam Lunch was undoubtedly our busiest yet: not only did we have a stunning piano recital from UV pupil Scarlett Brandman, we were also treated to a presentation by Class of 2017 Travel Scholarship winner Ruby MacGregor.

The event began auspiciously with bright blue skies and a champagne reception in the school library, where alumni of all ages, some of whom hadn’t returned to the school in decades, re-aquainted themselves with former peers.

Included in the gathering were 16 former staff of the Regent’s Park school; also returning was alumna Judith Neuling, who flew in especially from Germany. Lunch well underway, alumna Ruby MacGregor took to the stage to deliver a presentation about her recent trip to Vietnam, where she taught kindergarten children in Ho Chi Miah City. Ruby, winner of this year’s Quondam Travel Scholarship, chose Vietnam as “it’s in desperate need of volunteers in many areas due to the effects of recent war and I wanted to make the biggest impact I could.”

Chair of Quondam Susanne Nedas addressed the audience, speaking of the importance of keeping connected and building upon exisiting relationships with fellow alumni. The event ended on a jubilant note; UV pianist Scarlett Brandman, introduced by Quondam Committee Secretary Alison Edelshain, performed a skilled and emotive piano recital, drawing the day to a close.