Events & Reunions

Pre-Booking Information

The 2025 OBA Annual Reunion Dinner

to be held at the School on:

Saturday 26th April 2025

Venue: The 1928 School Dining Hall
Borden Grammar School

The latest major extension to the School was dedicated as the

'Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block'

on Friday 27th September 2024

Partial handover of the new substantial extension to the School began in late May, however full handover will not be until during the new school year, with ancillary building works and re-laying the Lower Field continuing late into the Autumn.

The new block is to be known as the Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block, in memory of Headmaster Harold Vafeas, who was taken ill in service, and who passed away in January 2014.

ALL OBs are cordially invited to apply for a named invitation to the ceremony, by emailing  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  in the first instance, and we would like to encourage a maximum turnout in honour of Mr. Vafeas - particularly for OBs who were pupils during Harold's nine year tenure from 2004 to 2013

There are limited places available, and admission is by named invitation only so that the School can manage guest numbers

Please actively  contact your classmates and encourage them to join the Association by scanning or clicking on this QR Code:

The 2024 Old Bordenian Reunion Dinner was held on 20^th April in the 1928 Hall, on a somewhat chilly Saturday evening, and attracted 53 Borden Leavers from the 1950s (who joined in the 1940s), 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Only the 2020s were not represented (next time !). Two members were sadly unable to attend on the night, for arising medical reasons – we wish them and their families a rapid return to fulsome health.

More than 60 years of Borden history were bridged between the oldest and youngest attendee, and there were well-wishing messages received from all around the world, from Members leaving as far back as 1946.

Here you can read the full text of Alan Snelling's Keynote Speech

at the 2024 OBA Annual Reunion Dinner

Mind your language- the passport to success and to fly 2 million miles around the world.

Alan Snelling – probably the most widely travelled Old Bordenian businessman.

Having recently retired, it is now the best time to look back over a high flying, international career which has its roots firmly in my days at BGS. So let me take you back to the early 1960’s at BGS, then onto the CV , followed by a review of it all. So, fasten your seatbelts and let’s go...

Old Bordenian Association Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Thursday 12th September 2024, starting at 18:30 Local BST (1730 GMT/UTC)

All Members of the Old Bordenian Association are invited and, indeed, encouraged to attend the OBA AGM in September 2024.   The AGM will be hosted on Zoom, enabling Old Bordenians from ALL around the world  to participate actively in the OBA's management.   The AGM includes a summary of the School's and the OBA's activities over the preceding year, the presentation of OBA financial accounts, and the election of Committee Members and allocation of Roles for the forthcoming year.

The date is chosen to be soon after the start of the new school academic year, to also allow Staff (including new Staff) to be informed and take part, and before the start of the university academic year to encourage new and recent school leavers also to take part before they disperse to priorities new.

The time is chosen to try to be not too late in the UK and Europe, Africa and West Asia time zones; early afternoon in the Americas; and not too early in East Asia and Oceania time zones.

Do note the date in your diary and do try to take part !

We are appealing for OBA Members to join the Committee.   Can you spare 10 hours over the next year in order to keep the OBA running ?

Are you an interested Old Bordenian who can play a passive role in an Oversight and Advisory capacity to ensure that the Association is run properly ?   We have quarterly meetings to coordinate the activities of the OBA.   There is no further call on your time.

Or perhaps you have specific skills and experience that you can offer in fields such as finance, administration, marketing, engagement and accounting.

Perhaps you would like to play a key role in the running of the Association in between meetings.

If you are interested in giving something back to the OBA, and keeping it running, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dedication Ceremony for the

'Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block'

extension to the School

4pm Friday 27th September 2024

Admission by ticketed invitation - see below

Partial handover of the new substantial extension to the School began in late May, however full handover will not be until the start of the new school year, with ancillary building works and re-laying the Lower Field continuing late into the Autumn.

The new block is to be known as the Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block, in memory of Headmaster Harold Vafeas, who was taken ill in service, and who passed away in January 2014.

ALL OBs are cordially invited to apply for a named invitation to the ceremony, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the first instance, and we would like to encourage a maximum turnout in honour of Mr. Vafeas - particularly for OBs who were pupils during Harold's nine year tenure from 2004 to 2013

There are limited places available, and admission is by named invitation only so that the School can manage guest numbers

Please actively  contact your classmates and encourage them to join the Association by scanning or clicking on this QR Code:

OBA & BGS Combined Annual Service of Remembrance, 2024

Monday 11th November, starting at 10:30

All OBs are cordially invited to the annual Service of Remembrance.   This may be held on the steps in front of the School, or within the Quadrangle.   This is a combined service for Old Bordenians and Current Bordenians.  

This year, Remembrance Sunday is on the 10th.   Please note in your diary that the combined OBA & BGS Service is being held on Armistice Day  which is Monday, 11th November 2024, and starting at 10:30.

We hope that you can join us.

Old Bordenian Reunion Dinner 2025 - In planning, Saturday 26th April 2025

Venue: The 1928 School Dining Hall

Bar opens 6pm; first course served at 7pm

If you have questions about the Dinner, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click HERE for past OBA events

After two missing years, there was much anticipation about our 2022 Annual Reunion and Dinner. A chance to reconnect with friends and make new ones. A chance to socialise again without Government mandate. It did not disappoint.

The BGS class of ’68 have been meeting every month in a local hostelry for over 20 years. Would the global pandemic stop this?

Given the current circumstances across the UK, the OBA Committee has confirmed that the 2021 Dinner will not take place. The current pandemic situation negates our usual early Spring date and of course we are still uncertain when restrictions will be fully lifted to allow indoors social events such as our annual gathering. We will of course alert Members to any decision on potential events later in the year if the opportunity to hold them safely arises.

Geoff Rousell is looking to bring together Old Bordenians who joined the School in 1971 for a reunion at the 2021 OBA Annual Dinner.

Given the UK government's recent advice on social gatherings and to protect the welfare of our members, we have postponed this years OBA Dinner which was due to take place on Saturday 21st March. We have already informed those who had paid for places.

Although we cannot foresee how long the current advice will prevail, but we hope to still rearrange this for some time in 2020.