Old Cumnorians
Here at Cumnor House Sussex, we greatly value our community of past pupils (known as Old Cumnorians or OCs), OC parents and former Staff. Your continued association with the school is important to us and we are always delighted to hear from you and welcome you back for events.
Despite moving on to a huge range of senior schools and universities, OCs continually demonstrate a tremendous show of support for one another as well as their childhood school.
In the coming months, we plan to reach out the whole Old Cumnorian community to get your thoughts and feedback about how this important alumni bond can be maintained in years to come – through events, communications and other opportunities for involvement.
If you are an OC and would like to keep in touch, we would love to hear from you. Please provide your details or contact Ms Sam Davies at oldcumnorians@cumnor.co.uk.
Upcoming events & reunions
Class of 2023 Leavers’ and Parents’ Gathering – Sunday 9th 2024, 2pm-4.30pm
Invites have now been sent by post and emails to all pupils who left Cumnor last summer and their families asking them to join us for a special gathering to mark a year since they departed.
This occasion provides a great opportunity for our Class of 2023 Leavers to catch up with former classmates and for their parents to reconnect with each other and is an annual tradition here at Cumnor.
You can RSVP online here – and if you have any questions, please contact Ms Sam Davies via oldcumnorians@cumnor.co.uk.
Class of 2014 10th Anniversary Reunion (September 2024)
Since 2017, we have organised annual reunions events for OCs and their parents, to mark the 10th anniversary of their departure from Cumnor. The events prove phenomenally popular – a truly memorable day when the celebrating class and their parents are reunited with old friends, as well as former and current teachers. We are currently organising the 10th anniversary reunion for the Class of 2014 and more details will be shared soon!
Past events & reunions
A reunion for Old Cumnorians who left the school between 1986 to 2000 took place on Saturday 18th May 2024. Over 100 attendees returned to Cumnor and enjoyed an afternoon of reminiscing and reconnecting over some wonderful food and drinks. The weather gods were kind to us and a group of OCs took to the Terrace Pitch for a friendly cricket match. Mr Llewellyn set a new world record when his school tour during the afternoon took over 1.5 hours as OCs remembered every nook and cranny from their time at the school. This reunion was spearheaded by Anna Milner-Gulland, Liv Munday (née Cotton, Class of 1992) and Frances Marden (Class of 1995), with Lachlan Nieboer (Class of 1995) taking the lead in encouraging the cricketers amongst the group.
The 10th anniversary gathering for the Class of 2013 took place on Saturday 23rd September 2023. We welcomed Old Cumnorians back with their parents and former and current members of staff, for drinks & canapés followed by lunch.
We had a truly celebratory day on Saturday 20th May 2023 when we welcomed back around 75 Old Cumnorians who left Cumnor between 1975 and 1985 – together with some of their former teachers. It was a heart-warming gathering, when we saw friendships rekindled over drinks and lunch – some attendees having flown in from as far afield as Seattle, France and Belgium!
Cricket whites were donned as the 1975-79 XI took on the 1980-85 XI after lunch – playing on the old Terrace Pitch that they remembered so well from their Cumnor days. Mr Llewellyn took everyone on a trip down memory lane, revisiting old haunts and to view the many changes that have taken place at their former prep school.
It was so wonderful to welcome so many OCs back into the Cumnor fold, and we give huge thanks to Anna Milner-Gulland, Joumana Es Said and Nicky Hemming (née Packman) who helped organise the reunion. There is already talk of ‘the next’ gathering!
On Saturday 24th September 2022, the Classes of 2011 and 2012 joined us with their parents and staff, for drinks and nibbles outside on the Terrace lawns, followed by lunch in the marquee, which had been put up especially for the occasion. The 200 guests who joined us were able to enjoy Cumnor at its very best on a gloriously sunny autumnal day and, after a very long lunch, they enjoyed touring the school, reminiscing about their Cumnor days and seeing the new developments that have sprung up since their departure.
In the words of the Gillespie-Smith family: “Many thanks for organising an amazing reunion at Cumnor House on Saturday. It was lovely to see so many children, parents and teachers. We were treated to fabulous food and wine. Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved – we really do love coming back!”
And from OC Parent, Leigh Scotland: “I really wanted to thank you for such an amazing day on Saturday. It was so wonderful to see everyone again from Cumnor – both parents and ex-pupils all together. What a fantastic turnout it was! Everyone seemed just so happy to see each other, it was all rather wonderful. Thank you to you for putting on such a great day with wonderful Cumnor food – still as delicious as always – as well as great speeches by the two headmasters and fantastic photos. It was truly a magical day!”
And from former staff member, Sarah Snell: “I just wanted to say thank you so much for the invitation to the reunion. I absolutely loved catching up with staff, parents and children. And of course enjoying a delicious Cumnor lunch. I’m hoping I have many more to come!!”