Alumni Christmas Celebration Lunch
On Thursday 6 December 2018, over 120 guests attended the annual Outward Bound Trust alumni celebration event. This year a lunch was held at the Victorian Council House banqueting suite in the heart of Birmingham, set against the backdrop of the Frankfurt Christmas market in the city. The event brought together a community of alumni whose Outward Bound connection dated back to 1947.
After an atmospheric reception including festive songs from the Glebefields School choir, guests were seated with others from their former Centre. Nick Barrett CEO made the official welcome, before keynote speaker Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE regaled tales of his awe-inspiring expeditions and how his thirst for adventure was fuelled by his time as an instructor at Outward Bound Ullswater in 1962.
After lunch the competitiveness of the alumni was tested; guest quiz masters with connections to Outward Bound, pitted 10 OB related questions to the audience, with a table of Eskdale alumni coming up trumps!
The event finished on an inspirational note, as recent Skills for Life beneficiary Ekta from the local Walsall Academy, recalled how her 19 day course experience at Loch Eil helped her to overcome her anxiety and her own words, turn her ‘from a snowflake into a glacier!’.
As well as share nostalgic memories and enjoy a very tasty lunch, guests kindly made donations totalling over £3,000 from the Christmas Giving Tree. The money will go towards the Outward Bound bursary fund and ensure that collectively, the legacy of OB continues to inform the present and the future of the charity.
The Outward Bound Trust is grateful to all those who attended the lunch and thankful to everyone who sent best wishes, which made the day such a memorable occasion.
Further Reading
Re-live Outward Bound for 24 hours!
15 June 18
Former course participants return to their centre
Reminiscing together - 24 hours at Outwa...
31 October 18
Alumni return to Ullswater, to rediscover their connection to Outward Bound.
Remembering Moray Sea School
3 July 18
Over 120 alumni returned to the harbour of the former Sea School.