08/03/2025 – Old Bostonian Association 125th Anniversary Dinner

8th March 2025 – 6:30pm for 7:30pm
The Boston & County Club,
Park Gate, Boston, PE21 6RL
Guest speakers: Richard Anderson and James Loader
with video messages from many others

Reconnect and celebrate at The Old Bostonian Association Annual Dinner 2025

The OBA was officially founded as the ‘Old Bostonian Club’ on 20th April 1900. On that date, 18 former pupils met at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, London to form the new organisation.

Calling all former Boston Grammar School students and staff!

This year’s OBA dinner is your unmissable chance to reconnect with old friends, colleagues, and teachers. Mingle with fellow alumni, share cherished memories, and catch up on life.

---

• Reconnect with your school community: Reminisce with former classmates, meet new friends, and catch up with teachers who shaped your BGS experience.
• Guest speakers: For this special 125th Anniversary Dinner we have not one, but two much-loved former BGS staff members speaking in person with video messages coming in from other alumni including some very special old boys.
• Optional school tour: Take a nostalgic walk down memory lane during the afternoon tour even if you can’t make the dinner. We are also hoping to be able to offer a walking tour of the town, visiting key locations related to the history of the school – more details of that soon.
• Bring a guest: Introduce your friend or family member to your old school and share your BGS experience.

BGS staff and former staff expected to be present at the dinner include: Christine Abrams, Luke Anderson, Richard Anderson, Ron Abbott, Steve Barker, Robin Borrett, Rod Dunn, Richard Holtam, James Loader and Steve Neal.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate shared memories and forge new connections!

Ticket sales are now closed.

---

Richard Anderson – Former Head of Modern Languages justly dubbed “King of Clubs”

Richard is known to generations of former Boston Grammar School students having been on the staff from 1971 to 2014. In addition to teaching German and French to many students he was involved in more extra-curricular activities than probably anyone else in the history of the school. Richard devoted his life to the lads, aiming to give them as many opportunities as he could: he organised a whole range of clubs and societies, led annual school tours to Germany and France, set up ‘camps’ in tents, barns and youth hostels all over the UK, helped raise over £100,000 for charities of the boys’ choice, supported athletes and cross-country runners both in school and at the local athletics club and spent 25 years as ‘impresario’ of the well-known Boston Grammar School Schuhplattler German Dance Troupe.

James Loader – Former English teacher and cultural influence

James was a popular English teacher at BGS from 1972 to 1979 serving under Head of English, Stan Cawthorne. During his time at the school James also taught Russian and Classical Foundation. He was always a lively and inspiring influence. Before he directed a successful production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice there hadn’t been a senior school play for some years. James also co-authored and acted in the staff pantomime, a thoroughly disreputable affair in which he and modern languages teacher, the late John Chambers played the ugly sisters. Together with maths and science teacher Simon Collins he set up a school society to listen to classical music. Despite its small membership they managed a trip to the Royal Opera House in London. During his time in Boston James was a member of the Stump Choir.

Join us at the OBA dinner to hear Richard and James in person together with other guest stars on video.

The aim is to hear from a cross section of former staff and students of the school who will be known to many present.

---

The dinner will take place at The Boston & County Club on Saturday 8^th March 2025.

Added attractions available on the day are:

• A free walking tour of the town led by Boston’s own tour guide, Jane Keightley, which will include visits to key locations related to the history of the school. The tour will commence at 10:30am and continue until approximately 1:30pm with a break for refreshments
• The school will be open to visit from 1pm to 3pm (last entry 2:30pm)

Click here for further details of these visits and to reserve your place on either or both

Details

Dress code: Lounge suits

Tickets £37.00 each

The dinner is open to former students of Boston Grammar School together with current and former members of staff at the school. You do not have to be a member of the Old Bostonian Association. You may also buy a ticket for a guest who need not have connections to BGS.