Last Saturday as part of our whole community celebrations, which included a very soggy Summer Festival, we were delighted to welcome many former students of The Royal School and Bath High School, our two founding schools, and Royal High School Bath to RHSB for our Annual Alumnae Reunion. Old girls joined us from a wide range of generations, from the impressively indefatigable Unity Marriot, née Brine, who left The Royal School in 1944 having spent much of her school life at Longleat (The Royal School was relocated to Longleat during WWII) to those that left as recently as 2021. Notably we were joined by several members of the 2002 and 2012 cohorts who were with us to celebrate their 20^th and 10^th anniversaries.

Whatever their school and generation, all visiting alumnae came together to catch up with old friends, reminisce over their school days and celebrate what it is to be a part of the RHSB family.

Following Royal High Bath Alumnae Committee’s Annual Review, and The Royal School Association long-anticipated biennial AGM, the first since 2018 after a 2-year covid-induced hiatus, everyone came together for a drinks reception where our guests could pour over items from the archives. Inspired by RHSB’s new uniform due to be phased in from September, these items included a display of former uniforms as well as a digital display of photographs, old uniform lists of requirements of yore such as ’24 pocket handkerchiefs’ and ‘2 flannel petticoats’, and anecdotal memories stretching back to the turn of the century. Alumnae of the Classes of 2002 and 2012 enjoyed browsing photographs of sports teams from their eras and memorable events such as Staff Strictly Come Dancing, potholing in Cheddar Gorge, a hockey tour to Bermuda, drama productions and more, whilst flicking through past school magazines and year books. Judging by the noise levels in the Rebecca Barrell Room this was all providing much to talk about!

Before unfurling umbrellas to enjoy the not very summery Summer Festival, our alumnae guests then embarked on tours of the school to see what has changed and what remains the same guided by a handful of Prefects, Boarders and staff – something we all enjoy doing as you never know what stories you might hear!

We very look forward to bringing our alumnae together again at the next reunion in London in October.