This past weekend, on Saturday 15 March, St George's welcomed back former pupils of Lansdowne House School for a special reunion event. Nearly 50 years after the school's closure, Lansdowne Old Girls gathered to reminisce, reconnect, and revisit the buildings and grounds that were once their educational home.

The day began with tea and coffee at 10:00 am, followed by a guided tour of Lansdowne House. For many, this was their first time returning to the building in decades, creating a deeply emotional experience as they walked through familiar spaces that had once been so central to their daily lives.

"Considering it is almost 50 years since the school closed and St George's became the custodian of the building, I think many of us were surprised how little it had changed," remarked one former pupil. "All those special or not so special nooks and crannies seemed so familiar, and many common memories were felt and voiced."

The tour sparked numerous shared memories, from standing on "the corner step halfway up the staircase" as punishment for misbehavior (where they would knit squares for blankets) to the infamous red and green lights outside the Headmistress's office, where students would anxiously wait to be called in.

Following the tour, the group attended a special service at the Church of the Good Shepherd, where daily assemblies were once held. This provided a fitting conclusion to the day's formal activities, with one attendee noting it "rekindled many memories, especially that first half hour of everyone's school day."

The reunion continued with coffee and conversation in the Church Hall, where former classmates shared stories, laughter, and photographs. Many expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with both the place and people that shaped their formative years.

"We had a fantastic day! It was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit our beloved school and church, view the amazing archives, and share stories and precious memories," enthused one of the former pupils.

For many of the Lansdowne Old Girls, the reunion offered not just a chance to revisit their past, but also to appreciate the legacy of their education. As one former Head Girl reflected, "Looking back, that was the start of others seeing my potential and encouraging me and supporting me to take on leadership roles."