b"THE ELLESMERIANOld Ellesmerians176The Ellesmerian ClubClub activities in this academic year were again somewhat curtailed by the remnants of COVID, however some traditional events could and did occur, alongside the start of new ones that will hopefully become annual fixtures including Old Ellesmerian rugby matches between leaver years and OE Girls hockey fixtures against the current College 1st XI.Regrettably it was again impossible to hold the normal Remembrance Service. A more formal act of Remembrance than in 2020 was held on the 11th of November. Our Chairman Richard Thurgood laid a Things started well with a rugby match between the 2019 and 2020wreath on behalf of the Club alongside others laid by College Staff leavers organised by a father and son combination of Nick andand a Guard of Honour provided by the Cadet Force. The event was Branden Turner. The match was held on Saturday 4th September.videoed and published on the College website for members to watch Approximately 40 Old Ellesmerians returned to College, and it wasthis simple but moving ceremony. won by the 2019 Leavers. Final score 2912. This was the first match to be played on the First XV pitch for two years due to the ravagesUnfortunately there was a quiet period of Club activities in the first of COVID. The game was well supported by OEs, with a total of overfive or six months of the year but in June the Summer Lunch returned a hundred players and supporters. The teams were very smart, withwith a good turnout of OEs. There was also a chance to introduce two fantastic sets of kit designed and supplied by Akuma, which isthe 2021 leavers to the Club and its activities as part of the overall operated and owned by the Aldersley brothers who are, of course,College events that day. This lunch was the final Club event to be OEs.organised by Olivia Beckett. Liv has been a stalwart in supporting our activities over the last ten years but is moving to a new position On the same day, a hockey match between the College First XI and aoutside of the College. At the end of the lunch a presentation was leavers team was held on the Astro-turf pitch as part of the warm-upmade to her and she was elected an Honorary OE. for the College team, drawing 3-3. Again, the match was well supported by both OEs and parents.The Club executive met regularly during the year and commenced planning of a large, exciting event to be held in 2023. This will be an OE Family Festival Day to be held on Saturday 26th August. There will be numerous sporting events, College tours, children's activities, and a variety of catering attractions. Nick Turner will be taking the lead in organising the sport whilst Richard Thurgood will be leading the logistics team. The event will also be open to parents and pupils. It is nearly twenty years since the last event of this nature which drew about 900 attendees and it would be great to beat that number. There will be a series of adverts and details of how to take part launched over the next few months but place this in your diary nowthe success of this event depends on you and I look forward to meeting many OEs and their families there.These sporting events are to become annual, and at the time ofRichard Thurgood writing both have occurred, and a second rugby match this timeOE Club Chairmanbetween the 2021 and 2022 leavers is scheduled for December 2022. These matches are helping to draw younger members of the Club into more active participation and it is hoped this will be expanded with cricket matches in 2023."