The Wellington Community programme
As the Wellington Community team, our aim is to provide a meaningful programme of cultural, social, business, careers and educational events and activities for everyone in the Community. We aim to create a programme that helps us come together to reinforce, support and build the special and unique relationship that we all have with Wellington College and with one another.
8.00pm, The Crypt Chapel, Wellington college
The Christian Prayer Group has been set up by a group of Wellington parents, from a variety of church
backgrounds, who believe prayers have a positive impact on school life. It gives parents the opportunity to meet together and pray for the school, its governors and staff, the pupils and their families. The group welcomes all parents and staff, and anyone else within the Wellington Community with an interest in praying blessings on the school community.
This group meets twice per term to pray, the meetings are very informal and take place on Sunday evenings, in the Crypt Chapel (down the steps beside the Chapel).
To register or for more information or prayer requests please contact the Prayer group coordinators:
Gilly: gilly@thehafners.com and Suzanne: suzanne@bishton.net, both Wellington parents.
7.30pm, Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
The Wellington Community are pleased to announce our first parent theatre trip of the term to see the phenomenal School of Rock on the West End.
Based on the iconic, hit movie, this irresistible new musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a supply teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight –A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out?
Join us for what will be a hilarious night out with fellow members of the Wellington Community with our special group rate tickets only £32.50 per person!
Booking available soon, for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Book your place »6.30pm, Fabio's and La Spaghettata, Durham
The Wellington Community invites you to an informal and fun catch up for everyone at Durham University, with food and drinks. Members of the Wellington Community Team and Common Room will be in attendance. Please help spread the word to other OWs. We look forward to seeing you!
Book your place »7.30pm, GWA, Wellington College
Ben Fogle is an award winning broadcaster and adventurer. Ben has climbed Mount Everest, rowed across the Atlantic, raced across Antarctica to the South Pole and crossed the deserts of the Empty Quarter in the Middle East. He has written nine Sunday Times best selling books. Join us for an evening with Ben Fogle as he presents his latest book ‘Up: My Life’s Journey to the Top of Everest’.
This is set to be a fascinating evening as Ben gives his account of the seven-week expedition and experiencing the fine line between life and death 8,000 metres above sea level.
Book your place »6.00pm, Oriental Club, Marylebone, London
Formally launched in 2014, Career Opportunity Groups were set up to provide support and networking opportunities for OWs (young and old) in whatever their chosen career.
We are thrilled to involve more members of the Wellington Community and now invite parents to join all our career networking events. This drinks reception is a gathering of all from the Wellington
Community in the fields related to Engineering, Design and Technology. Our sixth form students who attend these events find them invaluable, and we hope all from our Community who are interested in or working in these fields will join us.
7.30pm, Great School, Wellington College
What better way to celebrate the end of dry January than with a massive glass of wine! Back by popular demand our raucous ‘call my bluff’ wine night returns. We can’t wait to host this again! We hope that all our new third form parents have enjoyed their first term at Wellington, we now want to give you the opportunity to socialise and meet more fellow parents including parents joining next September.
*This event is now SOLD OUT. If you would like to join the waiting list please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk *
Book your place »
11.30am, Concert Room, Wellington College
Join the informal and fun Wellington Parent Singers group, led by Simon Williamson, designed for singers of all abilities and covering a range of music from West Side Story to choral classics. Having launched the parent singers last year, we are now 20 members strong and welcome many more to join. Come along and give it a try!
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
11.30am, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
An outline of the overall vision and structural running of Sport at Wellington College and what can be expected with regards to coaching and associated behaviours. Talk delivered by Steve Shortland, Dan and Kate Pratt.
Book your place »12.30pm, Great School and Waterloo Hall, Wellington College
A 20th anniversary gathering for the leavers of 1999.
Lunch will be served at 1.15pm and afterwards there will be a chance to explore College, watch sport, and take a walk down memory lane. At 4.00pm tea will be served.
Partners, guests and families welcome.
Tickets £15.
Children free of charge.
Singapore, Australia and New Zealand
The remarkable Chris Potter will be leaving on a jet plane (and we‘re hoping he’ll be back again!) to embark on a multi-stop tour of Singapore, Australia and New Zealand during February 2019. He is hoping to see as many of you as possible once he is out there.
Below is the rather fabulous itinerary of OW get-togethers we have lined up:
Tuesday 5th February – Singapore
Friday 8th February – Perth
Wednesday 13th February – Melbourne
Friday 15th February – Sydney
Friday 22nd February – Brisbane
Tuesday 26th February – Auckland
We very much hope that you will be able to join fellow OWs for a much-needed catch up; Chris is so looking forward to seeing you all. Please do save-the-date and let us know if you would be interested in attending. We will be in touch shortly with more details including times and venue. Please note that partners are warmly invited to join the OW get-togethers too.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
6.30pm, Brewhouse and Kitchen, Cotham Hill, Bristol
The Wellington Community invites you to an informal and fun catch up for everyone at Bath and Bristol Universities, with free food and drink. Members of the Wellington Community Team and Common Room will be in attendance. Please help spread the word to other OWs.
We look forward to seeing you!
Book your place »7.30pm, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
Garden designer and landscape historian Penelope Hill Smith explores the multiple historical influences that contribute to cutting edge twenty first century garden design and challenges ideas of what is a garden.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
11.30am, Logical Room, The Mallinson Library, Wellington College
This hands-on interactive session run by Lucy Atherton (Head Librarian) and the Wellington library team will give Sixth Form parents an introduction on the use of library resources and electronic reference materials to support the pupils’ academic learning through their two years of A-Levels or IB examinations.
Book your place »
11.15am, Great School, Wellington College
Join Head of Art History Adam Rattray for a look at some highlights of the College’s art collection. In particular, this is a chance to see some exciting pieces which have recently been loaned to the College, and several more which are on display for the first time, having been newly framed and hung.
Book your place »1.00pm, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
Caroline Jones (Wellington College Archivist) returns once more to delve into the wonders of the College archives, showcasing selected items and the stories that they tell. Those interested in this event may also wish to attend the Art and Heritage Tour taking place in the morning at 11.15am. There will be a joint light lunch for these two events held in the V&A Café from 12.15pm-1.00pm.
Book your place »10.15am, Westminster, London
Join us as City of Westminster Guide, Lou Cohen, takes us through the different districts and shares her wealth of knowledge, this time focused on the incredible history of the RAF.
The Royal Air Force has just celebrated its 100th anniversary. Prior to its creation in 1918, there were some visionaries who realised the potential role and military capabilities of aeroplanes, that would go far beyond reconnaissance.
Join Lou for a walk in Westminster to hear about these brave pioneers, the effects of two World Wars on aviation and the individuals who shaped the RAF.
Meeting point – George V statue, Old Palace Yard, London SW1 at 10.15am for 10.30 start.
The walk will end at St Clement Danes, Strand and take two hours. The walk will go ahead whatever the weather.
Spaces are limited to 20 people. Tickets are £14 per person.
Book your place »
6.00pm, Oriental Club, London
Formally launched in 2014, Career Opportunity Groups were set up to provide support and networking opportunities for OWs (young and old) in whatever their chosen career.
We are thrilled to involve more members of the Wellington Community and now invite parents to join all our career networking events. This drinks reception is a gathering of all from the Wellington Community in fields related to Medicine.
Our sixth form students who attend these events find them invaluable, and we hope all from our Community who are interested in or working in the field of Medicine will join us.
Book your place »12.30pm, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
Understanding and Managing Teenage Habits, Dependencies and Addictive Behaviours. As students approach adolescence and stresses mount, including academic and social pressures and peer influences, this becomes a vulnerable time when students often stumble upon dysfunctional strategies (e.g. food issues, self-harm, smoking, drugs, alcohol, pornography viewing, or a reliance on social media) to manage, regulate or distract themselves from their particular challenges, or to fit in with the group.
This session aims to help parents develop an understanding of how occasional “normalised” behaviours can quickly become habitual ways of coping or relaxing and can also activate addiction pathways in the teenage brain. We show parents how the sessions we are conducting with Year 9 students will help them to understand the importance of avoiding the pitfalls of addictive behaviours and instead make them aware of identifying and practising more functional strategies for coping with their emotional states to protect their future mental health.
We will focus on self-harm, eating disorders and the harmful effects of viewing Pornography, all of which are increasing problems amongst this age group. Parents are helped with understanding how to approach the subject of SexEd and help their child make good decisions and choices around sex and relationships, helping understand how pornography can change perceptions of what is normal and can quickly become addictive.
Self Harm and Eating issues will also be addressed, allowing parents to see the bigger picture of how these are closely linked to difficulties with coping with anxiety. We will look at ways parents can use their relationship and home life to help their child regulate anxiety, support good mental health and emotional resilience in their child.
Book your place »
7.15pm, The Queen’s Club, London, W14
This key night in the OW calendar is back at the Queen’s Club for 2019. Ticket prices will be released closer to the time, with a reduction for those under the age of 25. All tickets include dinner and wine. Early booking is advised as places are limited to 100. Guest speaker for the evening, Max Evans (Hg 02), OW and former Scottish Rugby International.
To book please contact John Goodeve-Docker: jgdocker@btinternet.com
7.30pm, Moral Room, The Mallinson Library, Wellington College
Come and join this informal group to discuss the chosen book over some refreshments with our wonderful head librarian, Lucy Atherton, and fellow members of the Wellington Community.
The chosen book for this book club meeting will be announced online here in due course.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
7.30pm, National Theatre, London
Our second Wellington Community Theatre Trip is to see Follies, winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival at the National Theatre. Its 1971 in New York and there’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.
We are able to offer these tickets to our Wellington Community at a heavily discounted price of £20.00 per person. Join us for what will be a fun evening out with fellow members of the Wellington Community.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
11.30am, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
Adolescence can be a turbulent time involving great changes, not only for the young person concerned, but also for their families. Almost overnight it can feel like a parent’s role and relationship with their child is different – in some respects in ways that are welcomed and in others, in ways that are not. Many of the difficulties experienced, however painful for all concerned, are often considered to be part of the healthy process of a young person navigating the demanding process and social expectations involved in the metamorphosis from child to adult.
In raising one’s own teens, it helps to understand this process and to keep this as an anchor when helping them through what can be an immensely challenging life transition. Gill and Anna are counsellors at Wellington College, as well as parents who have parented or are currently parenting teens, and with many years’ experience of working therapeutically with young people. In this talk they hope to offer parents further insight into this special age and what is most needed of them at this time, as well as some reassurance that they are not alone in sometimes feeling out of their depth in how best to parent their child.
Book your place »8.00pm, The Crypt Chapel, Wellington College
The Christian Prayer Group has been set up by a group of Wellington parents, from a variety of church backgrounds, who believe prayers have a positive impact on school life. It gives parents the opportunity to meet together and pray for the school, its governors and staff, the pupils and their families. The group welcomes all parents and staff, and anyone else within the Wellington Community with an interest in praying blessings on the school community.
This group meets twice per term to pray, the meetings are very informal and take place on Sunday evenings, in the Crypt Chapel (down the steps beside the Chapel).
To register or for more information or prayer requests please contact the Prayer group coordinators: Gilly (gilly@thehafners.com) and Suzanne (suzanne@bishton.net), both Wellington parents.
6.00pm, Oriental Club, London
Formally launched in 2014, Career Opportunity Groups were set up to provide support and networking opportunities for OWs (young and old) in whatever their chosen career.
We are thrilled to involve more members of the Wellington Community and now invite parents to join all our career networking events. This drinks reception is a gathering of all from the Wellington Community in fields related to IT. Our sixth form students who attend these events find them invaluable, and we hope all from our Community who are interested in or working in the field of IT will join us.
Book your place »7.30pm, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
A chance to explore texture and form, scale and proportions, and various colour schemes to create impact and atmosphere.
Jacqueline Easton has been a full member of the Society of Garden Designers for more than 20 years and runs a very successful local design practise. Her projects range from very small to large complex schemes, mostly residential and some commercial. Her professional signature is… bold, simple and stylish designs, undertaken with a pragmatic and practical approach.
To visit Jacqueline’s website please go to: jacqueline-easton.co.uk
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
9.45am, Newsome Hall, Wellington College
At Wellington’s annual Career Fair, some 50+ Old Wellingtonians and parents visit the College to offer their advice and insight into a wide range of industries. This student focused event will see attendees be given in-depth information about what each career involves and how best to get into it. There will also be a chance to explore and get advice about gap year opportunities.
To register please email: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
6.00pm, Oriental Club, London
Formally launched in 2014, Career Opportunity Groups were set up to provide support and networking opportunities for OWs (young and old) in whatever their chosen career.
We are thrilled to involve more members of the Wellington Community and now invite parents to join all our career networking events. This drinks reception is a gathering of all from the Wellington Community in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Our sixth form students who attend these events find them invaluable, and we hope all from our Community who are interested in or working in Armed Forces will join us.
Book your place »6.00pm, Oriental Club, London
We are delighted to be hosting our second Wellington Entrepreneur’s Exchange evening to bring together the Wellington Community yet again to share ideas and experience on start-ups and entrepreneurships. After the success of the last event we would love to see new and familiar faces to hear about the successes, failures and challenges you’ve faced over the year and where you are now.
We will also be bringing members from the ‘Disrupt Society’, Wellington’s own student entrepreneur society as they found the event hugely beneficial last year and can’t wait to do it again. Please join us for an evening of OWs, parents and students sharing ideas, experience and creating valuable networking opportunities.
For more information and to register contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Book your place »6.30pm, The Old Fire House, Exeter
The Wellington Community invites you to an informal and fun catch up for everyone at Exeter University, with free food and drinks. Members of the Wellington Community Team and Common Room will be in attendance. Please help spread the word to other OWs. We look forward to seeing you!
Book your place »11.00am, Concert Room, Wellington College
Join the informal and fun Wellington Parent Singers group, led by Simon Williamson, designed for singers of all abilities and covering a range of music from West Side Story to choral classics. Having launched the parent singers last year, we are now 20 members strong and welcome many more to join. Come along and give it a try!
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
12.00pm, Driver Lecture Room, Wellington College
Flow is that magical state where you become so absorbed in doing something, that you lose track of time, even lose your sense of self. This talk explores a little of the theory behind the concept, how it is taught at Wellington and why it matters for well being.
Book your place »12.30pm, Waterloo Hall, Wellington College
A joint 30 and 40 year anniversary gathering for the leavers of 1979 and 1989. Lunch will be served at 1.15pm and afterwards there will be a chance to explore College, watch sport, and take a walk down memory lane. At 4.00pm tea will be served.
Partners, guests and families welcome.
Tickets £15.
Children free of charge.
7.30pm, Moral Room, The Mallinson Library, Wellington College
Come and join this informal group to discuss the chosen book over some refreshments with our wonderful head librarian, Lucy Atherton, and fellow members of the Wellington Community.
The chosen book for this book club meeting will be announced online here in due course.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
6.00pm, Oriental Club, London
Formally launched in 2014, Career Opportunity Groups were set up to provide support and networking opportunities for OWs (young and old) in whatever their chosen career.
We are thrilled to involve more members of the Wellington Community and now invite parents to join all our career networking events. This drinks reception is a gathering of all from the Wellington Community in fields related to Property. Our sixth form students who attend these events find them invaluable, and we hope all from our Community who are interested in or working in the field of Property will join us.
Book your place »11.30am, MFL Classrooms, Wellington College
Sixty minutes of career guidance for all Wellington students to find out more about a range of careers from Advertising to Zoology. Broken down into slots, students will have the chance to spend time exploring career options and thinking about how best to position themselves to pursue a career in their chosen field.
We are always grateful to any parents and OWs who are able to offer their support.
If you are interested in volunteering your time to give advice to our young students, please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
12.30pm, Great School and Waterloo Hall, Wellington College
An anniversary gathering for our pre-1956 leavers.
Lunch will be served at 1.15pm and afterwards there will be a chance to explore College, watch sport, and take a walk down memory lane. At 4.00pm tea will be served.
Partners, guests and families welcome.
Tickets £15 and places are limited.
7.00pm, The China Club, Hong Kong
A cocktail reception for our all those connected to Wellington College to gather in Hong Kong. Julian and Murray look forward to seeing our current parents again, catching up with OWs and congratulating those that will be joining in the next academic year.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
7.00pm, The Cricket Club, Hong Kong
This event is an opportunity to bring together our community of OWs based in SE Asia. Murray Lindo, Head of the Wellington Community, and The Master will be hosting drinks and are both looking forward to meeting you and updating you on recent events and news from College.
To register or for more information please contact: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk