The Class of 2020 Leavers Ball was a night to remember … and a wonderful success

On Saturday 4 June 2022 the Bradfield Society hosted the 2020 Leavers' Ball in the College Marquee. This is usually arranged and hosted by the Co-curricular team after Commemoration in July each year. Due to the Covid restrictions in 2020, this event never happened and sadly the Class of 2020 and their families left Bradfield without the usual formal send-off.

We were determined to make amends for this uncertain situation, both for the leavers and their parents as the Covid restrictions eased and we started to plan their Ball last year. We never thought it would also be the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, but it gave everyone such a great opportunity to reconnect, to share their memories, enjoy a final goodbye and to party!

The evening began with the Leavers’ Service in Chapel at 5:30pm reuniting the year group with readings by Elise Golding (K 15-20) and Haydn Bardoe (A 15-20) and short addresses by both former Heads of School Tom Houston (F 15-20) and Alice Masquelier-Page (I 15-20). The Chaplain guided the excited guests in Chapel through the order of service and this was followed by the Leavers’ Photograph in Quad, which you can see above. The photographer Francis Bigg did a great job capturing the group and also took portrait and family group pictures in the Marquee during the evening, copies of which are available on his website to buy here

The whole format of the evening had been the choice of the original 2020 Ball Committee of former students who had started making plans and never saw them come to fruition. We set the date with them back in March 2021, decided on a traditional fairground theme for the Summer Ball in the usual way, along with live music and a disco.

We had 276 leavers and parents come along on the day and the Bradfield Society reconnected with a few of the Class of 2020 for whom we had no contact details, which was a fabulous outcome too.

Clay Laser Shooting was available during the evening, a bar, entertainers for guests to enjoy, a helter-skelter replacing the usual ferris wheel which was sadly undergoing repair and a photo booth facility for fun group and individual pictures.

Everyone enjoyed the drinks reception outside the marquee followed by a delicious 3 course meal prepared by the College Catering team and wines with their dinner. The dancing went on until midnight and everyone had a wonderful time.

Comments we had afterwards included: ‘a truly wonderful and long-awaited evening’, ‘memorable Leavers’ Ball’, an ‘incredible night for both leavers and parents’ and ‘it was lovely to get closure after a rather hard year’. We loved having you all back with us again and thank you for coming along.

We have collated a gallery of pictures below and welcome any other photographs you may like to share with us of the event.