Last week a group of Old Guildfordians (OGs) living in Dubai gathered together for an event hosted by the RGS Guildford Headmaster, Dr Jon Cox, Development and Alumni Relations Director, Monica Popa, the for the first-ever international OG Reunion in Dubai. The event was preceded by a tour of RGS Guildford Dubai, led by Assistant Head and Maths & Science Teacher at RGS Dubai,Mr Joe Creal (OG’01). The OGs were also joined by Karim Tayar (OG’96) who is currently on secondment at RGSG Dubai.
The tour of the School was followed by a reunion dinner, where the assembled OGs reconnected, reminisced about their time at School, and celebrated the School’s ongoing achievements. Special thanks to those OGs who travelled from across the UAE, especially Abu Dhabi, to join in this memorable occasion and to their partners who joined for the evening. The assembled group spanned many generations of OGs from 1979 to 2008 living and working in UAE.
The Headmaster expressed his gratitude to the OGs who are supporting the Bursary Campaign and shared ambitions for the future of the Campaign “The Road to 2035”. The Campaign’s ambitions are to offer a life-changing education to students in Guildford. This experience has shaped many of the OG’s lives assembled for the evening and brought them together in the shared ambition to offer this transformational opportunity to future generations of students who could not otherwise afford access to an RGS education in the UK.
The event was a resounding success, with attendees expressing their joy at reconnecting with old friends and making new connections. The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia and camaraderie as stories from their school days were shared, and the impact of their education on their personal and professional lives was discussed. The reunion dinner provided a perfect setting for these meaningful conversations, with delicious food and a warm, welcoming environment.
Overall, the first-ever international OG Reunion in Dubai was a memorable and impactful event. It not only brought together a diverse group of alumni but also reinforced the strong sense of community and shared purpose that defines the RGS family. The evening was a testament to the enduring bonds formed during their time at school and the collective desire to give back and support future generations of students.