Large attendance from across the decades for Bangor Grammar School past pupils’ dinner

The 95th annual dinner for former pupils of Bangor Grammar School was held last Friday evening at Bangor Golf Club, with the 90-plus attendance easily the highest in more than a decade.

Numbers were boosted by the presence of a 22-strong contingent from the Class of 1975, marking 50 years since their departure from the school; a dozen past pupils and staff members who took part in the 2005 rugby tour to Canada; also a similar number from the Class of 1998.

As ever, there was an excellent attendance by the Class of 1951 (the year they commenced studies at the school), while Principal Stephen Gilmore, who is also President of Bangor Grammarians, was accompanied by four senior pupils, namely Calvin Cousins (Head Boy), Rory Fulton (Captain of Rugby),  Seb Holley (Captain of Hockey) and Rees McClements (Captain of Football), along with Alumni Co-ordinators Krystal Cunningham and Kerry Will.

Alan Black, chairman of hosts Bangor Grammarians, in extending a warm welcome to everyone, said the past year had witnessed many changes, not least the establishments of the new alumni network which includes the school and the Grammarians. He believed a positive future lay ahead and commended all involved in the initiative, which he strongly supported.

Indicating he would be standing down at December’s annual meeting after serving four terms, he wished the incoming chairman every success. He thanked his fellow committee members for their support, singling out magazine editor Terence Bowman who was retiring from the post which he had held for 11 years.

In a well-received address, Mr Gilmore said during 2024/25 pupils had continued to make the school proud, achieving outstanding results and opening doors to universities or opting for modern and higher level apprenticeships with industry leaders. 

Character, resilience and the establishment of lifelong friendships were also important aspects to a pupil’s time at the school, he said. On the sporting front, Mr Gilmore highlighted the 2025 rugby and hockey tour of South Africa, with over 80 pupils taking part in a “mammoth undertaking the boys will never forget”.

Picking up the theme of change, Mr Gilmore said Artificial Intelligence was playing an increasingly important role in many aspects of life at the school. However, he stressed that everything one saw was “still genuine” and there was “nothing artificial” about their staff, describing them as “a community striving for excellence, caring for one another and upholding our traditions in this manner”.

He thanked alumni link officers Kerry Will and Krystal Cunningham on their work, which included increasing membership of the Grammarian body.

He also announced the imminent digitalisation of the BGS Archive, which would be accessible online to registered members only, with an accompanying fundraising campaign to cover the costs. Mr Gilmore commended past staff member and retired Archivist Barry Greenaway on his “sterling work in maintaining an Archive second to none”.

In closing, the Principal said the “speed of the change” was not only down to Kerry and Krystal, but also to the support and encouragement of the Grammarians Committee. He offered his personal thanks to chairman Alan Black who, he said, had been a great supporter of the changes and the other ongoing work.

After the chairman had expressed everyone’s thanks to the management and staff of the Golf Club for serving another excellent meal, the evening’s proceedings concluded with a hearty rendition of The School Song.