Fulneck School Reunion

After 272 years educating children and young adults, Fulneck School closed its doors at 12 noon on 8th July 2025. A couple of weeks earlier, its former pupils gathered for a final reunion in School.

The event was ably masterminded by the School’s Alumni Committee, in particular, Alumni Chair, Marie Christopher-Davey. The School’s closure was particularly poignant for Marie – members of her family have attended Fulneck School over a 60-year period.

Commenting on its closure, Marie said: ‘This place has meant so much to so many. A place where laughter echoed through corridors, where lifetime friendships were born over shared lunches and late-night study sessions, where young minds were shaped not just by lessons, but by love, care, and community.’

The reunion was a sold-out event, and the three hundred tickets available were quickly taken. On the day, a long queue snaked along the north terrace as eager former pupils waited to be registered for their final visit to a place once so familiar.

Amongst the 300, one former Boys’ School pupil had travelled from Hong Kong to attend, and a former Girls’ School pupil, from the States. The oldest pupil in attendance was Bruce Smith who started his life at Fulneck in the 1930s.

Sadly, during the final week before the reunion, badly timed health issues prevented the Reverend Professor Peter Gubi from attending. Similarly, Glyn Jones, who was due to play the organ was also taken ill and forced to hand in his apologies.

The Alumni team had arranged for escorted tours of the School throughout the afternoon. Along the way many memories were exchanged as former pupils recalled ‘how things were in their time at School’. On completion of the ‘tour’ a splendid afternoon tea was available, a whole host of archive material on display, Fulneck Museum was open and a cricket match was in progress on the playing fields.

A wonderful afternoon, blessed with brilliant weather, was laced with so much sadness and emotion. It concluded with a Valedictory Service held in Fulneck Church, led by Trevor Kernohan. Trevor, during a 40-year career at Fulneck School was both a teacher and Principal.

The congregation sang the Girls’ School hymn, ‘Our lamb has conquered’, and the Boys’ School hymn, ‘Saviour, Lord of all creation’. In between, Leigh-Taylor Arundale, the final Senior Head Girl of the School led the singing of ‘Jerusalem’. Six former pupils, covering the decades from 1940 onwards shared their memories of School.

Marie Christopher-Davey concluded a beautiful and moving service with the following words: ‘Let us not mourn what we are losing but celebrate what we were lucky enough to have. Fulneck School was a gift. And though its time has come to an end, its spirit will echo through time. In its last inspection, the inspector called Fulneck ‘a thimble full of diamonds’. And whilst that thimble is now closing, those diamonds will continue to sparkle with brilliance. So, let us say not just say farewell – but thank you. Thank you, Fulneck, for the love, the friendships, for memories and for the legacy.’

Br Dave Robbins

Fulneck