BCFS

May Ball

The Family Society organises social events bringing together parents and staff from all three schools of the Brighton College Community, from pre-reception through to the Upper 6th, to meet each other and have fun. This year we focused on a few larger events as follows:

New Parents Welcome Tea

40 new parents came to the Welcome Tea in October, linking up new parents from all years including some whose children were boarding and others who had relocated from overseas. Next year we will be expanding this and holding a barbecue to welcome new families to the school.

Mulled Wine and Mince Pies before Midnight Mass

On Christmas Eve we offered everyone a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie before Midnight Mass in the College chapel. Around 120 people joined us for the refreshments and many more for the service. It was a lovely festive start to Christmas.

Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh

This proved to be a huge success and everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion wearing a touch of tartan through to full Highland Dress. With a piper, tasty traditional Scottish fare, the address and toast to the Haggis by Richard Cairns, excellent speeches by Simon Smith, Michael Edwards and Sue Wicks, it was a Burns Night in true tradition. Dinner was served in the Dining Room with the Ceilidh in the Great Hall. Both rooms were decorated with Scottish St. Andrews and Roaring Lion flags and tartan. The superb Sussex Pistols Ceilidh Band and Caller had everyone dancing and with constant changing of partners during each dance, it was great fun, a very inclusive and sociable event.

Sparkling Silver Ball

Over 300 parents from all 15 years of the school came together for our annual Summer Ball in May. The College Swing Band set the evening off to a lively start during the champagne reception. A delicious dinner was then served in the marquee, decorated with Silver Star Helium Balloons and decorations. After dinner the excellent band Catfish took over and had everyone dancing until the early hours. It was a wonderful night and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Book Group

The book group meets every 6 weeks in term time in the College Library. Books read are mainly 20th and 21st century fiction. This is an informal gathering to share reading and open to all parents.

Finances

This year the Family Society gave money to each of the 3 Parent Associations and bought new lane ropes for the swimming pool. From this year's surplus we are intending to purchase wooden benches for the school grounds, to contribute to diving blocks for the swimming pool and outdoor lighting in the Prep School.

The Committee

We have a fantastic and dedicated committee made up of a parent representative from all 15 years in the school and senior staff from each school. They work hard and have fun planning and organising these events for you. It has been a pleasure to work with them and the College Staff to provide events where so many parents can meet each other and enjoy themselves.

We hope you will come and join us for one of our events next year.

Cathy Cullen
Chair Family Society
June 2007