Chronicle January 2021

22 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

within our community whose lives have been catastrophically affected by the pandemic. We are also keen to see how we might make the Field Side of our campus work more effectively for all, but more on that in the months ahead. Too often fundraising is hampered by awkwardness but I genuinely love asking people for money! It’s because I believe passionately in the difference philanthropic support can make to our community and our The Friends’ Virtual Book Club Jen Walker, Chair of the Friends’ Committee, writes: The Friends’ virtual Book Club was launched in November, when we had a fantastic turn out with over 30 parents and staff plus the author, Cara Hunter, who joined us to discuss her debut novel, Close to Home . Following the success of our first meeting, we are delighted that our second virtual Book Club will take place on Thursday 14th January when we will be reviewing I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake, who will also join us for the event. I Love You Too Much is a novel of extraordinary intelligence and heart, a devastating story told from the side-lines of Parisian perfection. It is a coming of age story of a lonely 13-year-old boy and his turning point into adolescence. Set in a postcard-perfect Paris, the city is gradually dissected to expose the ugly innards of a modern family. We follow Paul, lonely and lovestruck, as his fragile real and fantasy worlds unravel whilst his mother laments a lost youth rather than the lost child in plain sight. Please do join us and RSVP to friends@stedwardsoxford.org . Full details including the Zoom link can be found on the Friends’ section of the website (top right on the home page).

School - through our Bursary programme, through our partnership projects and in allowing us to share our fantastic facilities with our wider community. Picking up on the community engagement theme, parents will be very interested to hear what’s in store for the Friends of St Edward’s in 2021. What should they look out for this year? The pandemic restrictions have had a positive impact in boosting virtual

beat the Warden’s! We hope to bring back, as soon as we are able to, our ‘Teddies Talks’ professional networking events in London, next time focusing on Finance. Our last one was on Property and joined together Upper Sixth interested in this industry, parents and OSE for a highly entertaining evening with lots of opportunities for networking. Finally, the School is very grateful that the Friends of St Edward’s have taken on running the Uniform Exchange, an invaluable resource for parents, which will re-launch this term – see below.

What sort of programme do you run for former pupils of the School? You have

engagement and our ambition is to keep this going – we are very keen to hear from readers about what they might like to be involved with. In the meantime, there’s still time to register for our next virtual book club for the Friends

ST EDWARD’S F R I E N D S O F

very recent OSE and former pupils who were at the School decades ago. How do you keep such a diverse group of people

engaged – and connected with each other and the current School? With the range of ages and interests in our OSE community we have to be creative with the events and activities we run. My ambition

of St Edward’s and staff on Thursday 14th January at 6.30pm – see left. We will have our annual quiz in February, this year bigger than ever as it can be remote so do think about pulling together a team that might finally

The Uniform Exchange is back! With thanks to the Friends’ Committee, who have taken over the running of this important and environmentally-friendly community service, the Uniform Exchange will now be donated directly to the Bursary Fund and you will find a price list on the Friends’ section of the website. We will also

be offering an exchange facility so if you simply need a bigger blazer do bring your old one in, and, if it’s of similar quality, we will do a straight swap. Equally, if you have clean uniform items that you would like to donate, generating much needed funds for bursaries, please leave them with Facilities Reception on South Parade labelled Uniform Exchange.

is opening its doors again this term. If there is anything you are short of please do email uniformexchange@ stedwardsoxford.org and we will check stock and arrange a time for you to visit. Due to current restrictions we will be operating a strict appointment only system. Any proceeds generated by the Exchange

Charlie Hutton, Mikhail Myachin, Siena Garman and Poppy Luttrell-Hunt