About Us

The Dinner

Each year, on a date close to King Edward Sixth’s birthday, 12th October, those connected with Christ’s Hospital meet in a wide variety of venues in the UK and around the world to celebrate our Royal Founder.

These events and their location have traditionally been recorded in the Blue, now the Old Blue and, apart from the more traditional locations in the City of London, other celebrations have been held in many cities in the UK and around the world. Records exist of a variety of less conventional venues, including those held on the front line during the two World Wars and the Korean War.

The central gathering has traditionally been in London, the City of our original foundation and home for 350 years. Venues have been as varied as Lord’s, the Connaught Rooms, the Chiswell Street Brewery, Mansion House, and a selection of City Livery Halls. Attendance has been restricted to Old Blues, Governors, staff, and pupils but this rule has been relaxed in recent years to allow guests.

Although the focal point of the dinner is to celebrate the birth of our Founder, there are other main factors. One is to meet and enjoy the convivial company of friends and fellow Old Blues, the other is to use the main dinner as an occasion to honour a person who has either given exceptional service to CH or has achieved fame and pre-eminence in the outside world. Very often they fall into both categories. They are not restricted to Old Blues and have included Members of Royalty, distinguished Head Masters and Clerks, leaders in business, science and politics, generous benefactors and most recently an eminent explorer. All have been so honoured over the years.

According to available records, the dinner has been held in London since 1826 with the exception of the two World Wars, the three occasions when it was held at Horsham and the two dinners denied us by Covid.

The Stewards' of Founders Day Dinner

The organisation of the dinner is in the hands of a group of, optimally, around 100 Stewards who are volunteers drawn from those eligible to attend the dinner and they pay an annual levy, known as a “quota” to underwrite the costs. The quota has ranged from £10 to £30. They meet twice a year in central London, in May and November, to receive accounts, set budgets and agree the venue, speakers and general arrangements for the dinner and these meetings are usually followed by a sociable supper. The Stewards are also responsible for organising the guest list, which traditionally includes the Head Master, the Clerk and representatives from the Common Room and Grecians and the cost of these is incorporated in the budget. To encourage attendance by younger Old Blues concessionary prices are agreed each year by the Stewards. Following the restrictions placed upon us by Covid both meetings can now be attended online so removing geography as an inhibitor to taking part.

Chief Steward

The Chair of Stewards is known as the Chief Steward, selected as such by length of service and serves for one year (November to November), whereas the guest of honour is described as the Chair on the evening and gives the main speech.

Following the toast “The Religious, Royal and Ancient Foundation” given at the conclusion of the main speech, a response is provided by the Responder (much thought must have been given to this title!). This role has, so far, been exclusively an Old Blue.

Becoming a Steward

It is important that we keep this long tradition going alongside the other celebrations held all around the world and we hope that Old Blues and others in the CH community will continue to support them.

Please consider becoming a Steward, not only will you be supporting the continuation of this fine tradition, you will be able to express your views AND take an active part in planning the dinner.

If you would like to know more, please contact:-

John Williams, Honorary Secretary - jdw.wor@btinternet.com
Mustafa Regec-Noor, Assistant Honorary Secretary - fddstewards@gmail.com

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse