It’s often easy to think that time passes too quickly, but in the decade since departing Berkhamsted that’s included universities, entering the workplace, marriages and even babies, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a lifetime ago.

Ten years on from ‘Final Fling’, the class of 2013 found ourselves back in Berkhamsted, as if nothing had changed at all. Some hairstyles and hairlines (!) may have moved with the times, but it was clear the relationships we fostered over the years at Kings and Castle Campus’ were just as they were as we descended upon the impressive Nash-Harris building. Those who have seen the modern and sleek complex, which was a great addition to the girl’s school in our latter years at Berkhamsted, will know it takes a good number of people to get the acoustics firing. Yet within minutes, the room was ablaze with energy as former students and staff alike dived head first into current lives, the past ten years and, unsurprisingly, treasured school memories. A refresher of our democratically decided yearbook awards was an opportunity to remind us of the characters amongst our year group, whilst also seeing if those winners aligned with the characters we see today! Our most likely to be the best parent going to someone who had recently given birth to a lovely baby boy, our least likely to live in number 10 reminding us that Berkhamsted could definitely give Westminster a run for its money and our most likely to win an Olympic medal is still firmly on course for just that, leading the England lacrosse outfit. 

The reality is that although a lot has changed in the ten years since we departed, what is clear is the friendships and bonds we OBs have with the school is unwaivering; perhaps the accuracy of our yearbook awards is testament to that. Whilst the next decade will no doubt pass even quicker than the previous, finding ourselves back for the 20 year reunion, I suspect it will only be a few minutes past the hour to again remind us of the great friendships we have amongst this fantastic year group.