Activities
The Old Maidstonian Society holds regular and occasional events. One annual fixture is the Annual Supper (here’s a link to the Annual Supper Page, which gives details when available). The Supper is normally on the penultimate Friday of March and preceded by the Annual General Meeting (see the Organization Page), both held at the School. A link to the booking form will be found on the right when available. The Events page and the posts in the events category list others. Also included in the events page and category are School events to which OMs are invited.
The Society awards a number of prizes and grants. See the Awards page for details of these (and in the case of grants, the guidelines and application form). In order to maintain these awards, the Society undertakes fundraising by various means: see the Fundraising page. Members are strongly encouraged to contribute to these charitable funds and thereby support current and recent pupils.
Please let us know if you are organizing a reunion so we can post it here and notify others who might be interested.
The Society runs a mentoring scheme, and OMs are invited to consider becoming mentors to current and recent pupils: see the Mentoring page.
There is an Old Maidstonians rugby team, organised jointly with Maidstone Rugby Club.
Details are available at:
http://www.maidstonerugby.org.uk/old-maidstonians.
In recognition of the link with the club, it has made the head a Vice-President.
CURRENT AND RECENT EVENT LISTINGS
The Old Maidstonian Super Saturday 2024 – Saturday 20th April – UPDATE
Posted on March 17th, 2024
On Saturday 20th April, before the supper, we are opening our doors to welcome as many Old Maidstonians back as possible to celebrate the continued growth of sport at MGS and our 3G pitch. This is the day of the supper (please buy your tickets!) and will make for a great part of this huge day to celebrate our community. Please come along for a tea/coffee and relax at the Ron McCormick Pavilion. We are opening at 12pm and hosting some fierce alumni sporting competition for you to watch. MGS will be hosting the annual MGS vs OM sporting fixtures for both rugby and football. OMs should keep the whole day free for both the Sports and the Supper.
UPDATE – The Super Saturday Sport will take place from 12pm to 4pm with alumni sporting fixtures in both rugby and football. Express your interest for Super Saturday Sport via THESE links: https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/OMS-Super-Saturday-scaled.jpg OR https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=bVZYQqE_J0ieVgqz5wlUFx-unsY2skdMudsZubzhrbtUOUYzVjZCVVJCVFg0Sk1QQjdWUVkwWktDWi4u
This is still relatively new, so please share widely on social media and/or in your WhatsApp groups!
We hope that the entire day will be a great celebration of everything that makes MGS & OMS what it is, always has been and always will be.
Olim Meminisse Juvabit.
Warmest regards,
The Committee
OMS 475 Annual Supper 2024 – Saturday 20th April (updated)
Posted on March 17th, 2024
The Old Maidstonian Society Annual Supper will be held at the school on Saturday 20th April 2024. Dress is jacket and tie or equivalent. Plus-ones are welcome. With it being the School’s 475th anniversary it would be so good to see many more OMs returning to their school to celebrate the important milestone.
The Supper will commence promptly at 19:30, and will conclude equally promptly by 22:00, as there will again be a Master of Ceremonies to ensure that all runs on time, as it has done for the past several years. Please note that free overnight parking is available for all those who require it, please let us know beforehand if you require the use of these facilities as well as providing us with the registration number and make of the car ahead of time.
The President, Dan Abnett, has invited Jason Tarry to be his Guest of Honour. Jason left MGS in 1985 and joined Tesco in 1990 as a graduate trainee. Through his career in the business he has held a number of senior positions and joined the Executive Committee as head of commercial for UK and group, in January 2015. For the last six years he has held the position of CEO of the UK and Republic of Ireland businesses. He is the 2023 President of the Institute of Grocery Distribution. It has recently been announced that Jason will be stepping down from his Tesco role in March 2024 after more than 33 years with the company which happens to coincide with our Supper. Jason is also the incoming President of the Society for 2024 to 2025.
There will again be a professional bar service with beer, spirits, port and soft drinks being served before dinner and also at tables during the meal. The bar will be open by 18:00, and the hall and bar will remain open until 23:00. Entrance will again only be through the main entrance door, where you will be greeted.
We are also hoping to have a tour (or two, numbers depending) around the School before the Supper; if you wish to attend a tour, please let us know no later than 13th April 2024, so we have enough time to plan staffing levels for the numbers we have, and please make us aware of any access requirements you have. Timings and numbers will be confirmed during the week before the Supper, but will likely take place in the hour or two before the Supper starts.
There will also be the now legendary raffle, tickets on sale on the night, any prize donations are very much welcome, please email me with these via [email protected].
We are delighted to confirm that the caterers for the Annual Supper will be Cucina. They will again be preparing our meal, and the menu is stated below and will be on our website in due course. We will provide place names with each diner’s choices printed on one side.
Everyone attending is requested to:
- Make payment by one of the methods below;
- Pre-select their choices for each course from the linked menu, and forward them to the Membership Secretary either by e-mail, phone, or by mail to the school, addressed to the OMS;
- Advise the Membership Secretary when booking if you wish to sit with any particular member(s);
- Advise the Membership Secretary if you have any access requirements.
Menu:
Starters: S1 Parma Ham & Melon Salad OR
S2 Pea & Watercress Soup served with fresh baked bread & white truffle oil OR
S3 Smoked Mackerel Pate, charred Lemon & toasted brioche
Main Courses: M1 Steak & Mushroom Pithivier with ale jus OR
M2 Chicken Schnitzel, wild garlic butter & tomato salsa (Both served with spring vegetables & potatoes) OR
M3 Wild mushroom and mozzarella arancini, Panzanella salad & basil oil.
Desserts: D1 Gypsy Tart with pouring cream OR
D2 Sherry Trifle OR
D3 Golden Syrup Sponge Pudding & Clotted cream custard
To finish: Freshly Brewed Fairtrade Coffee & Tea
Price and payment methods
The cost is £32 per head, an increase on last year’s price but we feel it still reflects the very high quality and quantity of food being served, given the ongoing inflationary pressures being felt at every turn as well as the better quality. In view of the fact that meals will be prepared and served with each individual’s menu selections, payment must be made in advance. Please either email [email protected] with all of the requested information from this email or use the booking form below, and please book by end of Monday 15th April 2024.
You may pay either by internet bank transfer to:
The NatWest Bank
Maidstone Branch: 3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XU
Account: Old Maidstonian Society
Account no: 00051802
Sort Code: 60-60-08
IBAN: GB31 NWBK 606008 00051802
BIC (Swift): NWBKGB2L
Reference: Your name/OMS AS
(If you use this method, but are not using the online form, please drop the Membership Secretary an e-mail letting him know: address as above)
Or by sending a cheque, made payable to ‘Old Maidstonian Society’ to:
The Old Maidstonian Society
Maidstone Grammar School
Barton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 7BT