When Charles Fillingham arrived in the School’s Gloucester Room on Monday evening, he thought he was attending a scheduled Quondam Committee meeting. Little did he know, however, that he was in fact walking into a surprise leaving party, arranged for him by Chair of Quondam, Susanne Nedas, to celebrate his seven years as Headmaster and President of Quondam.

Greeted by Quondam Committee members, former pupils and former staff members, including Marjorie Gustave and Felicity Forde, and the Lower Sixth prefect team, Mr Fillingham celebrated his tenure at Francis Holland School with a trip down memory lane by way of a photo slide show, a rousing speech from Susanne Nedas, and an impressive ‘7’ cake, before thanking his guests and accepting a gift presented to him by Susanne Nedas, from Quondam: a pair of silver cufflinks engraved with the school crest.

Said Mr Fillingham: “Thank you for all the hard work that went into organising yesterday. I felt thoroughly spoiled and I absolutely love the cufflinks.”

Thanks to Mr Fillingham for all he has done for both the Quondam Committee and the entire alumni community of former pupils and staff these past seven years. We look forward to welcoming Mrs Katharine Woodcock as the incoming President of Quondam at the beginning of the Autumn Term.