On Thursday 5 December 2024, over 150 OKS came together at the Cavalry and Guards Club for our annual OKS Christmas Drinks event. The exclusive venue, fully decorated for Christmas, was the perfect backdrop for OKS and Honorary OKS to reconnect and enjoy a selection of drinks and canapes. OKS President James Phipson (SH 1988-93) welcomed guests and shared an update on recent OKS activities, and Jude Lowson (Head of The King’s School Canterbury) was there to talk to OKS and reflect on the School year.

New for 2024, we held a King’s Raffle, with a variety of prizes up for grabs. Hubert Pragnell (Common Room 1973-2002)’s donation of a Canterbury watercolour painting and Oxford watercolour book was one of the hot items, with several OKS buying tickets hoping to win these items from their former teacher. Other prizes kindly donated by OKS included Blue Duck Vodka and Black Robin Gin, donated by Ben De Haan (MO 1990-95) and a luxury CosyPanda hot water bottle donated by Freddie Winterbotham (LN 2004-09).

The raffle raised £362 and all funds were donated to the Charter Awards – transformational bursaries at King’s. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket for this worthy cause!

As the night came to a close, we were delighted to see so many smiley faces and friendships formed - old and new. We look forward to seeing OKS again soon at the OKS President’s Dinner at the House of Commons.