The OA Branch North America, led by Branch Chairman Marc Oliver (Graham 2004), hosted two wonderful Old Andrean gatherings in Baltimore this past weekend, coinciding with the much-anticipated Springboks vs All Blacks match – the final of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
With many Old Andreans travelling to Baltimore to watch the match, it was the perfect opportunity to bring the North American OA community together and to share some Andrean fellowship across the seas.
The festivities began on Friday, 11 September, with a dinner at The Capital Grille, where Old Andreans and their partners enjoyed a wonderful evening together. Headmaster Tom Hamilton and Chairman of Council Peter Amm joined the gathering and shared news from College, as well as an update on the exciting plans taking shape for the 175th Anniversary of St Andrew’s College in 2030.
The following day was game day, and the rugby celebrations continued at a pre-game gathering at GameDay Firehouse. It was a fantastic opportunity for OAs to reconnect, share stories and memories, and build new ones together before heading off to the stadium to watch the Springboks claim victory over the All Blacks.
The atmosphere, connection, stories and shared moments made it a particularly special weekend – one that will not be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to be there.
Our sincere thanks go to Marc Oliver (Graham 2004) for the incredible effort that went into organising both events. We know that bringing together OAs across a large and geographically dispersed region takes considerable time and commitment, and these gatherings would not have been possible without Marc’s enthusiasm and dedication.
A special thank you also goes to Andrew Schonborn (Graham 1993) for generously sharing many of the photographs from the weekend.
The North American OA Branch is a growing and increasingly connected community. Although thousands of kilometres separate our Old Andreans from Makhanda/Grahamstown, gatherings such as these remind us that the Andrean connection travels remarkably well.
We look forward to continuing to bring College to our OAs in North America through gatherings, reunions and other opportunities to connect each year. Don’t miss the next one!
