126th Edward Alleyn Club Dinner

The EAB was transformed for an evening of fantastic food, friendships and fundraising for the 126th Edward Alleyn Club (EAC) Dinner on Saturday 18 November. 

The annual dinner brings together alumni and former staff from across the years to socialise. The attendees included recent leavers from 2023 right through to alumni from the 1950s, as well as current Year 13 students who chatted to guests about their experiences of Alleyn’s today and hopes for their next steps. 

The evening was hosted by EAC President (2022-23), Sue Lane. Sue spoke of her great pleasure at being President and how much she has enjoyed reconnecting with many alumni, before introducing the guest speaker, Chris Peilow (Brown's 2008).  

Chris is an Emmy Award Nominated Executive Producer working in television and film at the Noah Media Group. He has an extensive background in sport and has worked for IMG Media, BeIN Sports, HBS, UEFA and Paris Saint-Germain Football Club.  

Chris gave a fascinating and witty account of being thrown into the deep end two years into his career when he had to commentate live in French for an AC Milan vs Sampdoria football match after a technical hitch, describing it as “a terrible 12 minutes of broadcasting”. He also spoke of the difference that his Alleyn’s foundations made to his career, influences which stretched far beyond his passion for football alone. He said: 

“At the time, I may not have fully grasped it, but this infatuation was perhaps linked with my other involvements here at Alleyn’s. Theatre, Drama, English, History. The Arts. Ultimately, an affair with the compelling world of storytelling.” 

He paid tribute to the Class of 2008 whose bond was strengthened by the loss of their friend Samuel Harper Brighouse (Tulley’s 2008) and the late Drama teacher Geoff Tonkin, whose empowerment “inspired multiple generations, fostering creativity and self-expression through steady encouragement, making you feel heard and valued”. Chris concluded his speech by encouraging us to find the beauty in the delicate dance between what is possible and what is not, which he strongly believes Alleyn’s can do.  

During the evening, many guests took the opportunity to generously donate to the Alleyn Benevolent Fund (ABF). The fund, set up by alumni more than 100 years ago, provides financial support for Upper School students as well as support with co-curricular and enrichment activities for pupils who might need it. 

The final event of the evening was the formal handing over of the Edward Alleyn Club Presidency from former staff member Sue Lane to Reno Antoniades (Tulley’s 1984), who in 1978 in his second year at Alleyn’s was symbolically a member of Sue’s first ever tutor group at Alleyn’s.  

Our thanks go to all guests who made it such a fantastic evening and to those who donated so generously.  

Find out about future Always Alleyn’s events.

Photos from this year's EAC Dinner can be found below:

Flickr album: EAC Dinner 2023 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin