Despite the damp and dreary conditions on Saturday, spirits were high as we welcomed back more than 60 Old Hymerians back to School, this was made even more special as it coincided with our long-standing rivalry fixtures against Pocklington School in both hockey and rugby.

The day began with a lively atmosphere in the School canteen, where coffee and breakfast sandwiches were served for returning alumni, staff, and guests. The space buzzed with excitement as familiar faces reconnected, including several much-loved teachers from the 1990s who returned to the school grounds to see some familiar faces. Their presence sparked fond memories and plenty of good-natured storytelling.

For the sporting fixtures, both our hockey and rugby teams faced off against Pocklington in what proved to be fiercely competitive matches. Players, past and present, showed impressive resilience despite the weather, with crowds of Old Hymerians cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines. As always, the Hymers v Pocklington rivalry brought out the very best in both schools, highlighting outstanding teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship across both games.

This year’s gathering was particularly special for the Class of 1975, who used the occasion to hold a mini reunion. Their celebrations continued well into the weekend, giving lifelong friends the chance to reminisce about their time at Hymers and reflect on how the school community has evolved over the decades.

At the other end of the spectrum, our youngest Old Hymerians were proudly represented by seven members of the Class of 2025, who joined the festivities with enthusiasm and made meaningful connections across generations.

After lunch in the canteen ( school dinner style) , the Headmaster delighted guests by sharing stories from the 1975 Hymerian, sparking thoughtful conversation and plenty of laughter among those who remembered the events firsthand, including Mr Egan. Their reflections added a wonderful historical layer to the day’s celebrations, reminding everyone of the longstanding traditions that bind the Hymers community together.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined  players, spectators, former staff, and Old Hymerians alike. 

It was such an honour to attend and I was certainly a very proud parent to be part of the occasion.
It was a lovely highlight to, what has been such a personal strong link for me, with the games, over what is now a number of decades! Many matches, lots of cheering, celebrations and occasional tears. I was fascinated to hear stories from days gone by and it was touching to see so many players, coaches and team mates coming back together in reunion.  Please send my compliments to all of the kitchen staff and everyone involved in organising such wonderful event. The food was absolutely delicious and the organisation was meticulous.

A big thank you to you and your team and caterers for today’s event. Great match ( though wrong result ) in the toughest of conditions and  fantastic to be there with almost all of my old teammates on our old stamping ground. Thanks again and hopefully see you again at another alumni event in the not too distant future.

On behalf of our Class reunion, thanks so much for looking after us yesterday. We have already said we would like to make it a tradition - same again in 2 years!?

Thanks for today - Really enjoyable- and good catch up with so many!

Loved it, thanks so much for looking after me - until next time! 

Hi Emily – just a quick note to thank you so much for your fantastic welcome on Saturday,we had a great time regurgitating lots of memories !! Please thank the dining staff and the rest of your support staff in helping make Saturday truly memorable.

I hope to see you another OH bash soon.

What a splendid day - really enjoyed it! 

Well done, all! What a great event!

Really nice to catch up with (very) old rugby colleagues!

Related Articles:

• Presidents Cup 2024
• Presidents Cup 2023