Reunion Dinner report

Dear Cryptian,

I wanted to report back to you about the Old Cryptians Annual Dinner held on Saturday 29th March.

We had over 60 people attend from many different school years and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you all for supporting the event. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the meal and catching up with your school friends. The tour round the school was a success and many told me that they were surprised at just how much the school has grown, both in pupil numbers and the buildings accommodating them, since they had been there. The school’s popularity has been cemented by an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating and, under Nick Dyer’s leadership, I am sure this success will continue.

Several from my year turned up to listen to our fellow school friend David Fannin talk about what he’s done since leaving school, the business he set up, his appearance on Dragons’ Den, the difficulties with Brexit and sourcing manufacturing abroad and the eventual sale of the business, leading to his early retirement.  As I said in my speech, it really was an example of what hard work and dedication can bring you and should hopefully be an inspiration to the students who joined us at the meal. 

Talking of inspiration I also made reference to William E Henley as it’s the 150th anniversary of his most famous poem Invictus being written; if there’s ever a poem that could be used as motivation for the students it’s this poem which has served as an inspiration to so many.

It was a proud moment for me as an old pupil to stand on the stage again after so many years and tell people of my time at Crypt and how it has inspired me over the years. It really has. I learnt so many lessons at the school, both in and out of the classroom, that have served me well over the years.  Even people knowing that you went to Crypt School can open doors for you in life as it has done for me, as well as causing many a friendly rivalry with some of the Old Richians I’ve met over the years. Some of the teachers at the school I remember fondly and would like to thank them for the knowledge they instilled in me. 

Lastly, I would like to thank those who organised the event and made it possible and everyone who came along on the night, especially those who had not been to the annual dinner before. It was great to see you all and catch up especially seeing some old school friends who I’d not seen since school. Watching you trying to remember the words to the school song will keep me entertained for many years to come!  It’s my sincere hope that the annual dinner be used as a reunion and will grow and grow over the years; so if you want to catch up with your school friends and see what they’ve been up to, please come along in 2026 and for many years after.

Hopefully I’ll see you again next year.

Thanks again,
Matt Cass
Old Cryptians’ Club President 2024-2025