London Dinner 2017

The annual London Dinner for Old Edwardians living in and around London took place on Monday, 27 November 2017 at The RAF Club, Picadilly.

Unfortunately, Professor Stephen Badsey was unable to attend the Old Edwardians Dinner. However, Paul Golightly, Head of History at King Edwards, kindly agreed to stand in and spoke on the centenary of Passchendaele and how the School will commemorate the Armistice of 1918, with particular reference to Old Edwardian John Walford.

Walford is the subject of the final film in a trilogy produced by OEs Elliot and Zander Weaver, focusing on Old Edwardians and the Great War. He was an unconventional company commander in the 1/8th Worcestershire Regiment, and was awarded the Military Cross and bar in the last four weeks of the war. He, like many of his compatriots, suffered from a prolonged bout of severe 'shell shock' which ultimately led to him taking his own life in February 1922. With current concerns about mental health issues, this seems an ideal time to examine this oft-forgotten side of the First World War.

The Chief Master, Dr Mark Fenton, and the School Captain also spoke.