St George's International School in Luxembourg-Hamm held their 2nd annual Alumni Lunch at the school on Wednesday, involving students who have graduated over the past four years.
Around 30 people attended the event which included former students and a few current students, as well as representatives of the academic and administrative staff. Mark Turner, Chairman of the Board, and Alice Walpole, British Ambassador to Luxembourg, were also in attendance.
School Principal, Dr Christian Barkei, welcomed everyone in a short speech and said that, like the school's alumni having their whole life in front of them, he is also looking forward to the new developments at the school, with the new building including a library, common rooms and auditorium, amongst others, becoming available for use mid-2016. He thanked everyone for their support and reserved a special word of thanks for Ambassador Walpole when he said goodbye to her prior to her departure in early 2016 for a new posting.
Dr Barkei described her as "super" in how she engages with the school and acknowledged that a lot of her work goes on behind the scenes. He described her as a consummate diplomat and thanked her for taking it upon herself when the Embassy has held events involving UK visitors to arrange for them to speak to students at the school. He then made a presentation of flowers and a donation to a charity, Hope and Homes for Children.
Ambassador Walpole said that she has a genuine interest in schooling and, as patron of the school, feels she wants to be actively engaged. She said that students nowadays now have more options than when she was a student, and referred to the work of the embassy with the alumni associations of British universities, as well as inviting guests over from the UK and involving St George's School.
Photos by Geoff Thompson
