It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a month since we gathered at St. Julian’s School for our long-awaited 10-year reunion—fashionably late by three years (thanks, COVID!). But as we reflect, we can all confidently say it was worth the wait.

For many of us, this reunion marked the first time we’d stepped back onto the school grounds since our graduation in 2011. It was also the first time seeing many familiar faces after all those years.

Arriving early to help set up, driving down Avenida through the familiar surroundings brought back a flood of memories—countless school drop-offs, pick-ups, and epic events organised by St. Julian’s, from Bonfire nights to grand fireworks displays.

Equally nostalgic was walking across the patio, through the familiar cobbled floor and pepper trees and up the Palacio steps to the cafeteria where we’ve both eaten so many school meals (Fun fact: both of us joined St. Julian's in Primary - David in Reception and Laura in Year 2!).

A huge thank you is due to André, the wonderful Alumni and Comms Coordinator, who, along with the incredible kitchen team, prepared an unforgettable evening for us (the food was fantastic!). 

We even organized a few surprises for our classmates and filled the staff room—which still had that ‘we’re-not-allowed-in-here’ feeling!—with nostalgic memories like copies of Wings magazines, school diaries, a slideshow of old photos, and even a DVD of the play Yanomamo playing on loop, which was a huge source of entertainment on the night! 

One of the highlights of the night was seeing so many teachers who came to say hello. We shared how much of a mark their teaching had left on us (many of us remembered acting in Mr Ehibor’s Macbeth when we were in year 6 and still remember exactly who played which roles) and a big shout especially goes to teachers who have since retired and came back especially to see us.

An extra-special moment of the evening was the school tour, led by the legendary Mr Burke, our fantastic History teacher. He took us on a journey through the rich and fascinating history of St. Julian’s, from its visionary female founders to the school’s role in welcoming refugee children. At one point, we paused to read a letter written in 1934 by the first-ever Head Girl, reflecting on the importance of art, literature, and nature. All of which was very moving but most importantly a reminder of how fortunate we were to have teachers as engaging and passionate as Mr Burke.

For the rest of the evening we ate, drank and caught up with each other in the cafeteria, the balcony and eventually at a very raucous after-party (off the school grounds, we promise!).

Seeing everyone again was truly special—their familiar faces and voices transported us back in time. It was fascinating to hear about what people have been up to over the last thirteen years. Despite the time that had passed, we all agreed it felt as though no time had passed at all. It was a bit like stepping into a time warp! Some might even say that a few people reverted to their 16-year-old selves... (Mrs Bastos de Sousa had to do a bit of shushing and threaten a few detentions!

In the lead-up to the reunion, we set up a WhatsApp group that has been a lot of fun, and we plan to keep it going to stay in touch, share events, and exchange opportunities. We warmly invite anyone from our year who hasn’t joined yet to hop in and stay connected.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made the reunion possible, especially those who travelled long distances to be with us. We’re already looking forward to the next gathering and hope we can bring even more of us together—it was a joyful, unforgettable night of reconnection and celebration.

Until next time, with abraços and beijinhos,

Laura Deffense & David D’Espiney, Class of 2011

Please see a gallery of photos below.