Hurst Foundation were delighted to welcome OJ President Ben Searls (Eagle - 1998) and Vice President Oli Rodbourne (Star – 1999) to talk to our Upper Sixth about the OJ Club and the work of Hurst Foundation.

Dominic Mott, Head of College, invited all students to the New Bury Theatre where he introduced the roles of the OJ Committee and its work with Hurst Foundation which was set up as a community for everyone with a connection to Hurst College; alumni, both current and former parents and all staff past and present. 

Ben and Oli then explained about the positive connections the OJ club can nurture; from cricket week in the summer to networking events. However, wanting to stress that it is not all about sport, Ben mentioned events that are held such as the Choral Day that is being held in April and the Young Alumni event in London in May. They went on to champion the Travel Awards and encouraged students to apply to the OJ Committee for funds if they were planning on travelling for charity work or to develop a particular skill. The reports are then featured in the annual magazine which all students were given a copy of after the presentation.

After mentioning the reunions that Hurst Foundation run and the fact that although the students are only 17 and 18 years old, with Oli and Ben now being in their early 40s, they appreciated the joy and value of meeting up with old friends and connections!

Brian Schofield, Head of Sixth Form, then spoke to all pupils about signing up to the Hurst Foundation so that once their time at Hurst had finished, they were now part of a broader Hurst community to support Hurst students with the aim to:

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