Methody Collegians
Methody Collegians was founded in 2003 as a result of the merger of the Methodist College Belfast Old Girls and Old Boys Associations. We aim to help keep you in touch with each other and to support the College and its past and present pupils.
FELLOW COLLEGIANS -
Welcome to the Methody Collegians website and news of our programme for 2023/24. The programme is a little different this year reflecting as it does, some difficulties in attracting numbers to some of last year’s events. The main changes are reducing the number of our Friday lunches at Deramore from four to two, one on 15 September, the other on 3 May, and introducing the new idea of a Business Breakfast, possibly in April. The other events are basically unchanged from recent years.
What is also unchanged is the need for our events to be supported if Methody Collegians is to survive and prosper, so we would urge all our members to attend as many of our functions as possible. We are also very keen to attract new members and you can be assured that any newcomer will be made very welcome. Guests are also very welcome to attend with either new or existing members and there is no requirement for guests to have any connection with the College.
Our first event of the year is the lunch at Deramore on Friday 15 September when the speaker will be the Principal of the College, Jenny Lendrum, who will be telling us of her experiences in her first year in post and her plans for the future.
Then on Friday 22 September there is the chance for all former pupils to join Methody Collegians Golf Society for Captains Day at Malone Golf Club.
On Monday 4 December we have one of the most popular events in our calendar when we have our Christmas Lunch in the Reform Club in Royal Avenue. A unique venue, with good food, the chance to hear outstanding music from College pupils and the opportunity to sing the School Song!
Later that month on 27 December we plan a reunion event for school leavers with a Curry and Pint get-together at Harlequins Club in Deramore Park. All school leavers from the last 3 years will be very welcome with the curry and first pint courtesy of Methody Collegians.
Our first outing of the New Year will be on Thursday 22 February when our annual Pub Quiz and Supper night will be held at Deramore. Always an enjoyable evening and a good test of general knowledge with nothing taken too seriously.
The date of our Annual Dinner will be 22 March in the College’s McArthur Hall after last year’s very successful dinner there, the first back in the College after several decades. The extensively refurbished Hall proved a splendid setting, both historic and atmospheric, and a most appropriate venue for Methody Collegians. The Hall is also an ideal venue for a class or year reunion, so if anyone is thinking of organising a reunion, the Annual Dinner could be the date to go for with speakers, food and drink all arranged.
In April we hope to introduce a new concept for Methody Collegians of holding a Business Breakfast. Planning for this is currently in the very early stages, with venue, speaker(s) and format all still to be decided. If anyone has any ideas on this, we would be very glad to hear them. And like all our functions, the feasibility of such an event is totally dependent on members’ support for this new idea.
The last outing of the year will be our Friday lunch at Deramore on 3 May.
Finally, I must mention our sister organisation Methody London and their annual London Reunion Dinner which is held in the splendid surroundings of the RAF Club in Piccadilly. No date has been set as yet but the Dinner is normally held in May. All years, spouses, partners and plus ones will be extremely welcome.
Details of all these events and how to book for them will be on this website and on our Facebook and X pages but in the event of any queries, just contact one of the Council. And speaking of bookings, it is very helpful if bookings can be made sooner rather than later in order to give us some notice of numbers attending. Last minute bookings are always acceptable, and can usually be accommodated, but if you definitely intend to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.
And finally, the Council would very much welcome the introduction of some fresh blood to our deliberations, so if you feel you could bring some new ideas to our proceedings, you would be very welcome to join us in the Council – again, just contact any member of the Council.
Methody Collegians Council
