On Wednesday 12 August, we were delighted to welcome back OA Richard Rendell (King Alfred, 1978) to King’s College. Richard was holidaying in Sidmouth with his sister, Rachel, and took the opportunity to return to the school for a trip down memory lane.

Richard spoke warmly of his time as cricket scorer for the First XI, a role he still enjoys today. He recalled the perks of away fixtures - a day off school, a luxury lunch in a new location, and, on victorious days, returning to King’s to be greeted with beer and free time in the outdoor swimming pool!

As he toured the site, Richard was struck by how much he remembered: the tuck shop, the TV room, King Alfred’s boarding house with its distinctive “hospital edges” on the bedding, and even helping to dig out vehicles during a heavy snowstorm.

Another passion born at King’s was chess. Richard recounted a moment of youthful mischief when he and a friend became so engrossed in a game that they forgot to go to chapel - only to be caught by a prefect! His enthusiasm for the game continued after leaving King’s, eventually leading him to write a chess newsletter.

Richard and Rachel chose a perfect day to visit, with the Cricket Festival in full swing and a lively buzz across the site. Their visit concluded with a classic school lunch in the Dining Hall — a fitting end to a nostalgic return.

It was a pleasure to welcome Richard and Rachel back to King’s, and wonderful to see old memories come vividly back to life.