Arrangements had been a bit of a nightmare for Mark on this occasion with  the number of attendees fluctuating daily after ASLEF called an underground drivers' strike on the tube system for the same day as the lunch and then called it off a few days before the lunch, and the Headmaster Oli Knight having to attend a clashing recruiting event.

At the last minute two OPs also had to pull out - one because of a sudden not-to-missed NHS scan appointment, and the other because there was a death on his train journey south resulting in a two-hour delay. Eventually, though, 31 OPs and Lucinda Grafton, Head of Development at the College, made it to the Turf. Proceedings began promptly at 12:15 with a glass or two of wine in a downstairs reception room overlooking The Mall followed, in an upstairs room, by the now traditional menu at this gathering - mushroom soup, sausages onions and mash, welsh rarebit and coffee. 

Many familiar faces were on show and some new ones. The oldest OP to appear was Trevor Kearley (1949-51), a sprightly 90-year-old who had travelled up to London from his home in Wiltshire. The youngest was a newcomer, Clive Carrington-Wood (1972-77) who admitted to being  at least 65 and was in cracking form. Pip Smitham (1964-69) judiciously picked the brain of Lucinda Grafton who made a valiant effort to extol the virtues of leaving money to the school. Nicholas Courtney (1958-62) was in the midst of having one of his books re-issued and used the occasion to consult "experts" about rigging matters in 18th century ships-of-the-line. 

Many others contributed as the often raucous laughter and lively conversation attests, including Andy Child (1963-67), John Baddeley (1964-68), James Byrne (1966-69), Richard Shuttleworth (1957-62) and brother Willie (1966-70), and Phillip Plato (1973-77).

Andrew Gordon-Lennox (1961-69) kindly made his annual offer to host those OPs wishing to while away the afternoon with a glass or two afterwards at the nearby Army & Navy Club. Not to be outdone, Robin Paine (1955-58) managed to rope in two more OPs to his exclusive Christmas lunch at the Wykeham Arms in Winchester on December 2. and Robin Knight (1956-61) surprised the diners by proposing a toast for the oldest OP, Capt. Larry Taylor RN (1938-40), who had recently died aged 102. 

This has to be the most relaxed and enjoyable OP event of the year. So if you are approaching 60 or over 60, please make a note in your 2025 diary that Mark plans to hold the 16th lunch at the Turf next November."