More than 140 Old Tridents, former staff, their families (and even a dog!) returned to Trent College on Friday 19 June for a memorable summer gathering, bringing together Old Tridents from the Classes of 2015 to 2025 for an evening of friendship, sport and celebration.

Held on a glorious summer evening, the event marked the first time that every year group to complete their time at Trent College during Bill Penty's headship had been invited back together. The result was a fantastic atmosphere across the campus, with smiles, hugs and conversations as friends reunited, former teachers caught up with familiar faces and OTs shared where life has taken them since leaving Trent.

The informal BBQ, welcome drink and bar created the perfect setting for guests to reconnect, while the school's sports pitches provided an equally fitting backdrop as the annual Old Tridents XI v Trent College XI T20 cricket match and the inaugural OT 'All Stars' hockey match took place throughout the evening.

The relaxed atmosphere, sunshine and countless reunions made for a truly memorable evening back at Trent

The cricket match once again saw Old Tridents take on the Trent 1st XI in the annual fixture for the Mitchell Cup, named in honour of former Maths teacher and cricket enthusiast David Mitchell. The match has become a much-loved tradition in the Old Tridents calendar, strengthening the connection between current pupils and alumni through a shared love of the game.

Alongside the cricket, OTs also took to the hockey pitch for the inaugural Penty Cup, named in honour of retiring Headmaster Bill Penty. The new fixture proved a tremendous success, with Old Trident 'All Stars' facing a combined Trent staff and student team in what we hope will become another annual highlight of the alumni calendar.  Thanks must go to Head of Hockey Iain Randall and Head of Cricket Connor Marshall for their enthusiasm and support in bringing the teams together.  Thank you also to Scott Boswell, Head of Cricket at Trent 2011 to 2026, for returning from his commitments at Lancashire County Cricket Club to enjoy the evening with us. 

From hugs and laughter to cricket, hockey and a summer BBQ, the evening celebrated everything that makes the Old Tridents community so special

A particularly poignant moment during the evening came when Trent 1st XI captain Krrish Patel (Class of 2026) presented Bill with a cricket shirt, signed not only by the current school team but also by the Old Trident players who had returned to represent the alumni side. This, together with the presentation of the Penty Cup, was a fitting tribute as Bill prepares to conclude twelve years as Head of Trent College.

Reflecting on the event, Bill said: "I loved every minute of it, and it meant a huge amount to me."
 

Midway through the evening, guests gathered for speeches reflecting on the significance of the occasion. Bill spoke warmly of how much it had meant to welcome so many Old Tridents back to Trent, sharing how rewarding it had been to hear about the different paths alumni have taken since leaving school and reflecting on the wonderful twelve years that he and his family have enjoyed as part of the Trent community.

On behalf of the Old Tridents Society, President Dominic Kalantary (class of 2015) thanked Bill for his outstanding contribution to Trent College, recognising the lasting impact he has had on generations of pupils and expressing the Society's gratitude for his leadership and commitment to the school, and the strength of relationship built with the Trustees of the OT Society, over the past twelve years.

The speeches provided a fitting opportunity for alumni to thank Bill personally and wish him every success in his retirement, before the celebrations continued long into the summer evening. Bringing together the generation of Old Tridents who knew Bill as Head made the occasion especially significant and reflected the enduring strength of the Trent community.

It was particularly encouraging to welcome not only alumni spanning eleven leaving cohorts, but also many members of the Class of 2026, who were there to support or participate in the sporting fixtures before officially joining the Old Tridents community later this summer.

The Alumni Summer Gathering was a wonderful celebration of everything that makes the Old Tridents network and wider Trent College community so special: lifelong friendships, shared experiences, sporting tradition and the lasting connection so many Old Tridents and former staff continue to have with Trent College.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a memorable success.  

Finally a huge thank you to the Trent College catering manager Will, and his team, for creating a delicious BBQ menu and bar service, and to Chief Operating Officer James Gregory, and his team, for their support in making the event the brilliant success that it was. 

It was wonderful to see friendships rekindled across eleven leaving cohorts, united by a shared connection to Trent College

📸 The full gallery of photographs from the Alumni Summer Gathering, including the cricket and hockey matches, is now available to view. For all galleries, click here