SOF Suffolk Supper at the Sorrel Horse, Barham – 16th October 2026

Ruth Elwood (P81-84) reports : This year’s Suffolk Supper was an informal affair, following OF requests over recent years to find a local pub, and ‘do it differently’ – so we did!

Former SOF Coordinator, Kate Jackson (P84-93) and her husband Neil, Hon OF, kindly agreed to host us at their wonderful 15^th Century Coaching  Inn pub in Barham – and my goodness – they did us proud!

Located in a side room off the main bar, 15 OFs and 2 guests met for drinks at 6.30pm, prior to being seated at 7.30pm for a fabulous and enormously portioned, 3 course supper, followed by coffee and tea to finish. The house scores leader board was dominated by a brilliant turnout of 7 Stradbroke ‘lads’; with Ruth Elwood, Charlotte Bannon (Nee Wayne) keeping up the female contingent from Pembroke, with Kate’s ‘in and out’ support; followed by 2 attendees from Garrett, Rendlesham and Kerrison respectively.

We were very pleased to welcome John Taylor, (S43-50) as one of our eldest OF members to his first SOF event in many, many years, who joined the senior table and shared many memories of the old days. The larger table of ‘youngsters’ decided to swap places during each course to ensure the conversation was kept lively, creating an evening full of banter and laughter with plenty of ‘do you remember’ conversations taking pace around the table!

After supper, Ruth gave a short speech, which started at one end of the room and due to background bar chatter, ended up at the other; to be met with typical ‘men jokes’ about the ‘dart board’ located behind her head!!  Hilarity all round!! 😊

During her speech, Ruth highlighted the importance and value of the ‘OF Family’, noting it was a year since the sad passing of Tony Martin, only a few days earlier, on 5^th October. She pledged that if she was voted in as the next President in 2027, she would nurture, modernise and maintain the past, present and future pupil connections with the Society, especially, as the College celebrates 50 years of girls next year. It was essential in her view, having survived 125 years, that the Society thrives and remains valid for the next century for all OFs.  Norman Porter then said a few words about his ‘Homage to Heros’ book, to include the three VCs awarded to former College pupils and was pleased to make several sales, to the generous folk of Stradbroke!

Neil and Kate were ‘in and out’ of our corner all evening, rushed off their feet serving pub visitors, as the supper had been moved from a quiet Monday, by request of the President, to a Friday, when pub numbers were at their peak. That said, they both did us proud with a great meal offering real value for money –  and we will certainly be returning to the Sorrel Horse again!

Before leaving – several promises were made to keep in touch and hopefully the Stradbroke ‘lads’ will meet up again, informally at the pub, for a few beers, another day soon.  Those attending were as follows: