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Connect with OJs; Collaborate with others to further your career; and Celebrate your memories of Hurst

31/08/2026

OJ Spotlight: A standing ovation from two nations 🎭

Christopher Gaze (Fleur de Lys, 1970) has spent more than five decades shaping Canadian theatre. Since founding Bard on the Beach in 1990, he's turned a single tent production in Vancouver's Vanier Park into one of Canada's largest theatre companies, championing Shakespeare, arts education, and cultural accessibility ever since.

This summer, that lifetime of work was recognised twice in the space of a single month. On 13 June 2026, Christopher was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to British arts and culture in Canada. Less than a fortnight later, on 26 June, he was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours.

The timing was made even more special by the recent publication of his memoir, The Road to Bard, released just weeks before the first honour was announced.

Two honours, two nations, thirteen days apart. Huge congratulations, Christopher! 👏

📸 Photo credit: Emily Cooper

28/08/2026

Hurst@Uni is heading your way! 🎓

Now that results day is behind us, if you're heading to (or already settled into) Exeter or Bristol University come and meet up with fellow OJs, plus a few familiar faces from Hurst.

We're delighted that Rob Kift will be hosting the events, so expect a great evening of catching up and hearing what's going on back at Hurst.

📍 Bristol, Thursday 24th September
📍 Exeter, Thursday 22nd October

First few drinks are on us, easy, relaxed evenings with old friends.

And save the date, we'll be back in Brighton this Christmas for our festive Hurst@Uni gathering on Thursday 17th December, open to all.

Please book via the link in our bio.

24/08/2026

Proud to spotlight OJ Nick Paddenburg (Star, 2003), director at Brighton Tax, who's taking on the UK tax system.

Nick was among the first in the country to file a live digital tax return under Making Tax Digital, and has since spoken at major industry events and written for the profession's leading publications, even prompting a response from HMRC.

He's now running , a campaign and parliamentary petition calling for the quarterly MTD filing window to be extended from five weeks to three months.

Link in bio to find out more

21/08/2026

Curtain up on something new. We're launching the Foundation Shakespeare Society Theatre Club, a fresh addition to our events calendar bringing OJs, parents, former parents and friends of the College together for an evening of theatre.

Join us on Tuesday 17 November from 6pm in the New Big Theatre for drinks and nibbles, before taking the best seats in the house to watch current Hurst pupils bring this term's Shakespeare production to life.

Tickets are free, but spaces are limited, so RSVP soon to avoid missing out. Link in bio.

12/08/2026

An evening for the Hurst legal world.

Join fellow OJs, parents, former parents and friends of the College with a connection to law for informal drinks at the Edgar Wallace, 40 Essex Street, London, Thursday 12th November, 6-8pm.

Whether you're a solicitor, barrister, work in-house, or across the wider legal sector (from major City practices to smaller or specialised firms, the judiciary, academia or the public sector), come along to reconnect, meet others in the Hurst community, and enjoy good conversation in good company.

All welcome, at any stage of your career.

🔗 Sign up via the link in our bio

Any questions? Email [email protected]

05/08/2026

Calling all our Sydney based OJs and Foundation members.

Save the date — Saturday 17th October 2026 — as we bring Hurst Worldwide to Australia.

These new Hurst Worldwide events are designed to bring our global Hurst community closer together, providing an opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and forge new connections.

Before we finalise the details, we'd love to know who's interested in joining us. Head to the link in our bio to RSVP and we'll be in touch as soon as the venue and timings are confirmed.

Know a fellow OJ in Sydney? Tag them or share this post — let's get the word out!

There are a number of WhatsApp groups to keep everyone connected. If you're happy for your phone number to be shared, just WhatsApp your name and number to the Foundation's mobile 00447720163902.

Any questions? Email us at [email protected]

03/08/2026

📣 The July Foundation Newsletter is live!

This issue's OJ Spotlight is on Connie, Izzy and Sylvie's 250km charity cycle for Cameron's Orphanage Project — a charity supporting orphaned and vulnerable children, schools and families in Zambia, founded in memory of OJ and former RAF Officer Cameron Forster.

You'll find the full story in the newsletter, or you can support their challenge via the JustGiving link in our bio 💛

31/07/2026

📖 Behind the scenes at Hurst Foundation HQ... we've been busily working away on the new Floreat magazine, and it'll be ready to land ahead of Christmas! 🎄

In the meantime, here's a little sneak peek from some of our OJ Travel Fund recipients, who've been putting their grants to brilliant use around the world this year.

🏏 Marcus, who represented Italy at the Cricket World Cup
🩺 Tallulah, who undertook a medical elective in Zanzibar

We can't wait to share their full stories — along with so much more — in the magazine. Watch this space! 👀

29/07/2026

📢 Calling all our Hong Kong based OJs and Foundation members.

Save the date — Tuesday 13th October 2026 — as we bring Hurst Worldwide to Hong Kong for the first time.

These new Hurst Worldwide events are designed to bring our global Hurst community closer together, providing an opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and forge new connections.

Before we finalise the details, we'd love to know who's interested in joining us. Register your interest by emailing [email protected] and we'll be in touch as soon as everything is confirmed.

Know a fellow OJ in Hong Kong? Tag them or share this post — let's get the word out! 📲

There are a number of WhatsApp groups to keep everyone connected. If you're happy for your phone number to be shared, just WhatsApp your name and number to the Foundation's mobile 00447720163902.

Any questions? Email us at [email protected]

22/07/2026

An evening for the Hurst property world.

Join fellow OJs, parents, former parents and friends of the College with a connection to property for informal drinks at The George, Great Portland Street — Thursday 1st October, 6-8pm.

Whether you're a Chartered Surveyor, or work across finance, architecture, consultancy or estate agency — or just have an interest in the sector — come along to reconnect, meet others in the Hurst community, and enjoy good conversation in good company.

All welcome, at any stage of your career.

🔗 Sign up via the link in our bio

Any questions? Email [email protected]

Address

Hurstpierpoint College, College Lane
Hassocks
BN69JS

Website

https://foundation.hppc.co.uk/

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