On Saturday 22nd October, just outside the city of Oxford, at the comfortable pub called The Bell, two ODettes (as they call themselves) re-entered the ODU's orbit.

Bishops in the 80s and early 90s admitted girls (as they were then) to do postmatric but the ODU has not done a great deal to include them in the body of ODs, almost all of the XY type. In fact, we don't even have OD accessories for them!

So it was with great delight that at the UK's annual Oxfordshire country lunch we were joined by Nicolette Simpson-Frost (2000B) and Katie Hofman (1981G), nee Hutchings (1981G). Having steered shyly clear of previous events - though Katie has attended one or two - Saturday, a very happy gathering of Oxfordshire (and beyond) ODs reminded us that once a Bishops pupil always and OD and gender and all sorts of other discriminating markers are simply irrelevant.

It was a great pleasure to have Gina Cowen join us. Gina is the step-daughter of the late great Tony Honoré (1939F). Sadly, Deborah, Tony's widow and a pub lunch stalwart, was not able to make it.

The lunch, attended by 16 ODs and wives was a very languid and relaxed affair with memories circulating, dissected and laughed at, fuelled, on occasion by good food and good wine.