College News

On Saturday 31 January, the feast day of our founder Saint John Bosco, we officially opened and blessed The Garman Design Building by Fr John Dickson SBD, Vice-Provincial. The building was named after Br Alan Garman who lived within our community from 1996 - 2013 where he had a workshop and would repair furniture. The new building is home to our state of the art Design Technology classroom, and a purpose built art studio.

 

Salesian College Farnborough marked its 125th anniversary on Saturday 31 January with a celebratory lunch attended by alumni spanning seven decades, along with current and former staff and parents. The occasion began with the dedication of the new Design and Technology building to Br Alan Garman, led by Fr John Dickson.

Guests enjoyed an excellent lunch delivered by the catering team under Mark Keoghan. Headmaster Ged Owens welcomed attendees and reflected on how today’s College compares with the school of earlier generations. Mark Chatterton MBE followed with a humorous look back at boarding life, prompting fond memories—especially of the Headmaster’s Monday visits and the infamous blue Mark Card.

New Alumni Association Chair Jonny Cockfield outlined his plans to establish a 12‑member alumni board and launched the 1901 Club to support future initiatives, inviting founding members to contribute £190.10 annually.

Nick Crean hosted an energetic game of Heads and Tails, with Alan Lion—former School Captain and former Chair of Governors—winning the champagne prize. Chair of Governors Mirek Gliniecki closed proceedings, which concluded with a spirited rendition of the School Song before guests continued celebrations at The Squirrel.

Thanks go to the PTA, catering, technical and maintenance teams, and especially to Assistant Head Chris Yates and Marketing & Communications Manager Angela Phipps for delivering a truly memorable event.

The Annual Spanish Exchange with Salesian College Sarria was a great success. Students had a great week in Spain and came back confident and fluent. We cannot wait to welcome the Spanish students to our school in June. Thank you to everyone at SCS who made this opportunity possible and so well organised.

Salesian College Farnborough is delighted to invite all former students and staff to a special Celebratory Lunch on Saturday, 31 January 2026, in celebration of the Feast of Saint John Bosco and the official launch of our 125th Anniversary Year. 

This milestone event promises to be a joyful occasion to reconnect with old friends, revisit the College, and celebrate the enduring legacy of our community. 

Event Schedule 

11:00am – Morning Coffee & College Tour (Optional) 

Take a guided walk through the campus, explore new developments, and rediscover familiar spaces. You may even spot yourself on the Boards of Honour or in our archive of College photographs! 

12:00pm – Welcome Reception 

Enjoy a glass of fizz and delicious canapés in the College Hall Foyer while catching up with fellow alumni. 

1:00pm – Celebratory Lunch 

A relaxed, seasonal two-course lunch with wine will be served as we reflect on the College’s rich history and look ahead to its future. 

Entertainment & Reflections 

During the lunch, we’ll hear from alumni Mark Chatterton MBE and Jonny Cockfield, and enjoy a lively round of Heads ‘n’ Tails. 

The bar will close at 4:00 PM, with carriages at 4:30 PM. 

 

Booking Information 

Tickets: £75 per person 

Bookings must be received by Monday, 5 January 2026. 

To reserve your place, please complete the online booking form and follow this link for payment

If you would like to sponsor the bar in memory of absent friends, you can indicate this on the booking form. Your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged during the event. 

We look forward to welcoming you back to Salesian College for what promises to be a truly memorable occasion. 

Mass of Dedication – A Joyous Start to the School Year

On Friday 5 September, our school community came together to celebrate the Mass of Dedication, marking the beginning of a new academic year filled with promise and opportunity.

Fr Pat inspired us to reflect on how we will dedicate ourselves to the year ahead, encouraging everyone to give their very best in all they do.

A huge thank you to our liturgy coordinators Fraser and Guillaume, and senior students Dan and JP, who supported Fr Pat as altar servers. Our student leaders – James, Isla, Nick, Anna, and Harry – led the readings beautifully, reminding us what it means to live as Salesians and be role models to others.

We ended with a powerful rendition of the School Song, leaving us energised and ready to embrace the year ahead with purpose, passion, and pride.