The Old Dunelmian Society was founded in the 1880s to keep ODs in touch with one another and to support the School and its current pupils as a united body. Former pupils of the Chorister School agreed to be known as Old Dunelmians when the schools merged to become The Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation in 2021.
Today, the OD Society is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s lifelong commitment to members of the wider Dunelmian community. The OD Society is funded through a levy paid while pupils are still at school. The Levy is used to fund the production and distribution of The Dunelmian Magazine and to support the Old Dunelmian Society’s day to day activities.
The Society is run by a committee of volunteers and works very closely with the Development Office to organise a number of popular and enjoyable reunions and events every year.
There are always opportunities for ODs to become involved in the work of the Society, whether through assisting with existing events, organising new events or even by taking on a role on the committee. A range of OD merchandise, including ties, jackets and waistcoats are available through the OD Website.
The OD Society exists for the benefit of ODs, who undoubtedly make firm, lifelong and lasting friendships while at the School. What many ODs have found is having returned or attended a function after a gap (sometimes of many years), how good it is to be reacquainted with former teachers and old friends.
The online archive is often a source of interest for ODs and their families - an overview of the Foundation’s archive collections are available via the OD Website. More detailed queries can be made via email to [email protected].
A list of notable Old Dunelmians is maintained on Wikipedia for both Durham School and The Chorister School.
