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The curtain came down in style on our 60th birthday celebrations on Saturday February 24th, with a glittering night of jubilation and nostalgia.
Port Saeed’s elegant Park Hyatt ballroom had been dressed to impress, and welcomed 350 alumni, parents and teachers primed for an evening that promised to shimmer with fun and fond memories.
Among the guests were Harry Atkinson; the first DESS Headteacher, and Vanessa Chapman, Sheila Duff Earles and Rhona Pyrke (nee Tulloch); three of the first students, whose fathers were responsible for building the school back in 1963.
Revellers were greeted with an astonishing display of school memorabilia and as the night unfolded, heartwarming speeches were followed by fabulous food, live music, and a draw for prizes ranging from luxury getaways to exquisite jewellery - all donated by school supporters and local businesses.
The event was also the launch pad for a commemorative coffee table history book. Called A Line In The Sand; it will go to print and become available as soon as pictures from the Ball have been added to stories and pictures capturing six decades of quirky recollections. The book can be pre-ordered from www.alumni.dessc.sch.ae
But beneath the glitz and glamour, the Diamond Ball was a celebration of community, camaraderie, and the bonds that unite our DESS family. It was a night to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future with optimism and enthusiasm.
With sixty years of excellence behind us and an equally exciting future ahead, the Ball marked a fitting end to a year in which we have celebrated a remarkable journey that has touched and enriched countless lives.
Here’s to our 70th!
