Of the Society of Old Brentwoods
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of the Society of Old Brentwoods October 2011 Organ and choral music, best time of her life, Barbados, Special Operations, Bubbling Relic, the Abdication, 15-year Chairman, Glittering Prizes society business New tractor is already hard at work improving Ashwells pitches ld Brentwoods have already contributed seed and fertiliser. These processes should enable the substantially to the costs of the new tractor and deployment of extra seed and fertiliser to improve the Oancillary equipment purchased to maintain and ground cover and help with drainage through the soil once improve the seven pitches at Ashwells Road used by OB the roots are established. teams and outside organisations. Pitches which function throughout Autumn, Winter and Spring in all but Grounds Committee Chairman Tony Witney explains: “The exceptionally bad weather are a vital ingredient in ensuring clay subsoil at Ashwells Road means that drainage takes the viability of the Clubhouse and grounds. place comparatively slowly. Constant rain and melting snow often result in waterlogged pitches. Even where Over 100 donations have brought in over £12,000 in surfaces are deemed playable, they get churned up. Over response to an appeal letter by 2010/2011 Society time, that damage has been severe for most pitches. President Richard Owers. He describes the contribution to Various measures have been taken in recent years to a target of £20,000 as “a tremendous effort in economically secure improvement but there was a growing sense of challenging times. Significant sums have been contributed fighting a losing battle.” by the rugby and football clubs but donations from individual OBs have been and remain essential. An agronomist’s report was commissioned which maintained there was an urgent need to increase spiking, “A very big thank you to all who have kindly donated to the verti-draining, sub soiling, annual sand top dressing, Tractor Appeal. It has been truly heart warming to receive seasonal seeding and fertilising. However, the existing the notes and letters that have often accompanied the complement of machinery and equipment was inadequate cheques – remembering days, deeds and friendships from for these tasks. School and from the clubs and sports fields at Burland Road and Ashwells Road.” The Society’s General Committee felt they had no choice but to purchase tractor and equipment as an investment However, the purchase costs are having to be replaced as which would pay for itself over time while improving ground the ongoing costs of running the buildings, facilities and quality and playing conditions over the years. Groundsman grounds remain formidable. There is nothing to spare from Chris Innerd has already been putting the tractor through Clubhouse funds. its paces to the benefit of the cricket, football and sports clubs. Richard puts the purchase into context. “Ashwells Road, now constantly under the Groundsman Chris Innerd (left) and 2010/11 Society President gaze of the Society’s finance Richard Owers with the main attraction sub-committee, requires a steady stream of games with both OB and outside teams paying match fees and spending in the bar afterwards. Outsiders provide a significant proportion of the Ashwells Road income through hiring fees. However, they will go elsewhere if faced with several weeks of unplayable pitches.” The new vehicle operates at a much higher technical and economically attractive level than its worn out predecessor. It has 50/70 horsepower, four- wheel drive, front loader and low gearing for use with various equipment. These include an ‘Earthquake’ machine to break up compacted earth and a ‘Slitter,’ which makes incisions in the turf of the right depth, angle and configuration to enable water to drain more quickly while creating a better growing environment for grass What’s Inside SOCIETY BUSINESS John White: Barbados High Commissioner .33,34,35 Tractor for Ashwells . .IFC George Cansdale: TV’s zoo specialist . .35 Ian Waite: Presidential profile . .2 Richard Brice: laying down his baton . .36,37 Financial results . .3 David Taylor: a friend’s tribute . .38 Management restructured . .4 Robin Day: listening to the abdication . .39 Membership cards . .4 Hardy Amies: Couturier & secret agent . .40,41,42 Simon Boon’s 15 year stint . .5 SPORT FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK David Tee: busy mayoralty . .6 Rugby . .43 John Stanton: minister and musician . .7 Football . .43 Help for Heroes: yomping and cookbook . .8 Cricket . .44 Ron Hepworth: working for Woodbridge . .8 St. George’s Day . .44 David Brice: Afghan railways . .9 Tennis . .45 Russ Glass and the Coopers: Western Australia . .10 Netball . .45 Old pals: 70 years on . .11 Squash . .45 Percy Paul: laid back housemaster . .11 Masons, 200 Club . .45 Gliders: School’s sailplane . .12 Derek Turnidge: Amazing America . .13 REMEMBRANCES Michael Flucker: 1947 Ludorum . .13 John Camp . .46 Jonathan Halper: Tibetan wedding . .14 Don Cripps . .46 Olly Dow: novel mysteries . .14 Alec Davidson . .46 REUNIONS AND DINNERS David Hickson . .46 Arts V: unruly bunch . .15 Mark Sandiland . .47 Dennis Riddiford: old relic lionised . .16,17,18,19 Don Thurtle . .47 Society dinner: bombs, cigarettes and pinpointing guests . .20,21 SOCIETY ADMINISTRATION Registrar . .48 SCHOOL MATTERS Secretary . .49 Speech Day: achievements inside Treasurer/Auditor . .50 and outside the classroom . .22,23,24,25 Accounts . .51,52,53,54 Pupils: results and universities . .26 Officers . .55 Sixth Form complex: ready and running . .26,27 Events . .56 CCF: contingent captured (on camera) . .28,29 FEATURES Design Centre: talent unleashed . .IBC Robert Hadland: 90 years of prizewinners .30,31,32 Geoge Cansdale: Eagle comic strip . .OBC Copy for the next Chronicle should be with the editor by February 29th 2012. Contributions to Martin Rowland, 6 St Paul’s Court, 18 Brackley Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1RA. (0208 650 9967) [email protected] Emailed material with Word attachments preferred. The editor wishes to thank Nichola Bearman of Brentwood School’s Marketing & Development Unit for many of the photographs in this issue. The editor apologises to Old Brentwoods with whom he has discussed contributions or who have submitted material which has not been included in this issue. Budgets and space are limited. Some items will be used in the next issue. CLUBHOUSE Ashwells Road, Bentley, Nr. Brentwood, Essex CM15 9SE Tel: 01277 374070 DIRECTIONS FROM LONDON Turn left at roundabout at the end of Brentwood High Street onto Ongar Road (A128). After approx 2 miles, (at end of ‘Straight Mile’) Ashwells Road is on the right. Ground and Clubhouse are about 600 yards on left. For more information about the Clubhouse, bar and grounds contact our Manager Melanie Staines on 01277 374070 or Email: [email protected] 1 Printer, mailer, CCF soldier and part-time sailor can forget spare time for a while Miss Bothwell in 3R used to “pretend she was a witch to keep us on our toes.” She was followed by Frank Halford in 2R: “a lovely man and an inspired teacher.” Next up was Bill Davies in Form1, supported by David Curtis and David Bull. “Jack Higgs headed a very good team. I was very happy in the Prep School.” At the 50th anniversary class reunion in 2009, which Ian and David Wakeling largely organised, it emerged that Frank Halford and another teacher, Anne Jarrett, also started at Brentwood in 1959 - “fitting additions to a select company.” From 1963-70, Ian was in North. “I did not really set the world on fire academically.” After O levels, he took A level Economics (Sid Bergin), Geography (Dennis Tarrant) and French (Terry Best, Richard Smart and Bob Jackson). He Helping School leavers Ian Waite believes strongly that Old Brentwoods should do more to help youngsters with career advice both before and after they leave the School. an Waite (1959-70) has become President of the Society “Our members have long supported the School’s of Old Brentwoods at a time of substantial change. The Careers Convention and will be doing so again in March Ipast two years have seen a major restructuring of the 2012. However, we need to look at the occupations Ashwells Road operation, site of the Old Brentwoods represented. There has been a bias towards the service Clubhouse and grounds and home base for its rugby, professions and we were certainly short of engineering football, cricket, tennis and squash activities. disciplines at the last convention. The world is changing, particularly in relation to evolving technologies and Formerly the primary recipient of Society funds, Ashwells approaches to business. More 2010 university entrants Road has moved substantially towards financial self opted for the business and economic studies spectrum sufficiency and self-contained management. This will than for any other area. enable the Society per se to focus on the significant number of members who are not frequent visitors to the “Some 40 per cent of Brentwood School leavers are girls Clubhouse and on those Old Brentwoods who are not or and we have to recognise that traditional boy/girl career are no longer Society members. stereotyping is changing rapidly and we need to With his immediate predecessor as President, Richard accommodate that.” Owers, and former General Committee Chairman Simon Boon, Ian has been considering how to increase the Helping Members attractions of membership to OBs new and old. The Society wants to endow membership of the Old “We have quite a few ideas, some of which involve working Brentwoods with more value, especially for the majority closely with the School to encourage participation in the who do not use the Clubhouse. Accordingly, Ian Waite Society and its running among immediate leavers. We are has approached several local businesses, including looking at events, career mentoring, networking activity, solicitors, surveyors, insurance brokers and restaurants database management, websites and print which are prepared to provide discounts or special communication.” offers to members.