Old Wrekinian
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THE OldW rekinian RECORD SEPTEMBER 2009 NO. 86 COVER PHOTOGRAPH Dates for your diary 2009 and 2010 The cover photograph taken by THURSDAY, 1ST OCTOBER 2009: Peter Jackson (W.62-66) shows the Headmaster, Stephen Drew, the Yorkshire Branch Dinner, Woodsome Hall Chairman of Governors, Christopher Golf Club, Fennay Bridge, Huddersfield Reynolds-Jones (T.52-55), John and (Golf available in the afternoon) Trevor Dahl on the occasion of the official opening of the refurbished THURSDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 2009: and extended Cricket Pavilion on Sunday, 21st July. London Branch Dinner, The East India Club, St James’ Square, London SATURDAY, 5TH DECEMBER 2009: OWA Annual Dinner, The Memorial Hall, Wrekin College The following events will take place in the afternoon: 2.00pm Rugby: Senior and Junior House ‘Sevens’ Competition 2.30pm Hockey: U13 and U12 VII v Moor Park School WEDNESDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY 2010: Manchester Branch Dinner, Francs Restaurant, Altrincham, Cheshire FRIDAY, 19TH MARCH 2010: Liverpool Branch Dinner, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake Editor: Serena Kyle SATURDAY, 8TH MAY 2010: Old Windsorian Dinner, Willington Hall, near Chester Produced by Emerge Design Limited Telephone: 01952 632750 SATURDAY, 15TH MAY 2010: www.emergedesign.co.uk Reunion for the joiners of 1981-90 at the School DEADLINES Would all contributors please keep to the following deadlines: January 1st for the Spring publication August 1st for the Autumn publication SEPTMBER 2009 LETTER FROM Dear Old Wrekinians, We greatly value the support which Old THE HEADMASTER Wrekinians offer to the school in many different ways, and it is excellent to hear of another initiative, the Alumni Directory, details of which follow in this magazine. I am very grateful to Michael Gordon-Williams for making this proposal, and I hope that it will attract a lot of support from other Old Wrekinians. It is potentially of great value to current Wrekinians. It can provide a very tangible link between different generations of Wrekinians and will be greatly appreciated by the staff and pupils here. I do urge you to look at Michael’s proposal very carefully and support it if you can; your diverse experience and expertise will be greatly appreciated. As I write, we have just received another outstanding set of A-Level results, this time with just under a third of the entire grades being A grade passes. The Head Boy and Head Girl led the way with seven A grades between them; Alex Shanklin is on his way to Cambridge to read Veterinary Science with four As under his belt, whilst Hannah Baker will study Dentistry at Bristol with three A grades. It is worth stressing that they also have 22 A*s between them at GCSE, and they have been exceptional not only academically but also in Sport, Music, Drama and, even more important, character. We will have over 100 new students joining us this term; enrolment has held up well despite the economic climate. The changes which we made in the working week last year, and also in the pattern of accommodation, have settled very well, and one of the highlights of the entire year was the opening of the Girls’ Hall of Residence, Hadden Hall, by Mrs Roly Hadden. With strong academic results and a huge range of achievements, the School continues to be very strong indeed. Finally, it was my pleasure in July to take 24 members of the School community to visit our Orphanage in Malawi. Old Wrekinians will know that we have built and sponsored this Orphanage in one of the poorest parts of Africa, but our task this year was not only painting and maintenance but also simply being with the 52 children who live there. It was our third visit, and we were greeted as old friends. It reinforced the commitment which Wrekin has to that particular community, but as ever the main beneficiaries were the Wrekinians who visited. We could learn from the smiles and songs, the friendship and faith of those who live without so many of the things which we deem necessary. It was a great privilege to take the Wrekinians, and I regard it as the most profound educational experience which I can offer. Yours sincerely Stephen Drew, Headmaster WHATS INSIDE ■ P4 Alumni Directory ■ P6 News of Members ■ P14 OWA Sport ■ P19 & 20 Future Dates ■ P20 Births, Deaths and Marriages ■ P26 Foundation News ■ P32 Available for Sale ■ P34 OWA Shooting 3 Old Wrekinian In the 1880s the first pupils of Sir John Bayley were released onto an Association unsuspecting world. Who knows what advice or guidance they were given or indeed in what line they sought their future. A tea planter, perhaps, ALUMNI or a military man; an iron founderer or a member of the clergy. Even with DIRECTORY patronage or connection it would have been an uncertain adventure. by Michael Gordon-Williams Secretary, OWA London Branch A proposal to OWA members. A Directory of Members for Members and the ‘leavers’ of Wrekin College taking steps into the world. One hundred and twenty nine years on, the world has now absorbed some 9,100 Old Boys and Girls into its turbulent waters. Indeed as you read this note, a further 83 have just escaped from what they may, one day, look back on as some of the best years of their life. A myriad of careers have been pursued; from general idler to the furiously dynamic. Some for life, some changing direction along the way. So it will ever be. However well informed and interactive the School’s Careers Department and however well intentioned the parental advice, that final decision falls at one’s door. Even when higher education is pursued, the opportunities do not necessarily become clear. As many of us know, it can be daunting. 4 ThisT is where the Storage, access and security OWA is able to step The principal medium of storage will be on an up to the podium, electronic database; a hard copy version may offering more than be available although cost is a consideration. just the opportunity Access will be granted to members of the for future friendship OWA and Upper Sixth form leavers in their and fellowship. We can open final term on a ‘Read Only’ basis by means of the accumulated experience of our members, a password known to members of the OWA to mentor and advise, not just to those of only. Security of the information remains our number but, most importantly, those a high priority as does the uses to which it Wrekinians stepping out for the first time. might be put. The Office of the Information The OWA Committee has decided to support Commissioner will be approached to ensure the creation of a database which, when compliance with the relevant regulations on established, will provide a point of reference Data Protection. and a potential guide for the future. To succeed in this ambition, the OWA need not The bones and your just members’ agreement, but their proactive approval support. The bare bones of the idea and how it would The proposal be used and managed It is proposed that a directory is established are outlined above. of current members of the OWA to be known There are clearly some as ‘The Old Wrekinian Association Alumni technical and logistical Directory’ (the ‘Directory’). The Directory issues that remain would contain correspondent details of to be addressed. The members that are currently held upon the OWA Committee OWA database. Additionally, the profession has given its approval and agreed to or trade with which a member has been or is cover the cost should sufficient support be associated would be added and, if a member forthcoming. It is hoped that some defrayment felt it appropriate, the particular name of of the cost might be achieved by encouraging a firm or institution might also be added. on line advertisement by professional bodies Members would then be asked to indicate or by using hyperlinks to their sites in due whether or not they are prepared to be course. Any comments, ideas or offers of help contacted by other OWs, either directly or are welcome as we are hoping to go into through the OWA office, for advice or guidance production early next year. upon business or career opportunities. If you feel able to support this idea, please ‘Contact’ might involve as little as an informal email [email protected] or chat – as much as a Member is prepared to write to the Development Office with any offer – just a few words might be enough to ideas or comments in the first instance. Please sow an idea. It is important to stress at this take some time to consider the proposal and point that the use of the Directory will not be to giving your proactive support and approval. as a surrogate employment agency. 5 1930s 1930s DECADE Gerald Bryan (T.34-39) published his memoirs in 2008, ‘Be of Good Cheer’. Copies are available from Gerald at Whitehouse, Murrell Hill Lane, Binfield, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 4BY at £12.50 per copy plus £3.40 postage and packing, UK 1st Class Post. Tony Dale (T.29-33) writes that he is one of the few OWs who remembers Sir John Bayley – a dapper, smartly turned out gentlemen, 3 piece suit, white spats and shoes like mirrors. When he left school, Tony joined a family firm and was bored to tears so the War was a get out and he joined a Birmingham unit of RAOC as a Private. He was commissioned in 1941. When demobbed, Tony worked for GKN, who had absorbed the family firm, until he was made redundant in 1976.