OLD DERBEIAN SOCIETY

Review of Past Events 2010

Remembrance Sunday 2010

It was a cold but fine morning on Sunday 14th November when thirty Old Derbeians and friends gathered at The Derby School War Memorial in front of St Helen's House, King Street for the Society's Annual Act of Remembrance.

The service was led by the Revd. Preb. Derek Tinsley OD (1946-54) and wreaths, on behalf of the Society and of Derby Grammar School, were laid by the Society's President Mr. Hedley Alcock, OBE OD (1937-44) and by the Headmaster Mr. Richard Paine, Honorary OD. The Roll of Honour, presenting the names of the fallen in both World Wars, was proclaimed by four senior Old Derbeians.

A number of photographs of the occasion are displayed in Gallery Six of the Photo Gallery. The photographs were taken by Guthrie Whitby OD (1983-87) and one is shown here.

---

Derby Dinner 2010

The Derby Dinner 2010 was held on the evening of Saturday 13th November at the Mackworth Hotel. A total of 97 members, guests and friends enjoyed a splendid meal and, judging by the noise level, a most convivial evening. This year's attendees included a number of 'year' parties and they clearly enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce a goodly number of years after their time at Derby School.

The following Society members attended the Dinner.

ALCOCK Hedley	1937/44	MANSELL Keith	1952/60
ALDWINKLE Clifford	1937/42	MEAKIN John	1951/57
ANTHONY Martin	1946/54	MELLERS Gordon	1941/48
ASTLE Tony	1946/53	MORDEY Richard	1946/53
BATE Roge	1957/62	PAINE Richard	Headmaster DGS
BESWICK Geoff	1960/65	PICKEN Ashley	1962/69
BILLINGTON David	1960/68	POLKEY Andrew	1961/66
BOOTH John	1942/49	REPTON Rod	1960/65
BOWDEN Mrs El	Honorary Member	ROBERTSHAW Graham	1941/43
BRINDLEY Alan	1948/53	ROWLEY WNK ("Jim")	1941/43
CHAMBERS Barry	1952/60	SANDERS Michael	1946/51
CHAPMAN Don	1942/47	SCALES Peter	1961/68
CHAPPLE Norman	1942/48	SEAGER Brian	Headmaster 1979/89
CHETTLE Keith	1938/43	SHEARD Barrie	1945/50
COPESTAKE Neville	1940/45	SMITH Stan	1942/48
DAVIS Mark	1963/71	SOUTHGATE Tony	Honorary member
DIXON James	DGS Head Prefect	SRINIVASAN Ananth	DGS Deputy Head Prefect
DOWLING Robert	1960/67	TOLLEY Stuart	1961/66
DRAPER Alan	1957/62	THOMAS Russell	1945/54
EDWORTHY Mark	1961/68	TUNALEY Martin	1963/69
ELLIS Bill	1932/44	WALKER Keith	1957/62
FAIRHOLM Peter	1946/51	WARD Brian	1939/44
FRANKLAND Ian	1951/56	WEIR John	1961-68
GOODWIN Alan	1950/57	WILLIAMS John	1950/57
GOODWIN Ian	1965/68	WILSON Peter	1961/68
HAMER Russ	1966/73	WOODHALL Peter	1961/66
HANSON David	1951/59	WRIGHT Derek	1960/67
HARRISON Roy	1944/49
HERRING David	1951/58
HOLDEN Ralph	1944/52
JACQUES Richard	1945/51
KUREK Micha	1963/68
LOCKYER Alan	1946/53

Hedley Alcock OBE President of the Society proposed the toast to 'The Guests' and Mr. Richard Paine, Headmaster, Derby Grammar School responded and proposed a toast to the Old Derbeian Society. Thanks are due to Norman Chapple for his splendid & smooth organisation of yet another successful Derby Dinner.

A full report of the event including a note of all members attending will be published in the Annual Newsletter 2011.

---

Scotland and North of England Dinner

Saturday 9th October 2010

Without a shadow of doubt this year's event was both a joy to attend and the ambience of the whole evening will forever form a place in my memory.

Taking place as usual in splendid surroundings of the 'The Royal Scots Club' Edinburgh this year's event was attended by thirteen Old Derbeians (OD's), their wives, partners and friends. They we were hosted extremely well by Mr Adrian Hayes - OD, from aperitifs through to coffee and mints.

Being a new attendee I thought the whole evening went extremely well and just wish more OD's now living in either Scotland or Northern England could make the effort and travel to attend this annual event. My message is make 2011 (as a start to our Centenary Celebrations next October) a really special event.

Our host OD Mr Adrian Hayes, the General Manager of The Royal Scots Club, has been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years and with his attention to detail including, aperitifs, a well chosen four course meal accompanied by both a white and red wine, a dining table set within the private Scot Dining Room, plus a printed menu card the evening went extremely well. It should be recorded how greatly we appreciate Adrian's involvement in and organisation of this annual event.

Those attending were:-

OD Society President, Hedley Alcock(1937 -1944) and Gwenda
John Booth (1942-49) and Marion Edge
Adrian Hayes (1970-77)
David Slater (1941-46)
Barrie Sheard (1945-50)
Peter Smith(1958-66) and Linda
Stan Smith(1942-48) and Joyce
Martin Tunaley(1955-62) and Diane

J. Barrie Sheard (1945-50)

---

Can it really be sixty years ago?

Twenty two members of the 1950 Derby School intake gathered on Tuesday 20th April, at the Georgian House Hotel on Ashbourne Road, to mark the sixtieth anniversary of joining the School as fresh-faced Scholarship boys. This special occasion was the latest in a series of successful gatherings that have been attended by members of the Class of 1950 since the year 2000, which was when a process of re-discovery was begun with an appeal that was published in the columns of the Derby Evening Telegraph. That appeal precipitated a series of different but associated events, over the next few years, that resulted in the identification of all of the surviving members of that group of sixty boys from so long ago. It is heartening to be able to report that, in the mean time, no less than thirty nine of these old class mates have attended one or another of the happy events that have taken place. Old friendships have been re-kindled and new ones have been forged and it is to be hoped that the Derby School bond that still holds the Class of 1950 together will continue for many years to come.

J. Dring (1950-55)

1947ers Reunion 8th July 2010 - Georgian House Hotel, Derby

Sixty-three years have passed since twelve members of forms 2L and 2R first became acquainted as part of the new intake to Derby School. These twelve met again on the 8th July this year at the Georgian House Hotel in Friargate, the venue used for the last four years of their reunion meetings. This year there were no new debutants but it was good to see the return of a few who were unable to make last year's event.

Starting at mid-day the conversation soon became totally engrossing, so much so that a late start was made to the usual buffet lunch of rather unhealthy pub food, but as someone remarked, it certainly surpassed anything ever served in the King Edward Street canteen - the venue for senior school lunches in the late 1940's and 1950's.

Over our meetings of the last four years there has been a discernible change in the topics of conversation. Initially they concentrated on memories of our school years but subsequently have moved increasingly towards more current issues and the personal fortunes of those present. This is a reflection of our growing awareness over the four years of others' personal situations, in effect getting to know each other again. Inevitably as the years progress the subjects of age and health occur occasionally but these are accompanied by much empathy and dark humour.

We have determined to meet again next year, when we can again remember what we were so fortunate to share so many years ago and also get a lot of fun and sympathy from exchanging medical anecdotes and the oddities of increasing maturity. However in spite of all this it can be seen from the accompanying photograph that 1947 was in reality a very good year.

To aid recognition within the following photograph it would perhaps help to identify the gentlemen as:- back row, (left to right): Vivian Andrew, Brian Moult, John Hyde, Michael Bass, Tony Moore

Front row (left to right): Ray Frost, John Wilkinson, Godfrey Webster, Peter Smedley, David White, Lee Everett.

Reporting by H.A.R. Jones (1947-55).

---

27th June 2010 - Amber Valley Reunion

The annual reunion was again held in the Old Dining Room, Ogston Sailing Club on Sunday 27th June, Elisabeth and Nick Bowden having made their usual arrangements. The Society's thanks are due to the Sailing Club for their kind permission to use their facilities.

This year marked the 70th Anniversary of the move of the evacuated Derby School to the Amber Valley Camp from Overton Hall which had been its temporary home since September 1939.

The reunion was attended by almost 50 Old Derbeians, relatives and friends and inevitably there was much reminiscing, recollection and reviewing of the events of 70 years ago. The Society's President, Hedley Alcock, OBE who took part in the dramatic events of 1940 was present and gave a short address.

---

OD's versus Derby Grammar School 1st XI - 26th June 2010

This year proved once again what a delight it is to hold this excellent match, which was revived in 2009, between the OD Society Cricket XI and Derby Grammar School (DGS) First XI. This year's match was held on Saturday 26th June and on a brilliant day as far as weather was concerned with both a hot and sunny day with a pleasant south westerly breeze.

As before, the match was a 25 overs per side competition and with the OD's winning the toss they choose to bat first. The cricket match is played on Derby Grammar School's new playing fields situated off Merlin Way which is a part of a new estate built adjoining the old Pastures Mental Hospital at Mickeover.

Sadly this year the bowling by DGS was too good for the OD's and despite four batsmen reaching double figures each, the Old Derbeians XI were all out for a total of 89 in the actual 25th over. The completed innings was followed by the tea interval.

DGS started their innings after tea, which was this year provided by DGS, and one of their opening batsmen along with the No3 batsman controlled the whole innings and so, effectively, the whole game. Early in the School's innings however the match seemed to be very open after the second man was bowled out for 1 run. But, in relatively quick time the two schoolboy batsmen achieved a grand total of 91 in only the 17th over and consequently this year the OD's lost the match by 9 wickets.

Certainly, the man of the match was Don Geer who was not out for a grand 55 runs. James Lowden achieved a very creditable 22 runs in support.

The reconvened annual match series now stands with one win for each team.

Icing on the cake for this year's match

Over the course of the past year the OD Society Committee had considered how best to honour the late Alan Sanders, a stalwart OD who had served as Secretary and Committee member for a great many years. Alan Sanders sadly died in December 2008.

A number of suggestions were considered and it was decided that a large silver cup to be known as the "Alan Sanders Memorial Trophy" would be obtained which could be awarded to the winning team at this annual cricket match.

The Committee and members of the OD Society were delighted that Mrs Thelma Sanders and several of her family joined the crowd watching the match and that at its conclusion, following a few kind words of introduction from the current President Mr Hedley Alcock OBE, Mrs Sanders graciously presented the new trophy to the winning captain of the DGS 1st XI, James Lowden.

Prior to the speeches and presentation the OD Society provided glasses of wine and lighter refreshing drinks for both teams and for all the visitors OD's, parents, and friends who attended the match. One comment overheard from a spectator was "what a delightful end to a lovely afternoon of cricket".

The plinth of the new cup had already been engraved with result of the 2009 match, a win for Old Derbeians XI, and it will now be engraved with the year and this year's winning team Derby Grammar School 1st XI. The "Alan Sanders Memorial Trophy" will then be placed on show within the DGS trophy cabinet, presented by the OD Society, which is sited in the Sir Michael Bishop Hall at the School.

The Society is indebted to the umpire for the match, Mr. Chris Whitworth, senior sports master at DGS and also to Alexandra Whitworth, now an OD herself, who has scored for both of the revived games thus 'representing' the losing side on each occasion!

Barrie Sheard (1945-50)

---

St James' Street London, on Saturday 8th May

Peter Smedley has forwarded the following report. The photographs have been supplied by John Booth (1942 - 49).

Eleven ODs, most from the London area, met for the Annual London Dinner at the Royal Overseas League on Saturday 8th May against a background of crisis.

Nothing new about ODs meeting for their London Dinner during a crisis. Usually it has been alarm bells ringing over Derby County, or over St Helen's House. This year's crisis was the limbo between the general election and the formation of a new government. Sadly it soon became clear that, despite a combined 76 years of Derby School education, the meeting would not be able to form a Government, not through any lack of ability, but through sheer lack of numbers.

The lack of numbers theme led conveniently into a general discussion (and not for the first time) of the future of the London Dinner. All possible efforts had been made by organiser Peter Smith to widen support, assisted in various ways by others, but to little avail. Sadly it had become clear that Father Time would exert his malign influence at a greater rate than any countervailing efforts on our part.

It should be said that none of this detracted from enjoyment of one of the best meals of recent times, and as much spirited conversation as ever.

So the 2011 Dinner will be the 57th and last, not going out with a whimper, but with a resounding fanfare to celebrate the OD Society Centenary. One last gathering when it is hoped numbers will rival the best of the last decade, and the fellowship enjoyed by so many over so many years will be sustained for one more time.

If you can possibly reach SW1 and The Royal Overseas League on Saturday 14th May 2011 - come and join us for a night to remember!

The less formal photograph below shows (left to right) - Barry Newcombe, John Bower and organiser Peter Smith.

Derbeians attending:

J. Bower 38-43

J. H. Booth 42-49

A. F. Dowling 28-35

K. R. Mansell 52-60

B. W. Newcombe 60-66

P. J. Smedley 47-54

P. A. Smith 58-66

J. B. Sturgeon 55-63

A. R. Thomas 45-53

G. Webster 47-54

D. V. White 47-52

P J Smedley 47 - 54

---

16 Apr 2010 - Reunion of 1951 Intake

The first ever reunion of the 1951 intake at Derby School finally took place on the 16th April 2010 after more than 50 years since the former teenage students each went their separate ways.

This first get together comprised eight former pupils and five wives but there had been apologies from four other old boys who were unable to attend owing to prior commitments. Those present were: Ian and Eileen Frankland, David and Faith Hanson, David and Sara Herring, John and Pat Meakin, Barrie and Glenda Oakley, Roy Hodgkinson, Michael Walters and Stuart Graham.

After so many years without any contact this was considered a considerable achievement and hopefully will be improved on over the coming years.

It was quite evident that on the initial meeting of these old school friends there was some apprehension as to how this first coming together would pan out after so long apart and, not least of all, would be the task of recognising each other after a gap of over 50 years. However, it soon became clear that any such problems would be totally unfounded and everyone agreed that it was a wonderful experience and a great shame that the reunion had not taken place many years earlier.

After a 'getting to know you' period of chat and swapping of old school memorabilia, including many photographs, the party retired to the hotel dining room where an excellent meal was served and, after the party became more relaxed, many of the old school tales were being bandied around. It is fair to say that even the wives that were present found the whole experience enjoyable and were astounded to learn of some the pranks recalled by the 'boys' and, in some cases, the punishments that followed.

All in all the evening was voted a complete success and a vow was made to track down and contact more of the missing compatriots with a view to making the next reunion even bigger and better.

It is worth adding that the event was held at the Menzies Mickleover Court Hotel, Derby and it was agreed by everyone that the hotel and their staff surpassed themselves with wonderful service and an excellent meal of high quality.

In the event that more of the 'old boys' from the 1951 Derby School intake should recognise their classmates from this report we would urge them to contact either Ian Frankland email: ian.frankland2@btinternet.com or David Hanson email: david@hansond.entadsl.com