OLD DERBEIAN SOCIETY

A letter from the President

February 2010

As you will read elsewhere the AGM of the Society was deferred for two weeks until Thursday January 28th.

At that meeting the Society did me the singular honour of electing me as President for the next two years. At that moment, looking back at the roll of former Presidents of our Society, I truly felt very humble.

As is clear from my years at school I was among the first YHA Overton Hall evacuees, later moving to Amber Valley Camp. I started at School in 1937 and well recall entering through the doors of St Helen's House. Those days are well and truly behind me now, but I really value the time at Derby Grammar School, what it did for me, and the preparation for my life after school.

When friends first approached me and suggested that I allow my name to be put forward for election, my first and several succeeding thoughts were "why me ?" ... My personal instincts were to say thank you, but "no thank you".

I thought of my age, and why should the Society not elect a much younger President from the new generation. However I was persuaded and your AGM elected me.

President's message continues ...

Derby School group photograph taken 1963

Society president Alan Lockyer, has received an old school group photograph taken in 1963. This was kindly sent in to the website by Trevor Howson OD 1958-65 and, briefly, member of staff at Derby School between 1971-74.

Alan Sanders

The Society and all its members were very saddened, late last year, only a few weeks after the Derby Dinner, to hear of the death, after a long illness, bravely borne, of Alan Sanders.

To say that Alan was a staunch and stalwart Old Derbeian is an understatement. At times, and sometimes indeed in tandem, he was Secretary, Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Website creator and Editor, Archivist and, of course, Committee member and he was for many years considered by members to be the 'glue' holding the Society, its members and its activities together. He has been and still is sorely missed and he will long be remembered by us all.

Your Committee has thought deeply about how Alan and his contribution could and should be remembered and knowing Alan's keen interest in sport, especially Cricket, both during and after his schooldays have determined to establish a sporting trophy in his name.

The leading idea at present is for there to be a silver trophy bearing Alan's name which would be gifted to the School for presentation to the winners of the match between the Old Derbeians and the School Cricket XI in the newly re-established Annual fixture.

Details have yet to be finalised, however the Hon Treasurer, David Walker, will be delighted to receive contributions in memory of Alan towards the funds required to mark, in this way, his immense work for the Society.

New President for the Society

At the AGM of the Old Derbeian Society held at Derby Grammar School on Thursday 28th January 2010 H.W.A. Alcock OBE was elected, by acclamation, and installed as the 47th President of the Society. Mr Alcock will serve a 2 year term until the AGM of 2012.

Hedley Alcock was a pupil at Derby School from 1937 to 1944, starting his school life at St Helen's House and completing it at Amber Valley Camp just before the School's return to Derby. During his school years his forte was in the science subjects and his later career embraced textile science before being followed by moves into general management.

Hedley has been a long standing member of the Youth Hostels Association, he is currently a Vice President, and he has served with distinction on both national and international committees concerned with the management and development of the youth hostels movement. He will therefore bring wide committee experience and scientific rigour to the Old Derbeian Society Committee's deliberations. He was warmly welcomed to his post at the Committee meeting which followed the AGM.
Committee structure ...

Members from Derby Grammar School years.

For recent news of your Derby Grammar School colleagues click on the link below.
New Derbeian Newsletter (PDF)

Restoration of St Helen's House

It is known that many members of the Society have a keen interest in the progress of the renovation work at St Helen's House currently being undertaken by Mr Richard Blunt.

BBC Radio Derby recently featured an interview with Mr Blunt about the project. A number of photographs of the interior of St Helen's House whilst the work is in progress may be found on the BBC radio website, as well as a recording of the interview.