OLD DERBEIAN SOCIETY
President's 2011 Message
As we start 2011 with all that lies ahead I would like to wish all members of the Society a Very Happy New Year.
Old Derbeian Society President
Hedley W A Alcock OBE (1937-44) (right)
meets Derby Grammar School Headmaster
Mr Richard Paine and Deputy Headmaster
Mrs Lesley Reynolds
The "pundits" in the media are telling tales of doom and gloom, I prefer to look forward with confidence in the very strong belief that life is what we make of it. We have skills to deploy and use both to ensure our personal well being but also that of our families and the community at large.
A quick look back at the Society in 2010 shows a quiet AGM, a really splendid Society vs. School cricket match and following that with a great day of reminiscing and renewing friendships at the Amber Valley Camp reunion. The London Dinner attendees, with considerable regret, decided that the lack of substantial support meant that 2011 would be the last. There was a reasonable turn out for the Scotland & Northern England Dinner again with considerable chatter of former times and colleagues.
The Derby Dinner had more guests than for many years past and a great evening was had by all. There was a good turn out for the Remembrance Service at the School Cenotaph at St Helen's House. Once again there was a school Act of Remembrance on November 11th and members of the Society were invited to attend as guests. We were well represented at School and are very appreciative of the welcome given to us by Headmaster Richard Paine, his colleagues and students at school.
I mention these events particularly as they are open to all members of the Society and more members would be most welcome at any or all of them. A full list of dates through 2011 is in the Society Newsletter and will be on the ODs website.
None of these events occur by accident, and I have to say a very warm thank you to Committee members who put time and effort into the planning and organisation. As a society you are well served. However that does not mean we should stand still. Your committee would welcome additional support for any of the activities.
Old Derbeian Society President
Hedley W A Alcock OBE (1937-44)
photographed after the Remembrance Day service in November 2010.
However the real future for your Society is the School and its current and former pupils. And 2010 has been a superb year for the School. In all, 34 pupils gained a GCSE with 288 passes at Grades A* to C. 73 A* passes with 5 students obtaining 7 or more A* grades.
At 'A' level 34 pupils were successful with 106 passes. There were 9 A* grades and 36 at A grade. Of these 34 'A' level school leavers, 29 are at their choice of University, 3 have a deferred entry 1 is joining the family business and 1 is joining the Royal Navy. Like you I look forward to hearing of their further success.
I offer sincere congratulations to the students, and staff who guided them on these worthwhile achievements. I was delighted to be invited by the Chairman of Governors and Headmaster to attend Speech Day and hear more of these superb academic successes.
A brief look at forthcoming events. 2011 will be the start of the 100th year of the Society. Ralph Holden is steering a small dedicated group in making plans to ensure that for the twelve months of the Centenary, the Society will have the opportunity to celebrate and build.
A major event is in the plan for January 2012, with other ideas such as a lapel badge, a 100 year ODs logo, which is an art project for the school, and as a history project, a "Book of Remembrance" of Old Derbeians who fell in wars. We hope to hold a very special annual dinner at school in 2012, and this is currently being planned.
Do keep in touch by a regular look at our website and also the School website to see what events you can enjoy.
I look forward to meeting many more of you this year; It would be so good to have more of you present at our events. We will soon be holding the AGM of the Society. We need new members of the committee, we need to reach out and attract younger members, for instance, those who have organised 'year' events during 2010. The 47'ers who met in July, the 1951's who met in April, the 1960 year members who met in the Autumn, we need you on board now, and others like you. Even better than this, are you willing to join us in working with the Society and School?
I see the future for your Society as being inextricably linked with the School and it's Parents' Association. We must all work together to stage events. We are not in competition with each other we have totally similar aims and interests. The school will only be successful in the future if it has a flourishing and active Society of former students able to give support to continuing the development and enhancement of the school and the facilities it offers. I hope that your Society can forge a powerful bond with Parents, School Staff and Pupils to drive us all forward to greater achievements in the future.
May I draw your attention to the Society archives. Barrie Sheard has taken on the role of Society archivist. In but a short while he and Ralph Holden's group have made remarkable strides in this area. Please do look out mementos and contact Barrie via the Society's e-mail oldderbeians@googlemail.com .
One other thing to mention is our Annual News letter. The cost each year is about our income from membership. That cannot continue. We have decided to go substantially electronic. We need your e-mail addresses now, if you have not already done so please send a note of your e-mail address, marked for the attention of the Hon Sec, to oldderbeians@googlemail.com . A further major benefit of this approach to electronic communication will be the ability to "post information" on our web site more immediately and so keep you fully up to date.
Finally I would like to repeat my personal best wishes to each and every one of you. I would like to close by paying tribute to the help from Headmaster, Richard Paine; Deputy Head, Lesley Reynolds; and Senior Master Paul Hilliam. They have been so supportive in all our Society seeks to do.
My very best wishes
Hedley W A Alcock
1937-44
President, Old Derbeian Society
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