St. Beghian Society - The North East Branch Dinner. November 12th 2008

The venue for the Dinner was again the Northumberland Golf Club, Gosforth Park, Newcastle.

There was an excellent attendance of 45 which included a strong representation from the School. After greetings and conviviality in the bar, guests moved into the dining room to be served a meal of really excellent quality. Following the Loyal Toast, Chairman Malcolm Dix rose to welcome the guests and to thank George Robson for standing in as Branch Chairman during his own period in office as Society President. The Chairman also thanked Bill Dove for his continuing work as Branch secretary and said how grateful the Branch was to Daniel Pitchford for once again arranging the attendance of a large group of ‘youngsters’, who were taking in the Dinner during a reunion weekend in Newcastle.

The Chairman went on to warmly congratulate Don Williams on his installation as Society President 2008- 2010. Don then made an address in which he outlined his plans to progress the Society during his period of office, in particular by updating the details of Society members and encouraging the younger members to become active within the Society. He said the large number of younger members present at the Dinner was evidence that it was possible to achieve this. Following a toast to the School the Headmaster replied by giving a report on structural work and other developments there, emphasising a fine record of academic achievement. Head of School, Miss E. Long, rose and spoke eloquently of developments at St. Bees from a pupil perspective, then School prefect Lawrence Gribble gave an impressive and moving speech during which he described how staff at the School and the School's ethos had moulded him into a young man who can face his future with confidence. Both pupils' speeches were delightful and appreciated by all present. Quotes from their speeches - ‘diversity', ‘close friendships’, ‘great ethos’, ‘welcoming’, ‘community feeling’, ‘the best years of my life so far’, ‘caring staff’.

Malcolm said he had been privileged to have served as Chairman of the North East Branch for sixteen years and now was happy to welcome Mark Cottam as his successor. Mark rose and made a brief speech in which he said he was looking forward to leading what was clearly a thriving and forward-looking Branch. Guests retired to the Bar for further informal socialising before departing at around 11 p.m.

Attenders:
D.H. Williams, FN 1961-64 and President of the St. Beghian Society, W.M.H. Dix FN 1955-1958 and Chairman of the N.E. Branch, P.J. Capes Headmaster, Mrs. H. Capes, J. Rowlands Deputy Headmaster, Mrs.H. Miller, Director of Marketing and Admissions, Miss E. Long Head of School, Lawrence Gribble School Prefect, W.E. Dove FN1957 -1960 N.E: Branch Secretary. J.F. Bullock FN 1944-48, P.D.G. Hopley SH 1947-52, F.O. Messenger SH 1950-55, J.D.S. Brown G 1953-59, N.D.Clothier FN 1953-57, A.H. Dobson G1953-58, C.R. Kennedy FN 1953-59, C.J. Cummins G 1956-62, GC. Robson FN 1957-1964, A.M. Carstairs FN 1957-1962, J.R. McBryde G 1958-61, G.M. Burn G 1959-61, T.G. Steven G 1959-64, J. Mosgrove SH 1960- 63, G.L. Spencer G 1961-64, A.O. Burn G 1962-65, M.B. Cottam SH 1969-74, D.W.G. Reed, FN 1975-80, Mrs R. V.Lewis L 1977-79, A.D. Norris FN/AC 1981-86, D.I. Pitchford G 1995-02, P.J. Drysdale SH 1995-02, A.J. Booth SH I996-03, J.S.T. Tsang SH 1996-03, M.E. James SH 1997-04, M. Drysdale SH 1998-05, J.P. Nickson SH 1998- 04, K.A. Marshal SH 1998-05, J.R.A. Woodhouse SH 1999-02, J. McDonald SH 2001-08, J.B. Kelly G 2001-06, T. Pavey-Smith G 2001-08, J. Carlin SH 2002-07, A.T. MacRae SH 2002-06, W. Lenton-Brooke SH 2003-07, G. Beasley SH 2005-07

The St. Beghian Society,
St. Bees School, St. Bees, Cumbria, CA27 0DS
Tel: 01946 828093
osb@st-bees-school.co.uk