Branch Activities:

Bristol and West of England

The Bristol and West of England Branch of the Society held its annual dinner at the Ship Inn, Alverston, on June 1st. Nineteen sat down to dinner, ten members,  seven ladies and two guests. We were delighted to be joined by Anthony Wills, the Society President, and his wife Joanna; by centenarian Bill Frankland; and the Headmaster and Helen Capes. With Philip still recovering from his demonstration of the Health and Safety hazards of the Foundation stairs, it fell to Helen, who doesn’t generally do long-distance driving, to bring them down from St Bees. It’s a pleasure to acknowledge the efforts the Head (and Helen) has made to make the long haul down to us during his tenure. From September he and Helen will be resident in our catchment area and I hope we’ll see them at our dinners in future – in a less formal capacity. Although we enjoyed a very pleasant evening, it is necessary to note that our youngest member attending the dinner left St Bees in 1964, perilously close to half a century ago. While it is good to meet with old friends, it would be nice if the emphasis wasn’t always so much on the ‘old’. The 2013 event will be scheduled at about the same time. Final details will be in the next issue of the Bulletin, but interested members can always contact me in advance (see Branch Secretaries section).
Bill Affleck (SH 45-51).

 

Manchester Dinner

The venue was the breathtaking Cloud Skyline Bar in the Manchester Hilton on the 12th May. For those more used to visiting the Oddfellows or The Queens in St.Bees, this was indeed a memorable “step up”. We were escorted to the front of the long queue for the lift, leaving several Mancunians non-plussed, as to which Premier League football club we belonged! As the reception was held on the 23rd floor, those with vertigo were in severe difficulties. This no doubt accounted for the rapid consumption of liquids to offset any altitude sickness!

We had OSBs attending from as far afield as France, Australia, Scotland, and …..Whitehaven.
Many had not met for over thirty-three years, so there were a few “odd glances”. However, once conversations commenced, there was little doubt who everyone was and unfortunately how little their “chat” had improved over the years!
We had three younger OSBs: Lucy Froggat, Victoria Kay and Adele Rogers, studying teaching, psychology and nursing respectively. This meant we had all eventualities covered for an OSB reunion! Belinda Morven and Sara Calvin (nee Gough), Sam Robson, and a surprise appearance by Rosie Lewis (nee Larkin), absconding from her duties at the Great North Run, added to the glamour of the evening.

Trent Wallace and Mike Hayward put in a rare appearance at an OSB event. Trent has just completed his contract helping to build the Olympic Village. (Competitors should avoid all accommodation blocks!). The most senior OSBs were New Brighton-based Colin Richardson in his 80th year and John Goss, who enhanced the evening with their anecdotes.

Our furthest travelled OSB was Clive Eves, whose use of dark glasses into the early hours suggests that Manchester is a great deal brighter than his new home in Australia. Spiritual guidance was offered by The Rev Stephen Mansfield. All agreed he had been the least ravaged by the intervening years. Howard Batey was still signing autographs for the younger OSBs and Paul Muller confirmed his early promise in electrical engineering and is now building something, which we did not really understand!
John Boag and Mark Rocca’s organisation was first class, even if several OSBs, including myself, were lost trying to find the Hilton’s main entrance. Map reading was never our strong point in the 70s CCF.

A fine address was given by governor, Matthew Rigby, especially entertaining for those who could hear him above the noise of the restaurant, and even more so for those who could not.

The evening was brought to a close with Steve Croasdale and Peter Harper still discussing the merits of “String Theory” in the bar at 3.30a.m.

Ian Braithwaite, eager to develop his skills outside of orthopaedic surgery, kindly provided taxi services for those in need, back to the Rigby residence in the early hours.

Rumour has it that next year’s venue will be in Paris.
We had better consult that map again!

Those present were: Howard Batey (F 73-79), John Boag (FS 74-81), Ian Braithwaite (G 71-78), Roy Calvin (SH 79-83),
Sara Calvin (G 77-84), Steve Croasdale (FS 74-80), Mark Crosthwaite G/FN 74-81), Richard Crummey (FS 71-78),
Clive Eves (FS 74-80), Lucy Froggatt (L 04-09), John Goss (FS 60-65), Pete Harper (FS 78-82), Mike Hayward (FS 74-78),
Victoria Kay (L 03-10), Rosie Lewis (L 77-79), Torquil MacLeod (FN 74-81), Belinda Morvan (G 79-81), Paul Muller (FN 71-78), Colin Richardson (FS 43-47), Matthew Rigby (FS 73-78), Sam Robson (G 79-81), Mark Rocca (FS 75-80), Adele Rogers (L 03-10), Trent Wallace (FS 73-78).
Richard Crummey (FS 71-78).
Please click here to see photos from the night.

 

West Cumbria Branch

The biennial dinner for the Preston and South Lakes areas was held at Stonecross Manor Hotel in Kendal on 4th May 2012.  We were pleased to welcome our President Mr. Anthony Wills and his wife Joanna and the Headmaster of St. Bees School and his wife Helen. This was Philip and Helen’s last Branch dinner as he will be retiring from St. Bees School at the end of the academic year. We were surprised, although delighted, to see Philip as he was still recovering from an accident he had had at school.
It was also a pleasure to welcome our Chair of Governors, Mr. Bill Lowther.

The following were present:- Philip Capes (Headmaster 00-12) and Mrs. Helen Capes, Anthony Wills (FN 60-64) President and Mrs. Joanna Wills, David Lord (SH 60-65) Secretary/Treasurer of the Society and Mrs. Fiona Lord, Bill Lowther, Chairman of the Governors (02-) and Darryl Davies (FS 62-68) Secretary of the Cumbria Branch.

Also in attendance were:- Brian Vosper (G 45-48), Stan Holmes (SH 45-50), Nigel Davies (G 57-62), Mark Davies (G 55-59), Roger Swales (FN 64-67) and Mrs. Marjorie Swales, Bill Greetham (G 53-58), Ian Braithwaite (G 74-79), Tim Brown (G 53-59), Richard Hall (F 64-68), John Boag (FS 74-81), Bill Colbeck (FN 49-55) and Mrs Isobel Colbeck, Jane Dyer (M 91- ), Andrew Haile (F/SH 76-83), Nick Curry (SH 60-66), Stephen Downham (G 61-65), Derek Kaye (G 99-06), Edward Thompson (F54-59) and
Duncan Merrin (G 53-57).

Grace was said by Canon Bill Greetham, and after an excellent meal the Loyal Toast was proposed by Stan Holmes. Darryl Davies welcomed all those present, some of whom had travelled a long distance. The Headmaster proposed a toast to the St. Beghian Society and Anthony Wills responded on behalf of the Society and proposed a toast to the school.

Bill Colbeck, Chairman of the recently formed Development Committee, spoke about the roll of the Committee in developing ideas to benefit the school. He subsequently handed over to Darryl Davies, who informed those present about the proposal to convert the Memorial Hall into a Performing Arts Centre. He said that the school had been extremely fortunate to secure the patronage of Rowan Atkinson, an Old St. Beghian, who had recently visited the school.

Your correspondent had a thoroughly good evening in the company of Roger Swales, whom he had not seen for 46 years!
The evening ended in the bar with a few hardy souls chatting to the wee small hours.
Darryl Davies (FS 62-68).

 

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The St. Beghian Society,    St. Bees School,    St. Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.
         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@st-bees-school.co.uk      
Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk