Newsletter Part 1 – May 2009
May 15, 2009 – 9:12 amNEWS
Annual General Meeting.
Around a dozen hardy souls ventured forth to Lansdown to see Terry Lee (1952) hand on his jewel to Rich Wood (1991), our new President.
Coerced into the Treasurer’s job by his late Grandfather, Bill Wood, some 11 years ago, Rich is the first ex-Beechen Cliff pupil to hold the office. I think he also shares the distinction along with trusty Trustee Neil Blake (1982), of being the only members of the Committee still at work! At a subsequent Committee meeting, Terry was presented with an engraved plate to mark his 2 years of service. And in another coup, Tony Buss (1955) was co-opted onto the Committee following the resignation of Gerry Gibson (1952) for health reasons. Other officers were re-elected.
No volunteers materialised for the post of Social Secretary so, for the present, we don’t have one. A limited social calendar can be found overleaf.
The Book
Terry Light and his band of stalwarts are beavering away on the book ‘Basement to Beechen Cliff’. The current aim is for a number of profiles of eminent Sulians, a brief history of School, and lists of Headmasters, Head Boys, Sulian Presidents and the like, where they can be found and verified. He is desperately seeking pictures of the School pre-Beechen Cliff and of the new building in progress. If you have, or know of any pictures or memories from the Guildhall era stashed away in your cellar or attic, please get in touch with Terry: 01225338619 or e-mail: terrylight@oldsulians.org.uk or via the Editor.
Social Events
As noted above, we currently have no organiser. I will continue with the Dinner for this year and Sue Trude does all the work for the Treasure Hunt for which we are very grateful. The Ladies Night scheduled for March was cancelled because of insufficient numbers, that is well less than 30. This used to attract 70+. Perhaps it has run it’s course. Perhaps we need different entertainment, or do we need entertainment at all? We have moved from November to January to March to try to accommodate as many as possible. Should we return to November? Are there any other events you would support? My request in the last issue regarding a possible coach trip was met with a stoney silence. Is this a No? If you fancy a trip to RHS Wisley, Ironbridge, the Imperial War Museum or the like, please contact the Secretary whose details are at the foot of the page.
Membership
The current membership stands at 265. Despite an ageing demographic we have shown a steady if slight, increase over the last 10 years or so. E-mail has improved the options for communication and we are getting 400 to 500 ‘hits’ a month to our website. Indeed, last November we achieved 1000 visits with 140 alone on one day just after Tony Sweet died. We are trying to do more to archive documents and photos on the web but it’s the same team doing the work! If you have material we can use, please get in touch And on one more related point, I regularly receive requests from new or prospective members for contact details for their contemporaries. My normal response is to provide a list of names from the same era with the offer to forward any letters. We do not provide our mailing list to anyone other than occasionally to School but in ‘the old days’ we published an annual membership list for all to see. In these days of data protection we will continue to be circumspect but if you feel strongly that you do not wish your whereabouts to be disclosed to anyone, please tell me!
Additions this time see Brian Waller (57), John Russ (49) and Bernard Swift (53) all taking Life Membership, whilst Len Richards (38) and Russ Colwill have passed on.
Old Sulians RFC
A dismal season for results but a good spirit and some encouraging rugby I am told. The Annual Dinner was on 8th May, and they are off to the Bournemouth Sevens at the end of the month.
In a new development Coaching has been the provided to the Rugby Teams at Beechen Cliff.
‘49 ers Reunion
Rapidly approaching! Alan Blake has promises in the high 20’s for the gathering on Friday 17th July. It’s still not too late to join in. If you took your School Cert in 1949 contact Bubbles on 01761 471088 or 49ers@oldsulians.org.uk
The School
Peter Powell reports that the Annual School Concert goes from strength to strength with some excellent performances by a large number of students. Once again you will find enclosed an update from the Headmaster for which we are very grateful. AND I have just seen the School Chef (whatever happened to the Cook?) on local television promising snails and frogs-legs before the end of term! This week is SALAD Week! To see what the poor dears have to endure, visit: www.beechencliff.org.uk/food/menu.html. Now in my day…………….
And remember the new ties, selling well, are only £10 from the Hon. Treasurer.
Charity Cycle ride.
Old Sulian RFC stalwart Toby Herlinger is cycling from St Austell to Bristol over three days starting on the 19th June.
He is participating on behalf of the South West Children’s Hospice and would appreciate any support Sulians could offer. The cycle ride covers 250miles.
He has set up a Just Giving page listed below.
www.justgiving.com/tobyherlinger Thank you in advance for any contributions.