Full details for ordering your copy will be posted soon. We await the final batch from the printers and the detailed post and packing charges now that the jiffy bags have arrived.
Meanwhile you can read about the book here: Fame and fortune for former students at Beechen Cliff
‘The Book’ has arrived. 50 copies were delivered late this afternoon, Friday, and they will be at the Dinner tomorrow night. A further batch will arrive, hopefully, within the next 10 days. Watch this space for full details and costs. Members who have registered their interest will receive letters or e-mails soon.
Roger W.
The Old Sulians’ Association exists to provide contact between the former pupils and staff of the Bath Secondary Boys’ School, the City of Bath School for Boys, the City of Bath Boys’ School, and Beechen Cliff School.
The September Newsletter will be despatched on or about the 2nd September.
Full details of the Annual Dinner on October 17th will be provided, along with the traditional chitty. Basic details are: Bath Cricket Club; 7pm on; £30 if paid early; dress is compulsory, black tie or lounge suit, optional.
Put the date in your diary and watch for the postman or e-mail.
Roger W.
49ers 60th Reunion
Alan Blake Reports:
On Friday 17th July 2009, 21 elderly gentlemen met at Beechen Cliff School to recognise the fact that it was 60 years since they had completed their secondary education. by taking The University of London General School Examination, or School Cert. Many of those present had attended a similar event 10 years before, and it was because of the success of that event that yours truly decided to repeat the exercise for the 60th. Fortunately I still had the details of those who had attended, so a ‘round robin’ had elicited the agreement that it was a worthwhile venture. Unfortunately several of the original former pupils had passed away. Further there were a few who could not be contacted for whatever reason. Of the remainder, a few contacted me to express regret that they could not attend, Colin Winsor was one whose granddaughter had decided to get married that day, and despite his entreaties, she would not change the date. Another, Bob Roost, regretted that due to ill health he could not contemplate the journey, and Alan Dudeney who unfortunately was otherwise engaged on the day. Peter Dyer was another who had to call off at the last moment due to his wifes’ ill health. Finally Kingsley Spencer had to decline as he and his wife both, are rather poorly All of course sent their best wishes.
On the day, 12 noon was the witching hour, but there were 1 or 2 who couldn’t wait and were at school soon after 11 am. Obviously thoughts such as ‘ bet that’s a first’ abounded. Soon all 21 were present and correct and assembled in the school hall, where Tony Lawdham [ex teacher] had collected a load of memorabilia and displayed it around the hall, including registers, pictures, old copies of The Sulian, and of course the Sulian Magazines from 1944 to 1949, which had been collected by former schoolmate Peter Coombes, and bound into a hard backed book.
A great deal of chatter was to be heard which went on for a good hour, then food appeared. The school now has a chef, Tim Fletcher by name, and he prepared a superb buffet lunch, accompanied by red and white wine, which was soon devoured by these hungry former pupils. This lunch was provided gratis by the Headmaster, Andrew Davies, who has been in charge for something like 4 years, and a very good friend to the Association he is. After lunch Andrew spoke a few words about the school, its ethos, hopes for the future etc. and then invited us to accompany some year 9 pupils who took us on a conducted tour of the school facilities. During this tour we were able to appreciate Andrew’s comments about the state of some of the buildings.
Part 2 of the day was a dinner at The Boatman Restaurant Bathwick, owned of course by that redoubtable 48er, Terry Hardick. For the dinner, several had to decline due to long journeys, but there was one addition, bring the total at dinner to 18.
Those who did attend were;- [David Francis Atworth attended the evening only]
Brian Baker Bath Bill Gunning Dorking John Russ Claygate
Ray Beazer France Cecil Hallett Tewkesbury Gordon Sellick Bath
Alan Blake High Littleton Mike Hucker Frome Derek Swift Sydney Australia
Cyril Bush Bath Terry Light Bath Peter Swift Ruthin
Peter Bush Oxted Mick Moore Norton St Phillip Brian Thomas North Curry
John Cashnella Studely Pete Powell Bathampton Jim Turner Luton
Mick Chaloner Ramsgate Lionel Roberts Tunbridge Wells Brian Wetten France
Editors Note: Photos will be added in due course
Just a reminder that the Sulian Golf Tournament is on June 19th at Sham Castle.
It’s not to late to get an entry, just contact Mike Wood for the details or look on the website: www.oldsulians.org.uk and find the last newsletter
Mike is on 01225 335250 or mike@systemagic.co.uk
Approach Golf
Most remiss of me but I failed to include it in the newsletter. It will be at Victoria Park on Wednesday 1st July. Tee off from 6 pm. You should find Pebble Beach in the Clubhouse area and others milling around looking lost because there is no bar!
Results are usually mulled over at a local hostelry afterwards.
All welcome, no handicap needed as Pebble’s Book of Doom takes care of everything!
Roger W.
THE GRYPHON
The inaugural edition of the School’s yearbook has now been published.. You can order your copy at £10.00 plus postage (£2.50 in UK, £5.00 overseas) (Cheques payable to Beechen Cliff School) through the Old Sulians, (use the Hon Correspondent/ Editor at 101 Hansford Square, Bath BA2 5LL) or from the School Office at Beechen Cliff School, Alexandra Park, Bath BA2 4RE. The Gryphon has articles about developments at the school, creative work by students, trips and activities, sports and miscellaneous news about the school. In future years we hope it might also be another way of keeping in touch with news of past pupils. We all hope this will be an annual event. Any further enquiries please email me at the school.
John Cruickshank johncruickshank( at )beechencliff.org.uk
The Headmaster’s Newsletter to the School also has the following: “Mr Cruickshank is currently putting together the final touches to the Beechen Cliff year book. The Gryphon celebrates aspects of school life, with many articles being provided by the boys and students themselves. A large number of our boys and girls are represented, either in written or photographic form, and we anticipate that The Gryphon will become another tradition of the school – to be proudly maintained in the years to come. The production of this impressive book has come at a significant cost – not least to Mr Cruickshank who has spent countless hours poring over draft texts and photographs but we have been able to offer it to parents and students at a close to cost price of £10. We very much hope that you will want to buy a copy of The Gryphon as we are certain you and your son or daughter will value it for some time to come (please see the ordering slip on the next page of this newsletter).”
You can find the full newsletter and other pages about The School at: www.beechencliff.org.uk/index.html
Roger W.