Former Master John Sagar, well known to many, is now ensconced in the Oakfield Nursing Home, Weston Park, Bath. (01225 335645) He would welcome visits from passing Su’s in Room 22.
Reorganisation? The Local Authority, Bath and North East Somerset, is looking at the provision of secondary education in the Bath area. We have been this way before! We will not know of their plans until a report intended for December and I hope to bring you details in the New Year newsletter. Meanwhile if you have any strong feelings about the possibilities of Beechen Cliff becoming co-educational, a sixth form college or disappearing then the Committee would like to hear from you, particularly if you have children there (of either sex of course as the Sixth Form is currently co-ed). or who aspire to go there. Your President, Alan Blake, has had a couple of meetings with Andrew Davies, the Headmaster to discuss matters of mutual interest and we will be keeping in touch with the Head, the Governors and the PTA as events unfold. Those of you from afar who would like to keep up to date with news at School can view the Headmaster’s regular newsletters on the School website at: www.beechencliff.bathnes.sch.uk/newsletter_main.htm or follow the link from our list on : www.oldsulians.org.uk
Reunion. To celebrate his 50th anniversary of leaving School, Bryan Mudge is organising a reunion on the 20th October. This will hopefully consist of a tour and buffet lunch at School and a table at The Dinner in the evening. (Due to the change in date of the dinner this part may be changed) If you left School in 1956 and would like to join him, or know any one who did and might, then contact him at: 26A Beachfield Road, Bembridge, Isle of Wight PO35 5TN, or email at: bmudge@toucansurf.com
Comings and goings! Welcome to John Newman (1952), Charles Foster (1959) and legendary pianist John ‘Critch’ Critchinson (1951) who have recently taken out Life Memberships. And a sad farewell to J M G ‘Mike’ Jones who passed on in July. Mike was a member of the Committee for many years and a prolific garage brewer. Our condolences to his family.
Events: Working backwards, Sue Trude’s annual Walking Treasure Hunt or ‘Trude’s Trundle’ was a great success. A comfortable August evening wandering around the streets of Bath with a clipboard, trying to look inconspicuous whilst peering high and low, and trying to make sense of Sue’s devious verbiage, attracted a goodly crowd and resulted in a win again for the team of the Holvey, Richie and Lambern Ladies, closely followed by the rest of us.
The President’s Night on Lansdown organised by Alan Blake and Len Dyer had the teams competing in skittles, darts, welly-wanging, frisbie-flinging, a picture quiz and the re-furbished Agricola Trophy Golf Course. Again the weather was kind and everyone seemed to win prizes.
The Approach Golf attracted the usual torrential downpour but this year it preceded events! ‘Pebble’ Beach’s little black book gave Phil Short as the winner from the assembled throng, with Ian Weeks and Steve Ruddick second and third respectively.
The Association Golf Day at Sham Castle was another well attended success. The full results from organiser Mike Wood, can be found on our web-site but it appears that Dave Larcombe, Philip Comer, Brian Weston and Roy Aust carried off the major prizes. Next year’s date is fixed for Friday 15th June 2007. Put it in your diary now.
The annual golf match against Newport High School Old Boys resulted in a narrow win for us at home. This event continues to reunite old rugby adversaries of some 50 years standing. Tales of someone losing their trousers on Newport Station are legendary. It’s only the victim that varies!
Memories. Thanks to all of you who responded. Contributions drifted in over a lengthy period and were dutifully copied and forwarded on to School. For me the constant factors from the stories were the affection with which certain masters are still held, and the various punishments, both physical and mental, that are forever etched into the psyche! Former master Mike Baker gave me a call with his offer of thoughts from the other side of the fence, as it were. We chatted and I confessed that I always think of him as the fresh-faced 22 year old he was when we started at School together some 47 years ago. He hasn’t changed a bit. I, however, no longer wear shorts in public! Health Matters. Your thoughts please for Theo Trim (1938) and Gerry Gibson (1952) who are both reported as a ‘bit under the weather’ Next newsletter due around February 2007. Contributions are always welcome!
21st October (Saturday) Note the change of date. The Annual Association Dinner will be held at The Bath Cricket Club, North Parade, Bath. Dress is Black Tie or Dark Lounge Suit. Free parking is available next to the Cricket Club which is the far side of the Car Park and we will have our own ‘en-suite’ bar. Proceedings commence at 7.30 for soup at 8.00 . The Guest Speaker is the distinguished and erudite Old Sulian, Michael Moore, one of the legendary band of ‘49’ers. Tickets (which are purely notional !) are still only £35 but an early-worm discount is available. If you pay before Monday 9th October your place will cost just £27.50. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Old Sulians’ Association’ and sent to me with the convenient chitty that you should find enclosed with all paper copies of this newsletter, and as a word file for you to print with the e-news. The overall dead-line is Monday the 16th but, as usual, the Treasurer sleeps easier at night knowing that your cheques are in the bank!
The change of date was due to circumstances beyond our control and only came to light on the 5th September. The options for re-arrangement were very limited.
27th January 2007 (Saturday) Ladies Night is at the normal venue of the Bath Golf Club at Sham Castle, starting at 7.30 for 8.00 Den and Jan Lambern will be white water rafting somewhere in the Pacific basin and will sadly be absent but that is no reason for you to miss a New Year treat for your lady. Tickets are again from me, Roger Wood, on Bath (01225) 832207. You may send me a cheque to the address on the other side or I am happy for you to pay on the night but I have to confirm numbers by mid-January so please book your tickets early. That way I can finalise the details with the Golf Club and the Caterers. Ticket prices this year are still £20 a head, £40 a pair. The entertainment, for want of a better description, is likely to entail dragging brother Mike from retirement to resurrect the ‘Grandads’ Wood’ with their repertoire of dodgy songs, veiled insults and defamatory allegations about members present. We are, of course, open to offers to exclude you from this list!!
Old Sulians’ Rugby Club The Rugby Club are still at Lansdown and visitors are always welcome on a Saturday afternoon. You can also hire the Clubhouse if you need a venue with plenty of parking and with a bar and kitchen available. They have there own website at: www.oldsulians.com/ where you will find details of fixtures and Club contacts. (As well as a picture of the 1st XV stuffing Old Edwardians 48-10 in Dec 2005!) This season they again have the services of Coach, Simon Jones, formerly of Bath and Newport 1st XV, who did so much to raise their game last season. We wish them well for the new season.
Please note that because of the dinner date this newsletter was amended in haste after the printed version had been packed and labelled.
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