Ladies Night
which is on Saturday 27th January. If you haven’t got your booking in yet do not delay. Ring Roger Wood by the 24th on 01225 832207. £20 each for dinner and ‘entertainment’ at Bath Golf Club. A number of our regulars are globe-trotting so why not bring a friend or two?
Annual Dinner
Well, what can I say. A few more grey hairs but the evening went well in the end. The sudden change of day was not a major disaster and a Saturday was found to be convenient for some of the longer distance travellers. The Bath Cricket Club was accessible to the stayers and easy for parkers and picker-uppers. It also had a good-sized bar and excellent service which were problems at previous venues. There were several first timers and 39 sat down to an excellent meal. Mick Moore spoke in his inimitable manner, the President’s reply was brief and the Head managed to squeeze 10 minutes into his 5 minute slot, but then he followed a Master! A good night!
Unfortunately, Bryan Mudge’s planned reunion did not take place despite a lot of work by Bryan.
Percy F H Thurgar
Percy Thurgar was a Sergeant Pilot in the RAF, killed in action in France on Feb 12th 1940 at the age of 23. He was at School probably between 1928 and 34, prior to the move to Beechen Cliff. ‘After the Battle’, a respected military publisher, are trying to locate a photo of Percy for a forthcoming book on the Battle of France. They have had a letter in the Chronicle; we have looked through the Sulian magazines and the School have had a trawl, but all have come up with nothing. Does anyone have old School photos from that era that are annotated with names. If you have any memories or a photo please let me know and I’ll pass them on.
B&NES Schools Review
The review panel have agreed again that Bath has too many schools! They propose considering Culverhay and Oldfield for co-ed status, leaving Beechen Cliff and Hayesfield as the only single sex schools. One or more of the 6 schools may need to close in the future so, in the best of political traditions, they have positively decided not to decide at the moment, but to decide to decide when they decide a decision is necessary!
Old Sulians RFC
Their incredible form continues. Although coach Simon Jones is now with Bath, I understand he still sees them once a week. Only one match has been lost to 2nd place Winscombe. Ironically they beat Winscombe away and lost at home! Check their website if you want to find out more at www.oldsulians.com or visit Lansdown.
School Events
We were represented at the annual Piano Concert, where 30 plus pianists from all years performed in all styles at all levels. ‘Basher’ would have been proud. And several attended the Carol Service in the Abbey. I am grateful to the Headmaster for continuing to add his news to ours.
Comings and Goings.
We welcome new Life Members Tony Jefferies (1950) and Bruce Huntley (1984).
Sadly we have lost Theo Trim (1939) and Pete Combes (1949) since the last newsletter. Many Sulians were at Theo’s funeral at Haycombe. Pete lived in Australia.
Following Roy Ludlow’s support for the Association we are glad to find that Andrew Davies, the new Headmaster, is strongly supporting us and that standards at our old school are being maintained.
Due to Tony Bowrey’s continued absence, we are again indebted to Roger Wood for doing both the Hon Correspondent’s and the Social Secretary’s jobs. Members of the Committee have attended a number of Parent’s Evenings at School to support the School and publicise the Association.
As usual I have delved into past minutes – this year to 1978. Yours truly was elected President following on from ‘Pebble’ Beach. Peter Bolton, the Headmaster regularly attended Committee meetings, Mick Moore was Dinner Secretary, Pete Jenkins Hon Correspondent and Derek Smith was the Hon. Secretary.
Discussions were held with staff at School in an endeavour to increase membership. A year’s free membership was offered to all leavers with very little result. A new flag was donated to the Rugby Club and first flown on February 11th. Events such as cricket were held (just) but good turnouts were always there for the Annual Car Rally. 17 cars entered and the winner was Bert Marquiss with Tony Comer runner-up.
A new venture was a Disco, the first being at the George Inn at Norton St Philip, arranged by Don Duck and Pete Powell. Another was held at School and both were well attended. John Ruddick organised a Classical Concert at School with Don James and other old boys from School.
The Annual New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance at Fortes cost £6 a head to include band, dance and dinner!
This year we are sorry to have lost Buster Hanna, Ivan Whipp, Ron H Price, John Morris, John E Everard, M. Foot, Mike Jones, Theo Trim and Peter Combes. We send our condolences to their family and friends. We are very grateful to the Rugby Club for the continued use of the Club House at Lansdown for our Committee meetings.
Peter Powell. Hon. Secretary.
After last year’s small loss I am delighted to report a healthy profit from 2006 which, subject to the audit, will be in the region of £400. This was due to Ladies Night being held over from 2005 as the President travelled the globe. Once again we had generous sponsorship from Patchway Autoparts towards the Dinner and, despite the last minute change of date, there was a good attendance. We continued to add Book tokens to the School awards with the help of a substantial donation from emigrating Vernon Rowland. There were 8 new members and 9 departures, giving a net membership at years end of 249, the first net decrease for a number of years. John Foster is in the process of auditing the accounts and I am, as usual, very grateful to him. The Balance Sheet will be presented at the AGM. We still have a few ties available from the address on the newsletter, at £4 each, or £4.50 by post.
Rich Wood. Honorary Treasurer.
And Finally….
The next newsletter will be sent out in May with the social calendar. I am planning to send paper copies to all as various problems have been reported with the electronic versions. The target dates are the 1st of February, May and September. If yours does not appear please get in touch with one of us. Meanwhile see you at the AGM? We could do with some new (younger?) blood !
We enter the new year with Secondary education in the area still in a state of ‘flux’. We are very fortunate, yet again, to be in a position where we are heavily over-subscribed. This situation occurs, in part, because of the ‘good offices’ of members of the Old Sulians’ network and the many “good words” which are spoken in support of our work – particularly the collective determination to maintain standards in the face of increasingly ‘liberal’ approach to such things espoused by those who should know better and who often choose exactly the kind of education we aim to provide for our boys.
I would like to thank you all for your support of the school and will keep you informed of any progress with the current ‘School Review’ process which is being undertaken in Bath.
We look forward now to a year where achievement of boys at GCSE level will be high and their success on the rugby, football and hockey pitches will be reported in due course!!
I am always thankful, on a personal level, for the warmth of the welcome I receive at Old Sulians’ functions and look forward to meeting with you all again in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Davies
Headmaster
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