Birkonian Newsletter - ISSUE 6

The

ISSUE 6 - Summer 2019

Birkonian In this issue:      

Regional social gatherings Wine Tasting success Reunion events Sports news End of year Evensong Dates for the diary

Welcome!

newsletter

With another academic year over, I am pleased to send you the next instalment of the Birkonian newsletter for the Summer Term.

We are looking forward to a wide variety of events coming up, from careers and networking opportunities to informal social drinks and dinners in the North West and in London. Please see the ‘dates for your diary’ section on the back page. If you are interested in organising an event, please do get in touch and we will provide all the help we can.

The yearly ‘InFocus’ magazine will be due out early in the Autumn Term, and we look forward to seeing you all at OB Weekend.

Carol Keegan Alumni Officer, Birkenhead School carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk @OldBirkonianSociety

@OldBirkonianSoc

Old Birkonians

Old Birkonian Weekend 2019 The Old Birkonian Society and Birkenhead School invite you to this year’s Old Birkonian Society Weekend, which takes place on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September.

The weekend is set to be another exciting event, full of activities to suit all tastes. A perfect opportunity to see some old friends and reminisce about school-days, while seeing the progress of today’s School life, enjoying the sporting fixtures and sampling the delicious food on offer.

Open, plus tours of the School, 44 Bidston Road

2.30pm Rugby OB v School, Noctorum Field

12.30pm OBS AGM, Meeting Room above Library

7pm Annual OBS Dinner (£35pp, partners, family and friends welcome, book via www.bookwhen.com/ oldbirkonians or call 0151 651 3098 by 23rd August)

1.15pm Lunch, Sixth Form Centre (lunch is complimentary, p l e a s e e m a i l carol.keegan@birkenheadschool. co.uk or call 0151 651 3098 to reserve your place by 23 rd August) 2.30pm Lacrosse OB v School, Noctorum Field

Sunday 8th September: 6.30pm Old Birkonian Evensong, Chapel We hope that you and your family will be able to join us for what is set to be a very enjoyable occasion.

A full timetable of the weekend is as follows: Saturday 7th September: 10am Netball OB v School, School Courts 10am Hockey OB v School, Mac Field 10.30am to 12.15pm Archives

President of the OBFC David Cockram presents the Man of the Match award at last year’s OB v School rugby match at OBS Weekend

The

Birkonian newsletter Treats on the Thames An excellent turnout was to be found at the first informal London drinks event on 1st May.

Held onboard the Tattershall Castle, a floating pub on the Thames, a range of OB age groups were in attendance with leavers from the 1960’s up to a 2011 leaver and all other decades represented in between.

OBs came from far and wide, and it was wonderful to see Alastair Carruthers and

his wife Jean, whose travels from Vancouver coincided with the day.

It was also remarkable to hear how Michael Ison and Stuart Aspden met up for the first time in 40 years thanks to the event.

The next London date will continue a nautical theme with the annual dinner on HMS Belfast on Friday 8th November, with another informal drinks session on 5th December.

ISSUE 6 - Summer 2019

Merseyside top draw We were very lucky to again be hosted by OB Stephen Crawley for the recent Liverpool Drinks event on 23rd May. Stephen is the Founder and Managing Director of Love Lane Brewery in the Baltic Triangle, which has recently been voted the Best Bar in Merseyside by The National Pub and Bar Awards 2019.

A dedicated group of craft beer lovers, networking Old Birkonians, and former and current Birkenhead School staff met for some excellent beverage samples, which are brewed on site. Stephen also treated some eager attendees to a tour of the brewing area.

The next Liverpool Drinks will be on Wednesday 16th October, 6pm to 8pm at the Liverpool Gin Distillery on Castle Street. With free drinks on arrival sponsored by the Old Birkonian Society - why wouldn’t you?!

See here for information.

more

Tanners the perfect hosts at first Wine Tasting event A crowd of wine lovers gathered together in Birkenhead School’s Bushell Hall in June to meet Robert Boutflower, Private House Sales Director at the independent wine merchants, Tanners.

With some seasoned Tanners customers present, along with some of the local ‘Slurpers’ wine appreciation group - of which OB’s and former parents are members there was a good mix of people ready and willing to be educated

and enlightened on all things grape-related.

Ten wonderful wines from Tanners’ Summer collection were featured, ranging from sparkling, white, red and sweet. Robert charmed the room with his wit

and expertise for over two and a half hours, with many asking when the next event would be as they left. The in-house catering team, Chartwells Independent, also excelled by pairing some delicious cheese and nibbles for guests to enjoy.

The

ISSUE 6 - Summer 2019 Birkonian newsletter 40th anniversary reunion A lively 40th anniversary reunion gathering of the class of 1979 took place in the Wheatsheaf pub in Raby on Saturday 8th June.

A great chat and reminiscence of times at School were had followed by an exodus to Parkgate for an Indian meal. A great day was had by all.

Members of the 1972-1979 cohort remain in touch through an active Messenger group. There were regrets from those now living abroad and no longer local, but several of those unable to make it were keen to attend another event in the future, so watch this space!

Pictured of the 1979 group are Paul Dillon, Jed Stubbs, Brian Fleetwood, Philip Rees Roberts, Steven Downes and Andrew Morton

Heswall golf Another very sunny day greeted golfers at Heswall on Sunday 9th June, the day after the course was closed by a deluge of rain!

A most enjoyable day made even better by a number of new, and in some cases very young, faces; the results of this event were as follows,

1. Tom Dodds

36pts

2. Paul Chadwick 34pts 3. Peter Wood

31pts

Due to the Walker Cup being played at Hoylake this year, the Hoblyn Trophy has been booked at Caldy Golf Club for this year’s event on Friday 20th September.

Contact jimmcgrath98@btinternet.com for more information and to book.

25 year reunion The 1994 leavers of Birkenhead School will hold their 25-year reunion on August Bank Holiday Weekend - Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2019.

During the day on Saturday 24th will be tours of the School from 12pm (meet at Bushell Hall) and afternoon tea from 2pm.

In the evening will be a celebration dinner from 6pm in Bushell Hall.

Tickets are priced at

ÂŁ35 per person and can be booked via www.bookwhen.com/ oldbirkonians On Sunday 25th August will be a Chapel service of Remembrance from 6.30pm conducted by former Chaplain Rev Stephen Ridley who is returning specially for the occasion.

Family and friends are also most welcome for the weekend, and many former staff from this era have also expressed an interest in attending.

The

Birkonian newsletter End of year Chapel The final Evensong of the School academic year took place on Sunday 30th June, featuring the usual sung Eucharist from the Chapel Choir, followed by continued celebrations with performances from the School’s Big Band in the Outdoor Classroom.

The Director of Music, Philip Robinson, specially invited those The congregation in Chapel Old Birkonians who may have previously sung in the Chapel Choir or played in the Big Band to join in, to which many responded positively and came along, either to get involved or to listen in the audience.

Everyone is always welcome to attend the School’s regular Chapel services, which take place during term time on Sunday’s at 6.30pm. The next service will be another OB special as part of Old Birkonian Weekend on Sunday 8th September.

ISSUE 6 - Summer 2019

Dates for the Diary 1994 25 Year Reunion Saturday 24th August, Birkenhead School, day tours and evening dinner, £35pp OBS Weekend 7th - 8th September See first page of this newsletter for details Young OB Drinks (Under-25’s) Thursday 12th September, The Courtyard, Oxton 6pm - 8pm Hoblyn Cup Golf Tournament Friday 20th September, Caldy GC Contact jimmcgrath98@btinternet.com Careers Fair @ Birkenhead School Monday 14th October 5.30pm - 8pm Liverpool Drinks Wednesday 16th October, Liverpool Gin Distillery, 6pm - 8pm London Dinner Friday 8th November HMS Belfast, £80pp, 7pm

Liverpool Lunch Friday 15th November, Artists’ Club, 12.30pm Contact brian.boumphrey@btinternet.com Christmas Bazaar Birkenhead School Saturday 30th November, 12pm - 3pm London Drinks Thursday 5th December 6pm - 8pm, venue TBC Liverpool Christmas Dinner Thursday 12th December, Ginos, 7pm

Enjoying some jazz in the Outdoor Classroom with Big Band

If you can offer your time to share advice and knowledge at either the Prep or Sixth Form Lectures, or for careers and university support, please contact Carol Keegan via carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk or on 0151 651 3098.

Christmas Eve Eucharist Birkenhead School Chapel Tuesday 24th December, 11pm Finance and Law Career Conference Monday 10th February 2020 Birkenhead School, 5.30pm - 8pm Events bookings via www.bookwhen.com/oldbirkonians For more information email carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk