OA BULLETIN
High Court Aerial view of the School’s Aquis Court Sixth Form facility
Old Albanian Club
DIARY DATES
November 2013
Annual General Meeting – 8.00pm, Tuesday 10th December 2013 OA Pub Night, St Albans – Friday 13th December 2013 Evening Carol Service, St Albans Abbey – Tuesday 17th December 2013 OA London Drinks Party – Thursday 6th March 2014
OA CLUB www.oldalbanianclub.com President Alan Philpott 01992 584862 alanjphilpott@gmail.com Secretary David Buxton 01727 840499 d.buxton@virgin.net Treasurer Brian Sullman 01582 460317 Membership Secretary Roger Cook 01727 836877 Rogercook@btinternet.co.uk OA SPORTS www.oarugby.com RUGBY President Richard Milnes 07940 255355 richard.milnes@oarugby.com Chairman Rory Davis 07748 146521 rory.davis@oarugby.com Treasurer Mike Curtis 01727 866848 mikecurtis509@hotmail.com Secretary Peter Lipscomb 01727 760466 peter.lipscomb@oarugby.com Mini Chairman Mike Fisher mikefisher2001@hotmail.com Junior Chairman Ian Tomlins 07867 971585 juniorchairman.oarugby@yahoo.co.uk OA Saints Chairperson Maddy Gunnell maddy.gunnell@oarugby.com FOOTBALL www.oasoccer.co.uk Club President Simon Bates & Manager 07720 383600 01442 240247 Treasurer David Hughes
Nick Chappin – Editor Andy Chappin – Design & Production Roger Cook – Membership 2
OA BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2013
07890 831315 01727 769237 dh@sherrards.com Sponsorship Secretary David Burrows 07841 431614 CRICKET www.oacc.org.uk President Tony Dalwood 07958 522261 adalwood@yahoo.com Chairman Richard Morgan 01727 843844 richard.morgan50@btinternet.com Treasurer Denis King 01727 859552 denis.king@btinternet.co.uk Secretary Alison Finley 01727 853985 ajfinley@ntlworld.com TENNIS Membership Enquiries Sue Barnes 07970 301345 susyb52@hotmail.co.uk OTHERS Rifle & Pistol Andrew Wilkie 01727 856857 Angling Geoff Cannon 01582 792512 Golf Peter Dredge 015827 834572 pjdredge42@aol.com & Club Secretary
OA LODGE Assistant Secretary
John Williams 01438 715679 johntwilliams@talktalk.net
SCHOOL WEB site www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Kate Le Sueur – Gazette Printing - Herts & Beds Printing 01923 234959
OA COMMENT
O A C O N TA C T
OA BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2013
Editorial
What writer’s block?
who is announced in a letter from Chairman of the Governors Stephen Somewhat ironically, a lot has been Eames on page 10. written about writer’s block. It’s OA Lodge Assistant Secretary described in a lengthy Wikipedia John Williams provides his usual entry as “a condition in which an thorough round-up of recent author loses the ability to produce activities, covering such diverse new work”, and the article goes on topics as the appointment of OA to inform us, without the merest Dick Knifton as Assistant Provincial hint of a smile, that this loss of Grand Master of Hertfordshire, and words was first described in 1947 by the refurbishment of the floor of the a psychoanalyst named OA room in the Abbey Edmund Bergler. Gateway. Among the causes The cricket club As always, – I’m paraphrasing Membership Secretary here, as the author won promotion Roger Cook is delighted of the entry certainly to confirm that he didn’t suffer from the to Division Two is still knocking out condition – are a lack silk OA ties at £13 of inspiration, the of the Herts each, and the sports distraction of other clubs are all in fine tasks, or simply the League in a nailfettle. The cricket pressure to produce club won promotion work. As I settle down biting finish at to Division Two of at my laptop to produce the Herts League in yet another editorial Harpenden a nail-biting finish at piece, I’m afraid I’m Harpenden, and there displaying all these are two match reports symptoms – and more. to savour. As usual, there’s been plenty Continuing the buy-one-gethappening in the OA world since one-free theme, Paul Mapplebeck the last issue. The trouble is, I can’t describes an interesting offer from really think of anything to add to a madamoiselle while on a cycling what’s already been written. tour of France with a schoolmate, The impending end of Andrew and you can also enjoy the latest – Grant’s fine tenure as headmaster and possibly final – instalment of the next summer is covered at some Berts saga. This time the theme is length in the President’s notes the Berts’ social life, which seemed and Andrew’s own update of the to revolve around the local tennis School’s latest achievements. club, and in particular the female Ditto the appointment of his members. replacement, Jonathan Gillespie, As next year marks the centenary
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President’s Notes of the start of the Great War, the investigating a range of options. School is keen to commemorate The first new-style issue will be this momentous event with a published in the New Year, and by display of WW1-related materials then I hope my writer’s block will that remember the involvement of have passed and I will have plenty – and sacrifices made to say on all manner – by Old Albanians. of interesting topics. The School is keen In the meantime, my If anyone has any materials they are able usual thanks to all the to commemorate to loan to the School regular contributors, museum, please get in and please continue to this momentous touch with the School send in your stories, Development Office. anecdotes, memories event with a As Alan Philpott and views, either mentions in his by post or e-mail to display of WW1President’s Notes, me or to the School this edition may be Development Office. the last OA Bulletin related materials On behalf of in its current format. everyone involved in The Committee is the Bulletin, may I determined to continue with a wish everyone a merry Christmas printed version for the foreseeable and a safe and prosperous New Year. future, but we hope to develop a Nick Chappin (75) more glossy, magazine-style feel to Editor the publication and are currently
Please send your contributions to: Nick Chappin, Editor Post: 18 The Pleasance, Harpenden, Herts AL5 3NA Email: nick@chappin.co.uk
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School ties n President Alan Philpott celebrates the close ties between the OA Club and the School, and pays tribute to the efforts of retiring Headmaster Andrew Grant
It seems hardly possible that I am already writing my second set of notes, but then I realise it is indeed nine months since my election although only four months since the previous Bulletin was published. Highlights I served as Club Secretary some 25 years OA President Alan Philpott ago. It is now very striking to this new President how close the ties between the Woollams by my daughter Angela (OA) School and the OA Club have become who was visiting from the USA at the time in the intervening period thanks to the and who somehow has managed to gain a initiatives by the Headmaster mention in both sets of notes to whom we owe so much. I have now prepared. For example, during the The next event was the The Dinner summer I was able to attend Dinner on 27th September, the Upper Sixth Graduation and we are again grateful attracts a range Ceremony at which Records to the School for providing of Achievement and Old the venue and indeed to of OAs of all Albanian Welcome Packages arranging the whole event were presented to some 120 through the Development vintages, is leavers during an impressive Office. The Dinner attracts ceremony. a range of OAs of all quite informal Just two days later came vintages, is quite informal the Commemoration Service and thoroughly enjoyed by and thoroughly at which the preacher was the participants. There are Reverend John Witheridge, no long speeches just a few enjoyed by the OA who spoke about his announcements and toasts, fond memories of and great one of which is the annual participants affection for the School. payment of our peppercorn The Founders’ Day Lunch rent to the School, neatly paid took place in the imposing new refectory by an appropriate toast from the OA Club. and was followed by the usual cricket at Sadly this OA Dinner was the last Woollams, at which the School prevailed at which the OA Club would gather handsomely. I was delighted to be joined at in the presence of Andrew Grant, who
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they would like to share with us to forward them to the Editor. There will also be an opportunity for local businesses to advertise in and/or sponsor a new-look Bulletin in order to cover the increased cost.
The 2013 OA Dinner had announced a few months earlier that he would be retiring from the Headship. Andrew was able to announce at the Dinner that his successor has been appointed (see the letter from the Chairman of the Governors on page 10). The Club took the opportunity to thank Andrew for all he had done for the Club as well as for the School, to wish him well in his retirement. Although I would not wish to embarrass the Headmaster, I would like to record here that he received a richly deserved standing ovation. I am sure there will be a more formal recognition by the OA Club towards the end of the school year. The Annual President’s Lunch (or Garden Party as it is sometimes called) took place in June and was attended by about 70 guests. School Sports Centre Membership Scheme On page 15 you will find details of a new
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membership Scheme for OAs. This is an attractive offer for those who live in the area and would be interested in using the fitness suite during the week and the weekend and the pool at weekends only, although during School holidays there will be more availability. The OA Bulletin We have had the first discussion about the future of the Bulletin, as mentioned in the last edition. There is a determination to make the format more appealing, especially to the younger generation, but it is not the intention to cease the printed version. I am grateful to those who attended the meeting, to our Editor for his continued advice and assistance and to the School for offering help of its Publications Manager. We hope to make the printed version more “glossy” and pictorial so I would urge anyone who has photos of their time at School (or indeed afterwards) that
Development Office We are sorry to bid farewell to Livia King, who leaves with our best wishes in the pursuit of her musical ambitions. At the time of writing I can say that the Development Office will continue its OA liaison function and that Kate Le Sueur will return from maternity leave next year.
Although I would not wish to embarrass the Headmaster, I would like to record here that he received a richly deserved
their diligent work under the OA Sport banner and also to congratulate the Cricket Club on winning promotion in the most thrilling manner in the rain on Harpenden Common (see page 31 for a match report by Denis King). I was delighted to witness their success, although I was due to be away for the weekend in Kent but had been trapped at the Dartford Crossing for seven hours on the Friday evening and obliged to return home. A silver lining indeed.
standing ovation
Sports Clubs I have deliberately not concentrated on the Sports Clubs during the writing of these notes. They make their own contributions to the Bulletin far more cogently than can I. However, I would like to thank all the Committees of all the Sports Clubs for
The Committee Notice of the AGM is included on page 26. The attendance is often just the Committee plus one or two others. You are all very welcome to come along, and the President will buy the first round of drinks! Finally, may I thank the Committee for their support during 2013. Alan Philpott President, Old Albanian Club
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Headmaster’s Notes
Unlocking potential
by the excellent weather and then the St Albans/Saracens pre-season tournament, n Headmaster Andrew Grant announces the where the benefits of the tour were seen launch of a major new funding campaign in a third place for the First XV which for the School featuring a short film directed included a double defeat of the fearsome by well-known OA Mike Newell St Joseph’s College, Ipswich. The season to date has gone well with the highlight so Last term ended with a 65% far being a 54-0 defeat of Merchant Taylors’ win ratio for the First Cricket and convincing victories over other old XI; a respectable season, foes including Habs’ and Haileybury and a if a shade down on the touring side from St Alban’s, Buenos Aires. previous year’s exceptional Cross-country, netball and swimming, 80%. Culturally, the Sixth Form cabaret too, had successful, well-attended prebroke new ground for professionalism, as season training sessions and are off to a we had come to anticipate from the year good start, with the cross country squad group that brought us a production of Les already back in possession of the King’s Miserables that is still being talked about Trophy from Wimbledon and the Inters at the dinner parties of St through to the regional round Albans and Harpenden. of the English Schools’ Cup It was a good summer for We had our best they have won for the last our rugby players, who set two years. off the day after term ended Oxbridge year in The CCF began the holiday for Australia on a tour which with their summer camps, the took them to Darwin, Cairns, a decade, with 15 Army at Crowborough, where Brisbane, the Great Barrier the contingent was placed Reef and Tangalooma to students heading second in the week-long hand-feed wild dolphins. They competition, and the RAF also played some rugby, the off for the ancient at St Mawgan in Cornwall, outcome of which was another where the attractions undefeated tour for the First universities included speed boating, a visit XV and a report from the to the Classic Air Museum Director of Sport featuring and an opportunity to take vocabulary never previously included the controls of an AWAC (albeit while by a Head of Department, including it remained firmly on the ground). The billabong, magnetic termites and didgeridoo. flight led by Tom Chapman won the drill I was pleased to receive from Australian competition. hosting families a number of unsolicited Duke of Edinburgh participants were testimonials to the excellent impression based at Pen Arthur for their assessed made by our students both as players and Silver expedition in the Brecon Beacons, guests. where five groups of 35 boys walked across After that, it was straight back into prethe National Park from north to south, season training at Woollams, facilitated from Trecastle to Pontneddfechan. In
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The School’s rugby players on tour in Australia searing heat that gained tragic notoriety for the deaths of three reservists on SAS trials nearby, the boys had to think carefully about how to deal with the conditions and ration their water whilst walking. All participants impressed the assessor with their skills of navigation and campcraft. The GCE A level and (I)GCSE results this year were satisfactory without being sparkling, and perhaps it is testimony to how far our expectations have risen that a year in which two-thirds of our A level grades were at A*/A and 93% at B or better should rank as mildly disappointing and GCSE results in which over 80% were at A*/A should raise some concern. In fact, the results simply reflected the much-publicised efforts of Ofqual and the Department for Education nationally to demonstrate the success of current educational policy in improving standards by making them seem to decline through a reduction in the number of top grades,
which are the only ones our students tend to get. As it happens, I have some sympathy with this: the relentless upward trend in results could not continue indefinitely, but it’s hard for the cohort to which the brakes are applied. Nonetheless we had our best Oxbridge year in a decade, with 15 students heading off for the ancient universities and a very high proportion of the Upper Sixth met the conditions for their first-choice university offer. Though we haven’t opened any new buildings for a few months, which is rather neglectful of us on recent form, this term, our fundraising campaign “Unlocking Potential” got under way with a formal launch event that saw the first screening of a short film about the School shot by Mike Newell, no less, OA and member of the Campaign Board, but better known to the wider world as the Director of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Harry Potter
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A letter from the Chairman of the Governors The Governors of St Albans School are delighted to announce that Mr Jonathan Gillespie has been appointed to succeed Mr Andrew Grant, who has successfully led the School for the past 21 years. Mr Gillespie will take up his position in September 2014. Mr Gillespie, who was not part of the earlier selection process, will join us from Lancing College, West Sussex, where he has been Headmaster since 2006. He was educated at Bedford Modern School and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he read Modern and Medieval Languages. After completing his PGCE at Cambridge, he taught French and German at Highgate School before being appointed Head of Modern Languages at Fettes College, Edinburgh. He was then Housemaster of a boys’ house at Fettes before his appointment to Lancing. In addition to his academic, pastoral and leadership responsibilities he has been heavily involved in coaching sport, especially hockey (he coached the 1st XI at Fettes), and in the Combined Cadet Force (he was Contingent Commander at Highgate). He is an umpire in the men’s national hockey league, a keen hill-walker and an enthusiastic golfer. He celebrates his family’s Scottish roots by playing the highland bagpipe: he has won major professional competitions in Scotland. He is married to Caroline who was formerly a civil servant and is now involved in various ways in school life in Lancing. They have two sons, James (16) and Alex (13). Stephen Eames Chairman of the Governors and the Goblet of Fire. The campaign is already off to a flying start with a major single contribution over the summer holidays of £350,000. The other big news, of course, is the appointment of my successor. From September 2014, the Headmaster of St Albans School will be Jonathan Gillespie, currently Headmaster of Lancing College. He is relatively local, having attended Bedford Modern School, whence he went on to Cambridge to read Modern and Mediaeval languages and then taught at Highgate and Fettes, before taking up his present post. He is a sportsman, indeed
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a national hockey league umpire; was CCF Contingent Commander at Highgate; knows the local area well and is in sympathy with all that St Albans stands for. It reflects very well on St Albans that it should have attracted the Headmaster of such a distinguished school as Lancing and I believe he will prove an excellent appointment. I am sure you will all make him very welcome in the OA community. Before that, though, and before I hang up my gown for the last time, I hope to see many of you over the coming year. Andrew Grant Headmaster
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O A U P D AT E
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OA Lodge
Gower opens
Married with two daughters, Paul recently retired after spending his n Assistant Lodge Secretary John working life in the financial and Williams reports on the installation property sectors. of Paul Gower as the new Provincial Following his installation, Paul Grand Master for the Province of appointed our Lodge Charity Hertfordshire, with OA Dick Knifton Steward, Richard ‘Dick’ Knifton, as Assistant Provincial Grand Master as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Dick Knifton is a Since the Installation meeting Hertfordshire man through and in May when Mark Pedroz was through. He was born in Bentley installed as Master, the Lodge has Heath near Potters Bar in 1949 and met in September and November. In educated at the School, leaving in between these meetings, the annual 1967. He was a keen rugby player Provincial Meeting took place in at school and afterwards as an late September at Freemasons’ Hall, Old Albanian. He has maintained Great Queen street, in London. At a close relationship with the OA that annual meeting, Paul Gower Club and the school, and until very was duly installed as the new recently was a committee member Provincial Grand of the Old Albanian Master for the Province Club. Married with two of Hertfordshire, by grown-up daughters, the Pro Grand Master, Dick’s hobbies include Peter Lowndes. This clay pigeon shooting, followed the retirement gardening, motor of Old Albanian Lodge boating and music. member, Colin Harris, He plays the piano, after a most successful guitar – and the 10 years leading the Paul Gower, the new drums! After college, Province. Provincial Grand Master he spent 10 years in Paul Gower was born Below: Dick Knifton, the food industry in North London in Assistant Provincial Grand before returning to 1946 and attended the Master Hertfordshire to take local grammar school, over running the Edmonton Latymer. family engineering and He was initiated into commercial property Freemasonry in 1978 in rental businesses – the Edmonton Latymer from which he semiLodge by his former retired in 2006. Dick Headmaster on the was introduced into occasion of the Lodge’s Freemasonry by his 50th Anniversary. father-in- law and
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initiated into the Old Albanian Lodge in 1986, becoming master in 2000. He served actively in the province for a number of years prior to his latest appointment, latterly as Provincial Grand Charity Steward. At the September Lodge meeting, in his capacity as Lodge Charity Steward, Dick reviewed some of the donations made this year. The Grand Charity awarded £718,000 to fifteen national charities, including Cancer Research, Leonard Cheshire Homes and Centrepoint to name but three - the full list is available on the Grand Charity website. In addition every air ambulance service in the country has to some extent received money from the Grand Charity as part of £1.3 million given to date. Our own air ambulance service recently also received a cheque through the Province for £4,000. This was a recent snapshot of how Freemasons support those causes in a significant way which we could not hope to achieve individually. In Hertfordshire, this will be the last year in which our fund raising activities are not in support of a particular Provincial initiative. We will be commencing a five year ‘Festival’ in the early part of 2014 in favour of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB) which is one of the four major Masonic charities. In 1788, Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini and the Duchess of Cumberland founded a school for the daughters of distressed Masons, “The Royal
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Cumberland Freemasons’ School for Female Objects”. A similar provision for boys was established in 1798. Some time later it was realised that sending a poor child away to school was not always the best solution, so the trustees of the schools later began to give what they termed ‘Out Relief’ as well; this took the form of financial assistance to be used to support the child at the family home.
Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini The charity now has a mission to relieve poverty and advance the education of children of Masonic families and when funds permit, support other children in need. The future of the younger generation depends very much on the quality of their education and in the case of a family with a Masonic connection, the RMTGB will do everything possible to see that process is completed should a Masonic family fall on hard times. Please don’t imagine that the children supported are having their school fees found because in the main the beneficiaries attend their local state schools. However, in the independent sector support is provided if the distress occurs once the child has already started their school career and this is done
to maintain the stability of their education. In addition the RMTGB will go further supporting those who are suited to apprenticeships and further education through colleges and universities. We are now being asked to support the next generation just as those who preceded us were asked to do. You can’t put a price on the value of a stable education. Dick confirmed that he would be returning to this theme on a regular basis over the coming years! To date, the RMTGB has supported children and families in Hertfordshire to the tune of £650,000 over the last five years, £100,000 in the last year alone. Indeed the collection to be made at the Lodge meeting that afternoon would be in favour of the RMTGB. Dick also reported that Lodge has been very active over the summer
period with projects at the School. Just before the Installation meeting in May, work had started on the refurbishment of the stonework on the Bridge of Sighs. This was paid for by the Lodge, and had now been completed to the great satisfaction of the School and the Lodge. He hoped the members would take the opportunity to inspect the work before they left the car park that afternoon. In addition, as those present would observe, the OA room floor in the Gateway had been refurbished to a high standard, work undertaken over the holiday period and made possible by generous individual donations from several of the Lodge members and of course David Morgan’s legacy to the Lodge. He was sure our own ‘Great Architect’
The new OA room floor
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The Master’s plinth
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School Sports Centre OA Membership Scheme
would have been delighted with the driven by the Grand Charity which result! donates over £3 million to national On October 16th, our newly charities every year. appointed Assistant Provincial The Lodge meets only five times Grand Master, Dick Knifton, in his a year on the second Saturdays in capacity as the former Provincial January, March, May and September Charity Steward, attended a and the first Saturday in November. thank you evening in the House All those connected with the School, of Lords for recent donors to the including fathers of past or present MS Trust. The Trust, based in pupils are welcome to apply for Letchworth Garden City, is receiving membership, for which purpose £40,000 over two years from the the first approach should be to Freemasons’ Grand Charity to any Lodge member, the Assistant fund the development of specialist Secretary as below; or Nigel information for people who are WoodSmith or Mark Pedroz at the newly diagnosed with multiple School. Members of other Lodges, be sclerosis. Sarah they OAs, parents of Joiner, former Lady past or present pupils, Mayoress of London staff or Governors are and Vice Chair of encouraged to visit the the MS Trust, herself Lodge whenever they diagnosed with the wish, and the Secretary condition in 1981, was or Assistant Secretary delighted to thank the Assistant Provincial Grand will be delighted to Grand Charity for its Master Dick Knifton and hear from them. support. The Major Sarah Joiner, former Lady John Williams Grants Scheme is just Mayoress of London and Vice Lodge Assistant one of the initiatives Chair of the MS Trust Secretary
A special OA Membership Scheme for the School Sports Centre is now available. There are two membership categories: l Adult membership will include use of the fitness suite and pool l Junior membership (under 18s) will only be allowed to use the pool Opening Times The opening times are limited as non-school employees are not permitted on the School site during the day. Members will be able to access the Sports Centre at the following times: Fitness Suite Monday Tuesday
6.30pm – 9.00pm 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Pool Saturday Sunday
6.30pm – 9.00pm 6.30pm – 9.00pm 6.30pm – 9.00pm 10.00am – 4.00pm 12.30pm – 6.00pm 10.00am – 3.30pm 12.30pm – 4.00pm
During School holidays there will be increased availability to use the fitness suite and the pool during the daytime. Members will be contacted prior to any breaks and informed of the holiday timetable. A typical holiday timetable will have additional sessions in the mornings between 10am and 12 noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for use of the pool by adults and juniors and use of the fitness suite by adults. Subscription Fees The cost of membership will be £15
The School’s recently opened Sports Centre
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O A U P D AT E per month for adults and £10 per month for juniors, and includes a 30-minute induction to the fitness suite equipment. Due to the size of the facilities and limited availability, this membership will be available to only 75 people on a first come, first served basis. There is no lengthy contract, but if you decide to cancel then your space will be filled and
you will have to go on the waiting list should you decide to rejoin. Terms and conditions apply. How To Join If you are interested in joining, please contact Sports Centre Manager Scott Siery at sjsiery@ st-albans.herts.sch.uk or call 01727 515065.
Membership Secretary’s Notes
Changing times n Membership Secretary Roger Cook reflects on how modes of transport have changed since his schooldays!
Andrew Grant’s statement that 600 pupils are bussed to and from the school every day shows the changes over 70 years. I remember walking
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to and from school twice each day (4 miles – no school lunches available); those living further afield (“the Mill Hill gang”) came by public transport. Both I and the Development Office have a supply of silk OA ties at £13 each. Roger Cook Membership Secretary
De Fortunis Albanorum
Shooting stars Film director Mike Newell (60) spent four days last term filming the School to create a DVD for the School’s forthcoming fundraising campaign. Newell, famous for directing Four Weddings and a Funeral, the fourth Harry Potter film and Donnie Brasco, shot a range of activities from the sixth form cabaret to the Commemoration Service and cricket on Founders’ Day. He was joined by four boys from the LVI who gained invaluable experience as ‘runners’ for the film crew. Mike Newell also managed to find time to have a go at another kind of shooting...on the School range under the supervision of WO1 Wilson! Details of the campaign and the finished DVD are available to view on the School website.
The Class of 1963 On Friday 14 June, 19 members of the Class of 1963 returned to St Albans (some for the first time since leaving) to mark the 50th year since they completed the Upper Sixth. The day included tea and coffee in the new refectory, tours of the School with newly appointed prefects from the LVI, and finally lunch at Lussmanns.
Deaths It is with regret that the following deaths are announced:
l Bill Franklin (42) died on 6th October in Cornwall where he had retired some years ago. Bill was a great servant of OAs and was a past President of both OARFC and the OA Club. Following a private burial in Penzance, a Thanksgiving Service was held in the St Mary’s aisle of Truro Cathedral on 24th October. l Ralph Eric Smith (43) died on 16th September 2012 aged 88. A short obituary appears below. l William Edwin Garrett (47) died on 21st September 2013. l Neville Gibbs (50) died on 14th February 2013.
Obituary l Ralph Eric Smith Ralph Eric Smith (43) FICE, BSc, ACGI, MIWEM died suddenly in Ipswich Hospital aged 88 on 16th September 2012, after suffering for many years with a heart condition and Parkinson’s Disease. He had lived in Woodbridge since 1959. On leaving St Albans School he enlisted in the Royal Artillery via Edinburgh University. He trained at Catterick and was commissioned in April 1945 before serving in India and Japan. After leaving the army in 1947 he studied civil engineering at London University and graduated with first-class honours. He became a consulting engineer, designing and supervising work for water, sewage and sewage
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treatment. From 1953 to 1959 he was a member of a self-building group constructing 14 bungalows in Park Street in his spare time. In 1959, he moved to Deben RDC in Woodbridge and then to Suffolk CC. Later he joined the Ministry of Local Government as an engineering inspector, reporting to the Minister. He was very involved in the creation of technical aspects and the creation of regional water authorities ,including the Keilder reservoir and dam. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a member of the Institution of Water Engineers. He retired in 1982 but worked part-time with Pick Everard. His hobbies included sailing with the Deben yacht club, and model boat
and steam engine building. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Deben Probus Club.
Archive
Gone, but not forgotten Next year will mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. To mark the occasion, the School museum wishes to collate and display as much material as possible on OAs in the First World War. If you have anything relating to an OA in the War, please contact Kate Gray at the School. All material will be handled carefully and returned at the end of the display.
Peter Dredge sends us this photo of the School 1st XV 1958-59 Back row (left to right): Butcher (TJ), Prowse, Rawlins, Holloway, Laurent, Dredge, Hendra, Tangye Front row (left to right): Mulhern, Yetton, Hall, Newby (Capt), Orr, Card, Bunn Missing: Peter Johnson (playing county golf!)
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School Archivist Nigel Wood-Smith is seeking back copies of Viz, the English department’s literary magazine, for the School Archive. If you have any copies lurking about that you would like to donate, please contact him at: nawood-smith@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
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OA LETTERS
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Naming names n Graham Dow (60) e-mails us to correct one or two naming inaccuracies in a photo caption in the last issue
Concerning the photo of Oxbridge award holders on page 25 of the July edition of the OA Bulletin and David Browne’s comments, the person shown as Jack Treleaven is indeed so. Schofield was Malcolm, not Michael, and is now a Classics fellow at Cambridge and known to my son Jamie who is in the same field of ancient philosophy. Malcolm’s father was Harry Schofield who taught mathematics at the School along with John Willé. Both were excellent teachers. Harry was very patient when in the 6th form we arrived late for a lesson after finishing a hand of bridge. Malcolm has a younger brother, also at the school, called Rodney, who is an ordained Anglican priest. Their father was a committed Methodist.
BOGOF n Paul Mapplebeck (51) recounts his first taste of horsemeat and an interesting offer from a young madamoiselle during a treasure hunt in Brittany in 1949
Recent editions of the OA Bulletin have raised my interest in old school days sufficiently to write in and ask if anyone has memories of the 1949
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treasure hunt in Brittany? This was devised by M. Garnier and the French Embassy to get us travelling in France during the school holidays and talking colloquial French. Up to 30 of us were paired off to cycle or hitchhike around Brittany and with only £5 in our pockets to find the 25 treasures. These included obtaining an oyster shell from the beach at Cancale and getting it franked at the Cancale post office, finding an expired French ration book, and a piece of blue sardine net at Concarneau. We pledged to write up our experience for M. Garnier so he could give a talk on the BBC on ‘The Sixth Form went to France’. In May I’d rashly volunteered to go by bike with Terry Jowett (50) despite having no money and no bike (nor could I ride one). In August I found myself wobbling from the ship at St Malo on an ancient borrowed bike over cobblestoned roads. St Malo was still badly war-damaged and the local youth hostel’s bedding was strawfilled sacking. However, a few cheap cherry brandies before bedtime helped us sleep and made two sixteen year-olds feel very grownup. My report back to M. Garnier was filled with eating and shopping experiences and were quoted in his talk – did no one else report back? No mention of our alcoholic intake, of course. One day we decided to stop for a ham sandwich at one of the many small cafés advertising at
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the roadside. It sounded expensive and the reason became clear as we were handed our sandwiches. They were both foot-long baguettes split down the side and filled with ham and salad. Did you eat them from the middle like playing a flute, or from the end like playing the oboe? On day two we stopped at a house advertising cheap steak and chips. Madame showed us into her dining room, and when I asked her what type of beef she replied: “It is not beef, it is from my poor horse that died last week.” When the dish arrived we hesitated to taste it but Madame stood over us and said we must eat it all up or she would be insulted. It was tasty but tough (old age rather than a foot and mouth casualty). Not reported to M. Garnier was our encounter in Morlaix. Just before bedtime we were absorbing our cherry brandies at a bar counter when a pretty young girl came to talk to us – in English. After we’d told her why we were there, she asked us we would like a jigajig and named a price which made our young eyes pop. When we explained we didn’t have so much money, she said we looked like nice clean English boys so she’d do us both for the price of one. We downed our glasses and fled. Nowadays, whenever I see ‘Buy One Get One Free’ I remember my first ‘BOGOF’ offer. Half way through the trip the French pavé proved too much for my bike and the repair cost led us
to abandon everything and return. Did anyone get all 25 treasures – and have picaresque adventures to match ours?
Mementoes and memories n Ken Garrett (42) has sent us a batch of sporting memorabilia for the School museum, and his memories of the unusually named Morpurgo twins
Early during the Second World War, twins named Morpurgo joined the school – two very pleasant lads from a country where cricket was obviously not played! In a sports afternoon a game of cricket was taking place under the supervision of “Beery” Webster when both brothers came to be batting at the same time. One of them made a good hit that was worthy of two runs in comfort, but he remained at the crease smiling with satisfaction. Prompted to run, he reluctantly trotted to the other end where his brother was motionless. Amid excited encouragement to “go back”, he declined saying “I’ve just come from there”! The advent of the film War Horse, based on a book by a Mr Morpurgo, sets me wondering if he could be a son of one of the twins? (A relation, perhaps, but certainly not a son: the author Michael Morpurgo was born Michael Andrew Bridge in 1943 – in St Albans, coincidentally – and later adopted his stepfather Jack’s surname – Ed)
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Amongst a mass of my rugger keepsakes I came across a fixture list card, signed by all of the 1st XV and others, together with programmes from a few regional rugby matches in which which I featured and was flattered with a congratulation from WTM at morning assembly! The enclosed shot of the school 1st XV 1940-41 (below) has some survivors in: Ken Saunders, Fred Arnold, Williamson, Embleton, Dowdy, Os Butler and Tyler – I would be delighted to hear from them if they care to make contact.
The School 1st XV, 1940-41
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Love all n John Newby – AKA Bert 3 – provides the latest instalment of the Berts saga, featuring romantic interludes with girls from the local tennis club.
Transport In order to have a successful social life we had to have transport. Fortunately most of us had access to our parents’ cars to reach nonlocal events. Otherwise we would cycle, catch buses or even walk. We
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ranged across a considerable part of Hertfordshire. Hillside Road Tennis Club The base for most of our activities was the Tennis Club in Hillside Road, which has since moved and the site developed. It was from here that we organised other events. On good days we would arrive by about 10am and played tennis all day in the lazy, hazy summer sun until it got dark. There was a link between the Tennis Club and the Girls’ High School next door which enabled club members to use the High School swimming pool when it was not required by the school, and in return the girls were able to use the Club’s tennis courts. A number of the girls were members of the Tennis Club in any case. A dip here made a good end to a whole day playing tennis. Tennis Club balls were organised and took place at Batchwood Hall and at Waterend Barn. Those at Batchwood tended to be a little more formal than those at the Barn. Other events organised by the Tennis Club included car treasure hunts across Hertfordshire. These started with an initial clue which led to another location where the next clue was picked up, and so on until the hunt finished. The Berts usually did quite well at these events although one had to keep one’s nerve if another car from the club was met travelling in the opposite direction. We held gatherings at the Club some evenings after most people had gone
home due to the failing light. One of the girls provided a record player and we brought along our records for an evening of listening, talking and jiving. It was very much a university union-like atmosphere. St Albans Jazz Club This was located in a side entrance on the lane leading to the cattle market. We attended the Jazz Club periodically. One or two friends from school were jazz enthusiasts. Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen appeared to be the resident band. Chris Barber and his band featured occasionally with the jazz clarinettist Monty Sunshine whose ‘Petite Fleur’ became famous. Eel Pie Island The existence of this location slowly emerged by rumour at the St Albans Jazz Club. It was spoken of in hushed tones as a place where many jazz musicians played but it was said to be difficult to get to. That was a challenge to the Berts and with a couple of jazz enthusiasts it was taken up. The island, or ‘Ait’ as it was originally known, is in the Thames at Twickenham and originally could only be reached by boat. In the late Fifties a footbridge was erected with turnstiles at the island end to limit access. The atmosphere at that time is probably best expressed in a quote by George Melly: “In those days you got to the island by boat, you had to pull yourself across on a rope, it was fairly primitive and you could
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hear jazz playing in the distance. The island had a reputation for sex. When you approached it you could see sex rising from it like steam from a kettle. It suited us randy young musicians. It was very difficult not to get laid on Eel Pie Island.” When we went in the late Fifties the air of decadence still pervaded the island. We noticed a sweet smell in the air which seemed to be coming from the rather lumpy cigarettes that people were smoking. The jazz seemed to be very original and exciting but perhaps that was partly due to the smoke we had inhaled. It cannot be recalled who, if anyone, got laid but it was most certainly an interesting and educational experience. Verity School of Ballroom Dancing This was located off one of the narrow pedestrian walkways between Chequer Street, Market Place and High Street. It was on the first floor of a building overlooking Chequer Street. The dancing was strict tempo Victor Sylvester with the waltz, quickstep and foxtrot predominating. We knew some of the girls who attended including a few from the tennis club. We were taken up to bronze medal standard which we achieved. We became very familiar with the ‘whisk’, ‘wing’ and ‘telemark’ and could glide quite professionally around a ballroom. In those days being able to dance was a social necessity. We frequently escorted girls home afterwards. In
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one case this meant catching a bus from St Albans to Wheathampstead. What dedication! Another location for ballroom dancing was at Marconi’s. Their social club put on dancing classes and since we knew people from Marconi, or rather the daughters of employees, we were able to attend. There was quite a development of Marconi housing in Charmouth Road where Bert 3 lived and two of the girls there belonged to the tennis club. Hatfield Tech (now Hertfordshire University) Hatfield Tech was quite well known to us and we attended balls there and other social events including arts films. Bert 3 recalls seeing Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” there for the first time. We went over there for a fancy dress ball which was quite spectacular. We decided to go essentially as Goths, although that term was not current at the time, dressed all in black. It was quite an evening and finished very late. It was a bit like the Sixties. If you think you can remember it you weren’t there. Girls’ Grammar School The Girls’ Grammar School organised balls which we attended. Various girls were members of the tennis club and so it was quite easy to get invitations. These tended to be rather formal affairs although very enjoyable. As always it was the
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company which made the evening. Ayot St Lawrence Two sisters who were members of the tennis club lived over there and parties were held at their house and in a communal squash court which was set up with a sound system. Occasionally the load on the mains was enough to blow a fuse and we were plunged into darkness and silence. Naturally one of the Berts was able to repair things. Parties were also held at a nearby country house which had a swimming pool. The house itself was split into a number of flats. These parties were fairly wild. During the day we had access to the swimming pool as honorary members of the Dolphin swimming club and in the evening we partied. It is probably just as well that afterwards we could not always remember what had happened the previous night. Café Life We frequented two cafes in St Albans. These were Christopher’s near the Clock Tower, and the Bruin which was on the lane from the High Street down to the Abbey. This was the time when espresso coffee first appeared with its glass cups and saucers. We were not allowed in such places in school uniform and so our gatherings were at weekends or school holidays. Christopher’s was divided into two inside with the coffee area we frequented looking out over French Row. There was a second area deeper inside separated
by a wooden partition which could not be seen into from the coffee area. For some time we wondered what went on behind that partition and all kinds of wild speculation took place. We had noticed strange people entering who seemed to give some kind of password to gain entrance. It was a little like in the song “Hernando’s Hideaway” in which in order to get in one knocked three times and asked for Joe. Eventually we found out it was the restaurant area. Poaching We found a book on poaching in the St Albans City Library and studied it with great interest. No doubt that book has long since been removed. It described techniques such as soaking oats in vodka, or some other spirit, and then sprinkling the oats liberally around known roosting areas of game birds. After a few hours it was possible to return and simply pick up drunken birds. Another technique was to thread peas with about a foot of black thread and again leave these in an appropriate area. After a suitable time it would be possible to pick up exhausted birds which had swallowed the peas and spent an hour or so trying to remove the thread from their beaks with their feet. We learnt how to make a crude silencer for a shotgun out of a cocoa tin. We used 410 shotguns since they were not as noisy as the 12 bore. The latter had a nasty habit of blasting
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Cricket birds to bits if used at close range. We knew three sisters and found out that one of them had a boyfriend who was a semi-professional poacher. His technique was quite interesting. He would go out with his girlfriend at night and if they were surprised by someone would lie down together with the shotgun between them and play at lovers. The worst that happened was they were called rude names and told to move on. One of the Berts went out on one of these expeditions taking along another of the sisters. It was quite nerve-wracking but successful. “Lamping” was used to mesmerise the birds which were then shot. The birds were sold to the landlord of a pub in Whitwell in the early hours.
Conclusion That concludes a brief history of Berts’ social life outside school. No doubt there are other events which we have not recalled or prefer not to recall. Not all of it was entirely legal which was why we have kept quiet about parts of it for so long. We hope there is a statute of limitation on our crimes of many, many years ago. It was all part, along with our explosives and rocket exploits, of a sometimes misspent, but very enjoyable, youth. For us it is probably true that our schooldays were some of the happiest days of our lives. The fact that the Berts still meet up regularly is evidence of this.
Notice of AGM On 10th December 2013, the 121st Annual General Meeting of the Old Albanian Club will be held at 8.00pm in the ‘948’ room at the Woollams Sports Ground. All members are welcome to attend, and new members to the committee are always needed to fulfil the objectives of improving the links between the School and the Club. The agenda is shown below. Agenda 1. Apologies 2. Minutes of the 2012 AGM 3. President’s Review of 2013 4. Social Events Report 5. Clubs Reports 6. Bulletin, Development Office & Membership 7. Annual Accounts 8. Election of Officers 9. A.O.B. David Buxton Secretary
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Photo finish n David Rourke celebrates a dramatic final-over win for the 1st XI against Harpenden to secure promotion to Division Two of the Herts League
There can rarely, if ever, have been a more dramatic end to a Herts League season for the 1st XI at Old Albanian Cricket Club. In the final over of the final match, with the scores level on 125, the lastwicket OA pair at the crease and in torrential rain, Jack Reynolds angled a good-length delivery from Harpenden spinner Breetzke (bowling his 23rd over) past gully, and sprinted the winning single, arms aloft. The victory secured, Jack carried on running towards the Harpenden Common pavilion and into the celebrations of his jubilant teammates. He had endured a lean season, but his obvious class and immense competitiveness enabled him to rise to the challenge of a tricky pitch, the must-win nature of the contest and the edge of a local derby, with the constant chatter from the Harpenden fielders (matched by Reynolds) reflecting the fact that both sides were aiming for promotion to Division Two of the Herts League. (It is impossible to do justice to that final afternoon in the context of an account of a whole season – for the full story, read Denis King’s match report below). So ended a redemptive, and possibly pivotal, season for OAs. Promotion for the 1st XI, after three
seasons in Division Three, occurred just over two years on from one of the lowest points in the club’s 83year history. Then, after the 1st XI was thrashed at fellow-strugglers Wheathampstead in a match that lasted for barely half of its allotted playing time, several senior players lingered in the changing room and contemplated where the club was heading, after four years of underachievement, dressing-room rancour and high player turnover that had ultimately weakened all of the clubs’ the sides. The consensus was that the only way was down, for the short-term at least, and that damage limitation was the only realistic goal. Fast forward to 8th September 2013, and everything had changed for the better. The revival has been miraculous, in several ways. The 1st XI had prevailed in a very tight division, grabbing the third promotion spot in Division Three of the Herts League by a single point from enduring rivals Redbourn and Old Owens, having entered August as league leaders and duly stuttering through the final weeks. Nonetheless, promotion was well earned by a settled and keenly competitive squad, wisely led by wicket-keeper Zahid Karim, in which every member contributed to a team effort that was reminiscent of the previous 1st XI promotion winners, Graham Dill’s 1998 vintage – a side who also sealed promotion, by a single point, on the season’s final day, albeit with a 9-wicket
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demolition of Ampthill Town, who were bowled out for 46 at Beech Bottom. The outstanding 2013 players were batsman Alf Rehman and bowler Ahsan Ali. There can be no greater compliment for a slow-left arm bowler at OAs than to be compared with the great Mike Thomas, and older members began to murmur such thoughts about ‘Mr T’ during 2013. He is a captain’s dream, able to bowl long and accurate spells week-in, week-out while always posing a threat to opposition batsmen – not least because of an incredible quicker ball, delivered without warning, the velocity of which endangers the ‘keeper and close fielders! The laid-back and wily Ahsan took 43 League wickets in 2013, at an average of 14, and now has 114 League scalps in two and a half seasons at Woollams, at an average of 14.25 and a strike rate of 32. The figures accurately reflect the performances of a champion cricketer, and it took a very fine individual season from Alf Rehman to unseat ‘Mr T’ as the club’s player of the year. In his tenth season at the club, Alf enjoyed his most productive summer, in the process becoming the first ‘non-overseas’ OA player since 2005 to score 1,000 runs in a season, and only the second ‘nonoverseas’ to achieve the feat in the 21st century. In the League, Alf’s 313 runs at 39 reflected his reliability and unflappable nature, particularly in a side full
of aggressive batsmen. In other matches, Alf was the captain and standard-bearer (alongside David Rourke) of the revived Sunday XI, performing consistently as the club re-entered the Chess Valley Sunday League (finishing in a creditable fifth position), and shepherding his charges with customary elan and unwavering enthusiasm. Add in his reliable slip catching, unstinting commitment to practice and improvement, and immense love for the club, and it’s easy to ascertain why Alf was the near-unanimous choice for the Player of the Season accolade. The 1st XI’s promotion was very much a team effort, notwithstanding the tremendous seasons enjoyed by Alf and Ahsan. Ghulam Rasool was the leading runscorer, being used as a pinch-hitter at the top of the order to great effect at times. All-rounders Jimmy Hayat, Chris Dobson and Usman Malik were consistent with bat and ball, while Khalil Rehman augmented an excellent season with the ball by smiting 10 runs from the penultimate over of the decisive win at Harpenden, thereby underlining his credentials as a worthy successor to Perry Hall as OAs’ regular number 11 batsman. Promotion was very much a squad effort too, for the 2nd XI and 3rd XI’s mid-table finishes in Division Seven and Division Twelve of the Herts League do not fully reflect the strides made by those sides. Under the new captaincy of Victor Stairmand, the 2nd XI’s season
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OACC 1st XI promotion winners 2013 took a while to get going, but their strong second half of the season was not only hugely encouraging, but also was achieved by a side that was significantly younger than in recent seasons. The likes of Victor, brother Harley, Alex Goldstone, Gyan Rhodes, Tom Lincoln, Joe Regan, Finley Matheson and Steve Jeffery blended well with the evergreen Stuart Dunklin, Tom Preest (who enjoyed an excellent all-round season) and Nick Burman. With several youngsters from the School and the burgeoning Junior section debuting for OAs during 2013, what was anticipated as a tricky transitional period for the 2s suddenly seems to be going very smoothly. The influx of younger players and greater competition for places has also started to benefit the 3rd XI, whose captain Simon Wakeling was a deserving and
popular winner of the Ellis Cup in 2013, reflecting the immense effort that he has put into arguably the hardest job at the club over the last few seasons. It’s almost axiomatic that the 3rd XI is rarely a settled side, but 2013 at least saw Simon having to select players (rather than take whoever was available and hope to have 11 players) from a roster that expanded to the extent that a 4th XI played in August, its first outings since 2009; there is an expectation of more regular 4s games being played during 2014. Behind the scenes, the club’s progress has been helped by a strong and loyal executive, led by the indefatigable Richard Morgan as Chairman and regular umpire, and with Denis King to the fore as a tenacious Treasurer, website master and omnipresent 1st XI scorer (complete with laptop and
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The 2013 tour group at East Preston
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all manner of useful equipment). In fact, the Ellis Cup was the most keenly contested of all the awards, with the bulk of the Committee being candidates – namely Richard, Denis, Alison Curran (Juniors), Alison Finley (Secretary), Simon Bates (Social Events), and Andrew McCree (Fixtures plus Woollams liaison). Settled teams on- and off the field is a luxury that has happened too infrequently in recent OACC history, and with the challenge of Division Two looming for 2014, it is essential that the Committee team remains strong and functioning. Finally, mention of two other aspects of club life. The annual Tour to Sussex was as warm and sunny as 2012 had been soaking wet, and was a most enjoyable week, the tenth in succession staying in Brighton. The highlight was a
record-equalling third-wicket stand of 207 between Chris Dobson (157) and Victor Stairmand (100) at Forest Row on the final afternoon, while the tie at Haywards Heath was the first-ever on an OACC Tour. There is talk of venturing overseas for a Tour in 2014, alas not to the same degree of exoticness as the recent St Albans School Sports tours, but at least across the Channel to France. And as the nights draw in, OACC remains active; a 6-a-side team, coordinated by David Hughes, is currently enjoying its first season in a local ‘veterans’ indoor league based at Choice Cricket Centre near Redbourn. The hour-long, 12-overs per side matches are both hectic and demanding, with run scoring determined by whereabouts (i.e. in which ‘zone’) batsmen strike the walls, and with a premium placed on running between the wickets, given
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the confinements of the playing area. A fuller report on the veterans’ indoor endeavours, on the 2013 season for OACC Juniors, and on the efforts of Denis King and David
Rourke to illuminate and make accessible the club’s history and archive, will hopefully appear in the next issue of the Bulletin. David Rourke
King’s speech
Guy Watts began a counterattack and with keeper Graham Sprowson added a much-needed 37 to bring up the 100 before miscuing to give Chris Dobson his third catch of the innings. Some attacking strokes from Sprowson enabled the tail to add another 22 before the innings ended in the penultimate over for a low total of 125. This might have been lower still had either of two fierce caught-and-bowled chances offered by Watts when he was on five and six (and the score 73-7 and 76-7 respectively) been accepted. This left OAs 48 overs to score the requisite 126 to win the game and secure promotion to Division 2, as they had begun the day in the third promotion slot and a win would ensure they could not be overtaken by the sides breathing down their necks, both a mere one point adrift, Redbourn and Old Owens. Harpenden opted to attack with spin at both ends, with the left-arm of skipper Richard Darwin and the off-spin of Breetzke. Ghulam Rasool and Chris Dobson began well, mixing positivity with patience and all looked well until Rasool tried to drive Breetzke, only to hole out at mid-off for 11. Thereafter promotion nerves
n Denis King reports on an epic encounter between the OAs and Harpenden on Saturday 7th September 2013
With possible, mainly light, showers forecast amid sunny intervals, Harpenden II won the toss and elected to bat. Despite conceding nine runs in the first two overs, OAs gradually seized the initiative on a slow Harpenden Common wicket that made strokeplay difficult. With opener David Whiteley becalmed at one end, Naseer Ahmed and Khalil Rehman strangled the home side once Barney Francis had departed for 15, and by the drinks interval at 27 overs, the score had advanced only to 43-3 and Harpenden’s overseas player Chad Breetzke had fallen for 11 to the first of three catches at mid-off taken by Jimmy Hayat. The second half of the innings continued in similar vein as Ahmed and Rehman embarked on marathon spells and no batsman seemed able to attack with any confidence. The 7th wicket fell with the score on 66 in the 37th over, and a very low score seemed on the cards, but
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Tennis seemed to grip the OAs’ batsmen as Darwin and Breetzke bowled well and were well-supported in the field, so runs were hard to come by. At the drinks interval, with 24 overs gone, the score stood at 60-5 and Darwin had picked up the wickets of Dobson (14), Alf Rehman (for a rare duck), and skipper Zahid Karim (20), and Usman Malik had been run out by a fine piece of fielding when essaying a chancy single to short third man. It was now all to play for, and OAs’ deep batting line-up was to be tested to the utmost. A promising stand developed between Jimmy Hayat and Azhat Mehmood, but with the score on 74-5 Mehmood pulled a calf muscle while completing a two. He carried on gamely, but effectively had to score in boundaries, and in attempting to do so skied an offdrive against Breetske, from which the bowler ran back fully 20 yards to take a superb diving catch, thus perishing for 15 with only two more runs added. This brought Jack Reynolds to the crease and with Jimmy Hayat batting sensibly the momentum began to swing the way of the OAs, if only slightly, because runs were only coming slowly and the target rate had risen from under to a little over three an over. The 100 came up in the 41st over, and it looked as if the end was finally in sight, but Hayat tried an ambitious drive and could only sky Darwin to extra cover, and the score was now 109-7 in the 43rd over. Shortly afterwards Sagir Ahmed drilled a short ball from Darwin
straight to Breetzke at extra cover, and at 113-8 with 23 balls remaining, any result was now possible. In the event, it was Khalil Rehman who took charge of the situation. The field had been left out for Jack Reynolds, but was brought in for Rehman, and he was able to smash consecutive balls from Darwin for two, four, four square on the off side to bring the scores level with eight balls to go. Nothing more came from that over, which left OAs needing one to win off the final over with two wickets in hand. The weather now intervened, and a cloudburst descended on Harpenden Common. Had the players left the field, the match would have been abandoned as the final over would have been lost. But play continued in adverse conditions and the drama heightened when Jack Reynolds drove the first ball straight back to the bowler, Breetzke, who fielded brilliantly and ran out Rehman who had been backing up slightly too enthusiastically in an attempt to secure the victory. The next ball, in heavy rain, brought no run, but the following ball was edged by Reynolds wide of the keeper for the winning single and an utterly enthralling game was over. Within five minutes there was standing water on the square, so this had been a truly close-run affair which had left a large crowd of Harpenden and OA supporters on the edge of their seats for much of the latter part of the game.
Night vision n With new floodlights adding to the fantastic facilities, Secretary Sue Barnes looks forward to tennis all year round at Woollams
After 10 years of the tennis courts being open, we are proud to announce that OA Tennis can now play “under the stars”. All four Astroturf courts have now got floodlights, which will enable the tennis members to play all year round, day or night, and now puts us on the map with other tennis clubs within St Albans. For this winter we hope to organise a few friendly floodlit matches against other Clubs, before eventually joining a local Winter League next
season. Club members have already experienced playing under the lights when they come to Club night on a Tuesday evening at 6.30pm and many have mentioned the high standard of the lights compared to other clubs they have played at. Another exciting development is the start of a new young tennis coach, Laura Collins, who is hoping to increase our membership by offering coaching to all ages and standards. Laura is a Level 3 Coach and was a competitive player. We have great faith in Laura and look forward to her starting her classes as soon as possible. Sue Barnes Secretary OA Tennis
Golf
Rose-tinted spectacles n Secretary Peter Dredge reports on how Justin Rose’s 2013 US Open triumph inspired Mike Lamprell and Paul Cooper to win the OA Cup and Rush Trophy respectively!
As previously reported, the preseason warm-up competition at Hadley Wood was cancelled due to snow but, thankfully, the weather improved thereafter and the Golfing Society enjoyed some dry and sunny
conditions throughout the season. Our first match against a strong Mid-Herts team ended in a 2-4 defeat, the first loss in three years so a diplomatic result but generously acknowledged by the OAs. However, normal service was resumed with close but successful matches against Cholmeleians and Haberdashers at Mid-Herts and Harpenden GC respectively. Our major events, the OA Cup and Rush Trophy (Captain’s Day), were held at Sandy Lodge and Gog Magog and all members participating enjoyed their rounds on these
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prestigious courses. Mike Lamprell won the OA Cup (his first golfing success to add to his numerous tennis trophies) followed closely by Tony Clarke and Ian McKenzie as runners-up. Our Captain, John Smith, kindly arranged for us to play his home course at Gog Magog – another great day with Paul Cooper winning the Pop Rush Trophy with 36 stableford points, a point clear of Peter Dew and Robin Farrar. Ten members attended the annual trip to Thorpeness and enjoyed three stunning days of sunshine with some excellent golf on display.
Top winners were John Cox and Lewis Hawke. The final events of the year are the Briggs Goblets and the Annual Dinner at Woollams on 22nd November 2013. Our programme for 2014 is currently being arranged but our aim is to play some decent courses and enjoy meeting up with friends and contemporaries. All OAs are most welcome to attend any of the events, and if you are interested please contact Peter Dredge on 01582 834572 or e-mail pjdredge42@aol.com Peter Dredge Secretary OA Golf
Angling
Broads and trouts n Honorary Secretary Geoff Cannon looks back on an enjoyable summer of trips around England and Ireland
During the summer, our members took part in visits to various parts of the country. Our trout expeditions included the Derbyshire Wye at Bakewell, and to Wareham to fish several rivers in Dorset. In Ireland, we fished Lough Mask for brown trout and took part in an international competition in August.
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Coarse fishing expeditions included Hay-on-Wye, the Norfolk Broads, and various local venues under the control of the Verulam Angling Club. All in all, it was a very enjoyable summer, and we all look forward to the winter season. As always, anybody interested in joining our merry band would be welcome all you have to do is contact Geoff Cannon whose details are below. Geoff Cannon Honorary Secretary, OA Angling Club