The OL Club Review
Message from the Chairman Summer greetings to you all and of course, especially, fellow OLs. It has been a time of great change in The OL Club Committee with four leavers and four new arrivals confirmed at this year’s AGM, which was held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge on Thursday 11 May. Those leaving the Committee after many years’ service were Rob Walker, Priscilla Stevens, Rob Black and Anthony Phillips. I am very grateful to them all but must particularly mention Anthony Phillips who has been involved, in one form or the other, with the Committee for over 25 years. It is an extraordinary feat of devotion to The OL Club cause and certainly one I have no intention of matching! Newcomers to the Committee are Michael Brainerd, Paige Taylor, Matt Butti and Frankie Tudball, all outstanding young OLs who will help the Club, in its work, enormously. It is not an accident that there is quite a generational difference between the outgoing committee members and those just
joining. I think this is a good thing and hope that in the appointment of a new Chair and Secretary, in due course, that this trend continues as well as a better gender balance (at the moment only a third of the committee is female which, in a genuinely co-educational school, is not ideal but is something which will be addressed). Does this mean that the Club will only, or mainly, be focused on younger OLs? Absolutely not. Some of the most regular and popular OL events at the moment are those that solely cater for our older members such as the Over 60s lunches and the Oldest OLs Day and these will continue with gusto as long as there is still demand for them and, currently, there certainly is as you will see from photos below of the most recent, soldout Over 60s lunch at the Athenaeum Club. My immense thanks to Christopher Silvester, a good friend, who delivered a wonderful after-lunch speech to us all at that particular event.
Over 60s Spring Luncheon It was another wonderful occasion for our Over 60s OL community meeting at the Spring Luncheon on 27 April in the Athenaeum Club. The sell-out event saw 70 OLs gathered together to catch up with one another and recall their school days. The guest speaker, Christopher Silvester (Sanderson’s 1973– 1977), regaled guests with his stories of his days at Lancing in the mid-70s as well as providing a fascinating insight into his family history. He talked warmly about his two History teachers who were present at the lunch, Robin Reeve and Ted Maidment, and sparked many reminiscences among those present. We were also delighted to welcome 17 OLs, including three women, for their first time at this special occasion for our Over 60s: Dougie Arnold (Sanderson’s 1966–1971), Julian Balaam (Field’s 1975–1980), John Charlton–Jones (Olds 1973–1977), Daniele de Winter (Manor 1978–1980). Tarquin Desoutter (Teme 1974–1978), John Ellis (Sanderson’s 1974–1978), Andrew Hadley (Gibbs’ 1973–1978), Richard Isham (Head’s 1973–1977), David King (Head’s 1972–1977), Ted Maidment (Former teacher 1965–1982), Christopher Silvester (Sanderson’s 1973–1977), Martin Stephen (Olds 1973–1977), Simon Theobald (Teme 1974–1979), Robert Vartevanian (Teme 1974–1978), Johanna Vicat-Brown (Teme 1976–1978), Lucinda Williams (Manor 1977–1978) and Richard Woodhouse (Second’s 1976–1981).
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SUMMER 2023
But, of course, there will still be events for all including a Young OLs drinks later in the year and the annual Carol Service this year being held at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, on Wednesday 20 December. I hope that you all enjoy a splendid summer. NIGEL BENNETT Chairman, The OL Club Olds 1972–1977