OLD HABERDASHERS’ ASSOCIATION E-Newsletter Issue 1 - MAY 2011 Produced by Martin Baker (OHA Hon Secretary)
From the OHA President Jon Corrall (Senior Master until July 2010) Welcome to this first edition of our electronic newsletter. Many of you will know who I am as I spent 31 years at the school, first of all as Head of German, then as Head of Modern Languages and finally as Senior Master. As my main responsibilities at school were discipline, extra-curricular activities and pastoral care you may well have met me for the best or worst of reasons, and some of this experience may serve me well in my new role. Fast approaching is our annual dinner at Haberdashers‟ Hall on Wednesday, 18th May. We are delighted that John Carleton and Mrs Margaret Taylor will be reminiscing about the move to Elstree 50 years ago. There can be no better authorities on or witnesses to that historic move. Jeremy Goulding as a former Headmaster of Prior Park, Haberdashers‟, and Shrewsbury School is ideally placed to reflect on Old Haberdasher achievements and to highlight those essential features of being a Haberdasher. The Master of the Company and the School Captain will also wish to extend a warm welcome to all those present. If you haven‟t booked your place, please do so as soon as possible. My year started with a 2009 leavers‟ reunion at the clubhouse on what turned out to be the coldest and iciest December day in recent history. Dire warnings were issued not to leave the safety of the home, and yet, despite my repeated warnings not to travel, about 20 of us still gathered at the clubhouse and swapped up-dates on our recent experiences. For the older generation, the Old Lags‟ lunches, organised by Peter Vacher, still draw vast crowds and allow us a quarterly opportunity to enjoy a good meal and like-minded company. Graham MacFarlane arranged a Past Presidents‟ lunch (at which the current President presides) which allowed me to see a human honours board of presidents stretching back to 1966. It was fun to meet them all and particularly the
Freeman of the Haberdashers' Company Jon Corrall receives the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall
senior President, Donald Wells, who was President in the year I went to university. I have also attended several informal reunions, organised by Old Habs in and around the City. The 1986 reunion (a year I remember well) attended by about 60 „boys‟ and 25 „girls‟ rather fortuitously met in a bar near Liverpool Street station, few of those present realising that we were only a stone‟s throw from the site of the original school in Hoxton. The 1982 group, led by the indefatigable Dan Schaffer, meets on a regular basis at the Freemasons‟ Arms in Hampstead. These informal gettogethers are a delightful opportunity to stay in touch, and I would strongly recommend other year groups to meet up in this way. Former members of staff also always welcome an invitation to join you, and I can put you in touch, my email address is jon.corrall@virgin.net We have a very loyal committee, representing all the different areas of OHA activity and I am particularly grateful to Dr John Wigley and Rodney Jakeman who have taken on the important roles of Treasurer and Co-ordinator of the social calendar, and are bringing energy and commitment to these areas. The different sports‟ teams offer an excellent opportunity to re-engage with Old Haberdashers. Andrew Tarpey, a former School Captain, has been particularly busy organising a very successful 'Fathers and Sons' dinner at the clubhouse and currently the OHA dinner at the Haberdashers' Hall. Andrew's contribution is much appreciated.
Our longer term challenges focus on the running of the ground and clubhouse. The re-location committee, chaired by Harold Couch, continues its endeavours to explore ways in which we might finance a new clubhouse on a new site. We are fortunate that we have considerable OH expertise in this area, but the story is a complicated one and we need to ensure we achieve the best outcome to guarantee the future wellbeing of the Association. The position of President has allowed me to make many new acquaintances and to meet up again with old friends, but my main aim must be to bring together the interests of the OHA and the School to ensure we work positively together for the benefit of all Old Haberdashers. In these days of improved communication it will be possible to keep everyone better informed of how things develop and of the opportunities available for former pupils. I hope we find an opportunity to meet. OHA Annual Dinner, Wednesday 18th May 2011 at Haberdashers’ Hall Everyone is invited to the highlight of the OHA social calendar, the Annual Dinner, to be held once again in the distinguished surroundings of Haberdashers‟ Hall on Wednesday 18th May at 6.30 pm for 7 pm. The Hall is situated within easy walking distance of Farringdon station. The dress is dinner jackets. Joining the Master of the Haberdashers‟ Company, Bruce Powell, at the dinner will be John Carleton and Mrs. Margaret Taylor, who will reminisce on the School‟s move from Hampstead to Elstree fifty years ago. As always we will also look forward to an entertaining speech from the current School Captain. Jeremy Goulding (Headmaster 1996 – 2001) will be our special guest speaker and he will be recalling some of the achievements of Old Haberdashers and what it is that makes Haberdashers‟ special. In response to previous years‟ feedback, we shall ensure there is more time for informal discussion with old
Produced by Martin S Baker on behalf of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Old Boys Association. Rookwood, Hedsor Rd. Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5EE
friends after the meal, and we have negotiated a late licence at the “Bishops Finger” next to the Hall to allow time for socialising. The dinner will include prereception drinks and a full threecourse meal – with all wines and port included. The ticket price for this splendid occasion will be £40 for members aged under 30, £70 for OHA members and current or former members of staff and £85 for non-members. The event provides a great opportunity for you to arrange re-unions on any scale, just a few old school friends or a whole year group. If you would like to arrange a get together and need our help, please ask and we will do all we can to assist you. If you wish to attend the dinner, please contact Andrew Tarpey mail@atarpey.com or 07952 217265. OHA Membership If you are not currently a member of the Association, either as part of the Life Membership scheme or by annual subscription, we would encourage you to join. As a member you will benefit from reduced rates for OHA events, receive the excellent annual Old Boys magazine and be able to participate in a wide range of events, clubs and interest groups. You will also know that you are doing your bit to ensure the future of the Old Boys Association. New Member subscription rates are £20 per annum (by Direct Debit only) for the first three years and thereafter are payable at the standard rate currently £50 per annum or £30 per annum if the member resides more than fifty miles from Borehamwood. If you are interested in joining or want to check if you are already a member please contact Martin Baker. martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
Old Haberdashers’ Help Line
If you want any information about the Old Haberdashers’, wish to contact a fellow OH but don’t have their contact details, want information about any of the OHA clubs or events, wish to contact the School or for any OH related matter then please contact Martin Baker (OHA Hon Sec) martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com
who will be happy to help you.
Personal News
.Combined Cadet Force
Please send me your personal news – what you are doing now, significant life events, other OH you are in contact with, address / email changes etc. I‟ll publish information on the OHA website (which is currently being revised and will be re-launched later this year) and include items in the next Newsletter. Please send information to Martin Baker.
Many OH have fond memories of their time in the CCF at school and they regularly get together and their Annual Dinner is on 7thJuly at the RAF Club Piccadilly. Guest of Honour is W Cdr Andrew Walters (OH).. If you are interested in attending the dinner please contact. Nick Saddington by email. saddington_np@habsboys.org.uk
Retired Members Lunches
As with most Old Boys Associations sporting clubs are amongst the most active of the interest groups and the Old Haberdashers is no exception. We have Rugby, Football, Cricket, Golf and Rifle clubs who each have a full fixture list and a large group of enthusiastic members.
A large group of retired or older OH and former teachers regularly get together over lunch at the OHA Clubhouse. The lunches are organised by Peter Vacher and the cost for an excellent 3 course meal is a very reasonable £10 a head. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available at bar prices. These events are hugely enjoyed by those attending and are an excellent example of the enjoyment that is obtained from meeting up with fellow Old Haberdashers. Next lunch 14th June. Patricia Vacher organises similar lunches for OH Ladies and again all who attend have a great time. Next lunch 16th June. Contact petervacher@onetel.com OH Re-Union Events Year groups regularly organise reunions and the OHA are very happy to help if needed. In the last few months the 1982 and 1986 groups have got together in central London. Other year groups have held very large and enjoyable re-unions at the School. If you are organising a re-union or would like help in getting one off the ground then please contact martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com.
Habs in the City A recent innovation in the OHA calendar has been the very popular Habs in the City events. The focus of the event is to facilitate networking amongst OHA members who work in central London. There is normally one speaker and these have included Keith Edelman. Through the good offices of Jason Zemmel, the next event will be held at the offices of Cameron McKenna (Mitre House, 160 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4DD), at 18.30 on Wednesday 12th October. If you would like to attend please contact martin.s.baker768@btinternet.com Whilst the world of business is an obvious area which has enjoyed successful meetings, we hope to extend this to other activities, such as the law, the media, the arts, politics and so on. Any suggestions or offers of help are welcome.
OH Sports Clubs
OH Rugby Football Club The rugby club has just concluded it‟s most successful ever season (since it was founded in 1923). Under the direction of President Randal Whittaker and Captain Seb Taylor, the club not only played the season at their highest ever level but they also won the league in style gaining promotion to London North West 2. This is a remarkable achievement for a club that has no coach, doesn‟t train together on a regular basis and is a strictly amateur group of players. Another remarkable fact is that the team boasts three internationals (the Taylor brothers currently play for the Swedish side and Francis Booth plays for Switzerland), perhaps this goes some way to explaining their success. The club is now playing 3 levels above the Old Merchant Taylors and 2 levels above Old Millhillians, a fact that will astound older members who are used to these rivals enjoying a great deal more success than ourselves. The club put out a 2nd XV a number of times during the season, for the first time in over 10 years, which no doubt contributed to the success. The club concluded its season with an entertaining tour to Berlin. There is an excellent OHRFC website – www.ohrfc.org. with match reports and a large History section which includes copies of the Nobbly Tanner OHRFC ledgers which record most of the OHRFC matches at all levels, teams, scorers, results etc, a full playing record for the club and copies of Making a Mark, a history of the rugby club written by George Jamieson in 1957. If you are interested in the rugby club in
Produced by Martin S Baker on behalf of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Old Boys Association. Rookwood, Hedsor Rd. Bourne End, Bucks. SL85EE
Seb Taylor – Captain OHRFC & of the Swedish National Side
any way, as a player (1st XV or 2nd XV) or as a spectator then please contact Randal Whittaker or Seb Taylor. Randal.whittaker@santander.co.uk sebastian.taylor@herbertsmith.com.
The club is made up of former pupils of Haberdashers schools and their friends, all will be made welcome. Randal organises regular Past Player lunches during the season which are a great way to catch up with former fellow rugby club members, enjoy a very reasonably priced and good quality 3 course lunch with wine and then watch a 1st XV match. Please contact him for more details. The club‟s Annual Dinner is held in Central London in January and is organised for current and past players by Simon Gresswell. 2011 saw us return to the Mount Royal Hotel, Marble Arch for the first time in a number of years and those attending had a very convivial evening. Remarkably they have invited us back in 2012 when there will no doubt be another fine evening, If you are interested in attending the dinner please contact simon.gresswell@imgworld.com.
OH Football Club The OH Football Club compete in Division 2 of the Arthurian League. A narrow but unconvincing defeat by the odd goal in 7 at home to Old Bradfieldians in the opening game of the season, set the tone for a frustrating season which should have delivered more. A campaign which promised the chance of promotion at the Xmas break, petered out and left the team needing to secure at least 3 points from the 6 pointers against fellow strugglers Eton and Chigwell. A 1-0 victory over Eton in the pe-
lack of a recognised goalkeeper on several occasions also hindered the team‟s progress. Player availability was however fairly consistent with a settled core of at least 8 players, and a pleasing turnout for the traditional game against the School, which saw the 1st team draw 1-1 and the 2nd team emerge victorious. Thanks to Charlie McNicholas for his efforts in recruiting a new generation of school leavers for this match. In the Cup competitions the side squandered a great chance to at least reach the final of the Junior League Cup. Having dispatched of Brentwood, Berkhamstead and Foresters, the team was decimated by injury and unavailability and succumbed to a strong Cholmleians team after extra time in the quarter finals. The Old Haberdashers veterans(35 years plus) did manage to reach their final after successful encounters with Malvern, Harrow and an epic 1-0 semi final victory away at Winchester College Old Boys. At the prestigious Bank of England Sports Ground, the Old Boys were unfortunately second best to Westminster and succumbed 3 - 0 i n t h e F i n a l . For Old Boys interested in participating, matches are played on a Saturday afternoon. Please
contact
Tom
Nicholls
(tom.nichols85@googlemail.com) or Andy Evans (aevans@worldinmotion.com)
OH Cricket Club The 2011 season begins at the end of April, when OHCC will again run 2 sides in the Herts League on Saturday afternoons. The OHCC is a welcoming club, comprising both former pupils of the School as well as friends. The Club Captain for 2011 is Sami Ali, with his brother, Uzair, running the 2nd XI. The teams line-up in Divisions 5 and 9 of the League, Division 5 is equivalent to the School 1st XI and Division 9 is similar to the School 2nd XI and the emphasis of the club is to have fun
OHA President Jon Corrall speaking at the OHCC Dinner 2010
OH Golf Society The Golf Society arranges a number of fixtures (see over page) each year for its members. It is open to all OH and some of the events are also open to friends and guests. If you are interested in joining the society please contact the captain - Peter Mackie, 07973 799541 or psmackie@tiscali.co.uk. The GRAFTON MORRISH COMPETITION is the National Public Schools Old Boys Competition. Last year our team of low handicappers reached the quarter finals the team consisted of Liam Hughes, Will Gallimore, Marc Kuber, Jai Raja, Richard Paffley, and Peter Marsh (Capt).
nultimate league game calmed nerves and secured Division 2 status for a further year. .
However, if chances had been taken and with a bit more luck, the excellent performances that saw points taken from each of the Charterhouse teams (eventual winners and runners up) the side should have maintained its promotion challenge. The
and get everyone involved. Highlights to look forward to include: Old Boys' Day at the School (26th June), when two sides play against the School 1st and 2nd XI‟s and play for the Nobbly Tanner Memorial Trophy, The annual week-long tour to Devon in mid-August and an end of season dinner held at Lord's Cricket Ground (this year on 10th November). OHCC are seeking new players, both regular and occasional cricketers are welcome. The club runs indoor nets at the newly refurbished facility at the School Sports Centre on Tuesday evenings from 8p.m. - these are open to all, so please join us if you can. If you would like to know more, then please contact: Robert Clarke (robertc.clarke@btopenworld.com),,Sami Ali (samiali129@gmail.com) or UzaiAli (uzairsyed@hotmail.com).
New captain Sami Ali, Exeter C.C. 2010
It was great to welcome a number of new team members who recently left the School.
Produced by Martin S Baker on behalf of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Old Boys Association. Rookwood, Hedsor Rd. Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5EE
This years Golf Society Events Include: 12th May
Match (OHvOMvOL)
Match Play
Moor Park GC
Peter Mackie (01707 661725)
16th Jun
Match (OHvUCSOBvOMT)
Match Play
Moor Park GC
Es Hitchcock (0207 435 3636)
7th July
Match (School & Staff)
Matchplay
Mid Herts GC
Peter Mackie (01707 661725)
30th Aug
Habs School Golf Day
Stableford
Aldwickbury GC
Andy Ward (01582 469175)
9th Sept
O.Cholmeleians Festival
Foursomes
Highgate GC
Alan Morris (01494 722385)
OH Rifle Club The Rifle Club runs both internal events and participates in regional events, if you are interested in joining the club or finding out more about it please contact Peter Winney who is the OH Rifle Club secretary (number below). This year‟s main events include: Sun 27 March 08.00 Sun 27 March 13.30 23-25 Mar Sat 30 April Sun 08 May Sat 14 May Sat&Sun11-12 Jun Thur 14 July August
Herts Captains day 2+7 @ 3, 5,600 yards Herts Clubs Challenge Peter Winney Team of 6 Bisley Clubs Easter Meeting LMRA Veterans David Raeburn Team of 4 Herts County Astor Cup David Raeburn OHRC & School -Bisley Guest Day Inter-Counties/Clive Amstein Memorial Trophy County teams Schools Vets OHRC Practice Peter Winney Match 3 x Teams 6 Peter Winney OHRC Practice & Guest Day David Raeburn
Contact Nos: David Raeburn 07876 258179, Peter Winney 01225 339417 or 07817 699462, Dick Winney 01442 872516
Old Haberdashers’ Association Major Social Events Wed 18th May OH Association Annual Dinner at The Haberdashers Hall 14th June Retired Members‟ Lunch 16th June Retired Members Ladies‟ Lunch 21st June Antiques Valuation by Amersham Auction House & Buffet Supper Sun 26th June OHA Old Boys Day at the School Sun 26th June OHCC v School - WR Tanner Memorial Trophy Wed 29th June OHGS v School at 1.30pm Thu 14th July OH Rifle Club Annual Dinner Sun 14th Aug OHCC Devon Tour to Fri 19th Aug th Tue 30 Aug OHGS School Golf Day at Aldwickbury Park GC 2.00pm Early Sept Ladies Night Venue TBD Mid Sept Retired Members‟ Lunch Mid Sept Retired Members Ladies‟ Lunch Thu Mid Sept O H Association Annual General Meeting Mid Sept OHRFC Past Players & Supporters Lunch Wed 12th Oct Habs in the City 18.30 Cameron McKenna November Wreath Laying at School CCF Remembrance Day Service
If you are interested in any of these events then please contact Rodney Jakeman for more information, rodney.jakeman@tiscali.co.uk
Your Input is welcome We are always looking at new ideas for events, interest groups, clubs etc and would welcome your views about what you are interested in. The OHA relies almost entirely on the efforts of volunteers to run such things so if you are interested in something then we would rely on you to a certain
extent to help with the organisation. But if there is a sufficient groundswell of interest in something then it will get off the ground and the organisation can be shared amongst the participants. Martin Baker (OHA Hon Secretary)
Produced by Martin S Baker on behalf of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Old Boys Association. Rookwood, Hedsor Rd. Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5EE