YOMS AMBASSADORS

Our new YOM Ambassador:

Oji left Mill Hill in 2007 and was a boarder in Burton Bank. Following his time at the school, Oji went on to study medicine at Cardiff University and followed this up with a masters at UCL. Oji is now back in London but often goes to visit his family back in Nigeria when possible. In his spare time, he loves hiking and playing golf (challengers welcome!).

What he will bring to the YOMs:

Oji has enjoyed being part of the OM network and wanted to be a part of the YOMs ambassadors to help more recent school leavers see the value in remaining connected to the OMs. He loves being around people and is really keen to inject his energy and ideas into the future YOMs plans. He also looks to engage not only the UK YOMs, but also those internationally – being a former international student himself.

School memory:

Oji and the YOMS Chair Dev have remained good friends since school. One notable memory was when Oji broke his knee during a snowball fight with Dev and a few others. He then went on to convince a number of pupils and teachers that he had been attacked by a shark whilst on holiday.

Clockwise from left: Dev Dhokia (McClure 02-07), Sive Ozer (School 04-09), Ciera Radia (Weymouth 07-12), Onyedikachi Oji (Burton Bank 05-07), Ted Macdonald (Priestley 11-16)

What we do

The YOMs ambassadors have two main objectives:

1. Engage the YOMs in the activities of the old millhillians club (funded networking events, annual dinners)

2. Bridge the gap that exists between the YOMs and the existing Old Millhillians who have traditionally been more involved in the clubs activities

What we have planned

Despite the setback of Covid, we are already planning towards a 2021 schedule. We are currently working on booking in University pop events, annual Xmas drinks and 5/10 year reunions for school leavers to encourage Yoms to stay in touch with each other and the club.

Some events already provisionally booked in for 2021 include Nottingham and Oxford Universities pop up events. These events will build on the London universities pop up event held last year.

YOMs ambassadors also attend the club’s committee meetings to represent young voices in discussions around the future of the OMC. This allows the YOMs to actively contribute / influence OM committee plans.

I believe that if you look at the list of Oakers, all 114 of them, the over-riding Impression is that there is definitely a very strong bond amongst this group of Old Millhillians of a certain age. Back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, we played rugby, cricket and hockey together, some still play golf. We regularly lunch together and more than anything we have many, many laughs together. It is this ‘togetherness’ which is the glue that bonds us and has been paramount in these rather challenging times. Our friendships new and old have offered the most wonderful support network and I hope that during the difficulties we have all faced over the last six months of the pandemic that I have been of some help.

It has been a strange period. I suppose, in a way, it’s because lockdown has meant that conventional ‘fun’ was no longer available. So, to combat that problem, a motley bunch of Oakers, including the President of the Club, the Chairman and Henry Goldsmith from New Jersey among others, have been on regular thursday evening ‘Zoom’ sessions lasting about half an hour to 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, yours truly has tried to keep everyone amused, informed and involved thanks to the daily preponderance of jokes, news and opinions, which appear on my computer almost hourly from Oakers near and far. Grateful thanks to those who have sent me all this material. It has most definitely