Honorary Old Millhillians 2021

As President of the Old Millhillians Club Gordon Mizner has the privilege of announcing the new Honorary Old Millhillians as approved by the Committee and members. The Honorary Old Millhillians are persons not eligible for full membership of the Club, who have rendered exceptional service to the Club, the Foundation or Alford House. It is with great pleasure that we are able to officially welcome to the club as Honorary OMs: Mohamed Ali Abscir, aka Freddie, the Reverend Richard Warden and David Dickinson, three individuals who have diligently served the Foundation in different ways for many years. GM

David Dickinson

David joined the Court of Governors in 2009 and has served the Foundation for a full 12 years. He was Chair of the Estates Committee and during his tenure as a Governor he was instrumental in ensuring successful completion of major real estate projects such as the transformation of the Mount School premises into Mill Hill International, the state-of-the-art Michael Proctor Science Building (opened in July 2014 by Lord Robert Winston) and the Dr Roger Chapman Technology building at Belmont. More recently David oversaw the completion of the new Belmont gym. The Foundation has ambitious plans for upgrading the Mill Hill estate in the future, David’s successor on the Court has a tough act to follow.

(Mohammed Ali Abscir)

The legendary Freddie retired from Mill Hill on Friday 11 December 2020 after 50 years of service. He joined the Foundation catering team following a job at another school in Edgware. Old Millhillians have always had a particular soft spot for Freddie. We loved seeing him again when we visited the School. I used to see him every time I was in the Club Office. I never saw him without a smile. He offered me apples, bananas, hot chocolate and brought me up to date with the gossip. He was a real treat. Over the years he has seen countless numbers of staff and pupils pass through the school and made friends with everyone he met. He will be missed by us all. We have already paid tribute to Freddie when he left. The Old Millhillians community clubbed together and contributed to a retirement gift. A total of 218 OMs plus the Club donated £8,852. Magnificent stuff. Thank you all. In addition, The Old Millhillians Club commissioned and gifted a portrait of Freddie that is now hanging at the School in the Old Millhillians Room. It is now fitting that Freddie be given one final accolade, namely that he become a fullyfledged member of our OM community.

Reverend Richard Warden

At the end of the academic year, Richard retired as the Foundation Chaplain and Head of Religious Studies at MHS after eleven years of service. He joined the Foundation in September 2010, following six years as a Priest-in-Charge in Berkshire. Richard has contributed a great deal to the Foundation during his tenure, from weekly Chapel services to special whole-school occasions such as the annual Foundation Day and Call to Remembrance commemoration. He has also created the MHS Hymn Book. Richard has brought his own style and quality to the Chaplain role and has successfully engaged pupils, staff, parents and the wider School community in all that the Chapel offers. He supports all faiths and none, and has worked tirelessly to establish this important aspect of school life. In addition, Richard has supported many members of the School community during times of distress and provided unparalleled pastoral care during his tenure. YOMS will remember well his leadership of chapel services and his sermons. Many OMs will also recall his sensitive and insightful Remembrance Day Services.