CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

OR Chairman’s Letter

Nick Walford (B’69)

COVID-19 - a catalyst and accelerator for change” was how I began my report last year, and it has certainly been a turbulent year on many fronts but not just as a result of the pandemic. Change is something which human beings do not always find easy to do. When leaders, in whatever arena, talk of the need for change, those benefitting from the status quo feel uneasy and consciously, or sometimes unconsciously, resist or slow down the required momentum for change, even when the evidence of the need to do so is clear. Often there is a failure to even recognise the need for change at all.

A recent article in the business section of the Times by Graham Ruddick talked about businesses not being as good at innovation as they think they are. He refers to a quotation from Jack Welsh, the former boss of General Electric who died last year, that innovation was “not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you do not have an innovative company , coming to work every day to find a better way, you don’t have a company. You are getting ready to die on the vine.” Or as Darwin expressed it “adapt or die”.

We have seen the consequences in the last year of organisations which fail to adapt or change. Organisations that cause climate change, or that face accusations of institutional misogyny like the police, or institutional racism like Yorkshire County Cricket Club and more widely in cricket overall.

Innovation is a much-used word and is an excellent example of a more positive expression for change. Ruddick makes reference to Simon Kuper, a frequent contributor to the Financial Times, who “wrote an excellent book called Barca about FC Barcelona, describing European Football as just about the most innovative sector in business, more so than even tech. There are no monopolies or patents in football. Other clubs copied the La Masia Academy and have caught up and gone beyond Barca which is why a business, like football, which starts every year with zero points must look to innovate.”

As Steve Jobs said “innovation is the ability to

see change as an opportunity, not a threat.”

I see my responsibility to make sure that the Old Reptonian Society is not old at all, but rather adaptive and in touch. For those who have attended and heard me speak at the OR Society General Committee Meetings, or the AGM or at OR Sports Night or who read The Arch you will be aware that my message since taking over as your Chair in November 2018 is the need for the OR Society to adapt, change, innovate ( choose whichever word you are most comfortable with!) to reflect more accurately the nature of the school now and of those ORs who have left in recent years particularly since we became fully and extremely successfully co-educational.

Now, if you are still with me, let’s move closer to Repton. In the last year Repton has been busy innovating under the excellent leadership of Mark Semmence. Repton Prep and Repton is now a through school with pupils from 3-18. We continue to develop our network of international schools. The school’s investment in technology prior to the pandemic paid off in its ability to deliver online teaching effectively when the pandemic struck. The impact of all this innovation is, I suspect, why Repton is now full, with 630 pupils and 396 at Repton Prep.

Recognising that engaging effectively with an alumni community requires extensive skills and expertise, we reviewed the structure and capability of the OR Office in Repton and in 2018 hired Andrew Cook as Chief Development and Commercial Officer. Further progress has been made this year in the appointment of Jess Smith and Lia Rothman who were hired in April and September respectively to support Andrew across the OR Society and OR Foundation.

Staying with the Society’s structure, as this year’s President Rachel Bacon (A’86) has had her time in office nearly halved by Coronavirus, we asked Rachel if she would like to extend her

period in office for another year. I am pleased to say that she was delighted to accept and so Nick Smith’s (B’69) period in office as President will be pushed back a year to 2023.

We want the OR Society to be a community which as many ORs as possible feel is a valuable part of their lives. This starts with our OR Society School Liaison Officers and current teachers, Anna Parish and Nigel Kew, who will ensure we have a constant link with pupils to establish early awareness and understanding of what the OR society can offer, particularly the help ORs can provide them in considering and finding out about potential careers. Recent ORs are of course the lifeblood of the OR Society and so it is crucial that recent leavers are aware

of the benefits they can enjoy by being active and engaged ORs. Unfortunately, the last two years Leavers’ Balls did not take place in July as planned. The OR Society was delighted to host these events on the 10th and 11th of December

and made a financial contribution to ensure that these leavers are aware of the OR Society and encouraged to be active participants. The Society is keen to keep in touch with ORs when they are at university and when they first start working, by organising informal drinks in the major cities. Please do get in contact with the OR Office at Repton if you would like to get involved with these events.

Now, change does not mean that we neglect in any way the support of our more established OR activities which have all been back in

action this year except for tennis. As we won the D’Abernon Cup in 2019 the OR Tennis Club remain National Champions for a third consecutive year!

The Halford Hewitt was postponed to September from its normal date in April and the OR Golf team, under new Captain Mark Anselm (C’86), lost in the 3rd Round to Cheltenham who were runners up to first time winners Loretto.

In The Arthur Dunn Cup last season, we lost narrowly in extra time in the quarter final to Old Foresters, the eventual winners. The Arthurian League last season was cut short and not completed but this season we have started well in the League and play in Round 2 of The Arthur Dunn Cup on Saturday, December 18th

against Old Berkhamstedians, having beaten Old Radleians in Round 1.

In the Cricketer Cup we were beaten in the first round in a high scoring game against The Marlborough Blues. However, the highlight for the Pilgrims this year was off the field in celebrating the Centenary of the Pilgrims at a Dinner in the Sports Hall where we heard amusing reminiscences and stories from the 1930s through to the current day.

The OR Netball Club run by Daisy HeathAbbot (G’06) started up again in London on November 23rd .

Charles Haydn-Slater (C’03) organised our first OR LGBTQ+ event, Drinks in the Park, which went well. Jess Smith is now the conduit between the society that has been set up in the school, and Charles representing the OR Society. This is to ensure a co-ordinated and consistent approach for those both at school and having left school.

There has been progress made in the increased number of ORs who have volunteered their time as careers ambassadors for their business

sectors. I am delighted that the first Women’s Leadership Forum took place on November 4th

and was such a resounding success

In October we held our fourth OR Sports Night and the focus this year was the expansion of women’s sport and the plans for women’s sport at Repton. We had an excellent OR panel session with Olympic gold medallist Georgie Twigg (F’02), John Batty (L’90), a former professional cricketer who coached the Oval Invincibles to their winning of the inaugural 100 Cricket Championship, and finally the most successful school coach of boys’ and girls’ hockey, Martin Jones (C’97). There were discussions about girls as role models to encourage participation and the need for greater representation of women within the running of sport. This was followed by Matt Carrington giving us an update on the school’s ambitious plans to lead the way in developing girls’ football and cricket at Repton.

We are all well aware of the enormously positive impact our girls have in the school and so we very much look forward to celebrating 50 years, plus two more now, since girls first arrived at Repton in 1970 at the Hurlingham Club in West London on May 7th next year. Make sure you get your tickets and encourage as many of your friends as possible to come along for what should be a terrific evening of celebration.

Finally, this year we have seen the successful fund raising for the refurbishment of the Fives Courts, and these were officially launched on November 13th with an Eton Fives Association Exhibition Match as well as an OR Eton Fives

Fixture. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the individual ORs who have made

contributions to the fundraising, and particularly those who invested at a level to have their names on the courts and be part of Repton’s infrastructure contributing to the experiences of current Reptonians.

Let me finish with some further thank yous. I would like to thank our President Rachel Bacon

and I look forward to working with her for an uninterrupted year in 2022. Thanks to Andrew, Jess and Lia in the OR Office supported by Nigel Kew and Anna Parish. Thanks to Mark Semmence and his leadership team for continuing to successfully navigate Repton through the current choppy waters of Covid. Thanks also to your OR Society Executive Committee and all the leaders of your branches who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm to making the OR Society what it is. If you would like to get involved with the OR Society then please do make contact with the OR Office.

May I wish you and your families an enjoyable time together over the holiday period around Christmas and the New Year and I look forward

to seeing you in 2022.