President’sWelcome

Welcometo the latest edition of our magazine

Many ON events have taken place this term and you will find reference to them in the following pages. The first of these was the “last, positively the last” Penrith reunion organised by Geoff Orde (40-49), who has arranged all of these events over the decades. My wife and I consider ourselves privileged to have been at the dinner which was held in the George Hotel, as the Seventieth year since the start of hostilities has evoked many memories across the country this year and it seemed fitting, somehow. I found it a very moving occasion, particularly as I was able to speak to those with first-hand knowledge of the evacuation.

The ONA Annual Dinner was the best attended for some years, and Ihope that this is a sign of things to come. As is customary, the Senior Prefects attended the dinner and judging by the feedback, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We have also achieved our aim of reducing the speeches to no more than a total of 30 minutes, so if you do not come because you were bored or you didn’t win the sweepstake on the length of the Headmaster’s speech, why not give it another go? Why not get a group from your time at school and come and join us? Suggested themes for this year include cricketers, campers and technologists.

The reunion weekend for the 1984 leavers reunited us with several who for various reasons are not on the ONA mailing list, and this has created another challenge. If you are still in contact with any of your contemporaries who for some reason do not receive the ONA magazine, could you ask them on our behalf if they would like to be added to the mailing list? If so, the ONA office would need an email from them to that effect.

As part of the ongoing strategy to raise the ONA profile in the school thecommittee, together with Mr Steven Davies, our staff representative, asked the students who were going to Russia to enter an essay competition. The winning essay is published on page 8 and the prizes were presented in the last assembly before Christmas. We also supported two gap year students in their struggle to gain funds towards their projects.

We were pleased also to welcome the Head Boy and Girl to the monthly lunch for ON’s at the Northern Counties Club, and hope that they enjoyed the experience as much as the regulars who were present.

Looking forward, I hope to meet up with those of you who can be present at the London ONA Dinner, on 12 March, held at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly. An invitation to the dinner is enclosed with this magazine.

Mike Barlow (53-64)

ONA President