President’s Welcome

Last month we held the 93rd annual Newcastle ONA Dinner, with yet another full house. The evening was a tremendous success. It was terrific to be able to take wine with so many ONs who attended the school during the reign of King George VI! Thank you to David Goldwater (51-62) for acting again as MC. Our thanks also to our engaging and thought-provoking guest speaker for the evening, Dr Keir Shiels (93-00).

We are already looking forward to our next London dinner, at The Lansdowne Club on 15 March 2019. More details to follow in due course. Whilst on the subject of upcoming events, don’t forget the annual John Elders Memorial Match where the undefeated ONA take on Novos RFC for the fourth time. The match is scheduled for Saturday 29 December 2018 – kick off is 2pm but, more importantly, the bar will be open from 12 noon and all are most welcome!

Inside this issue, we read about the three Matts and their running tour of Greggs and we also introduce Susan Beck, the new Director of Development – welcome Susan! On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, we also remember those ONs – and indeed everyone – who gave their lives in conflict, and are immortalised in those words we all know so well, dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

This is also my final Welcome as my two-year term as President of the ONA comes to an end. Two years have flown by – it has been lots of fun and I will remember the experience fondly. There have been too many highlights to list them all here, but one thing is for sure – the success of these events has absolutely nothing to do with the President of the ONA! I would like to take this opportunity to specifically thank all those who work so hard behind the scenes. The ONA would barely exist without Jane Medcalf’s tireless commitment, and I am also particularly thankful to Joel Dickinson (91-01) who has been made to work hard for the title of Deputy President – standing in for me on countless occasions – and the rest of the ONA Committee. I wish Kate Harman (née Appleby) (06-08) the very best of luck as she takes over the helm, as the Association’s President.

Chris JJ Wilson (97-02) ONA President