President’s Welcome

We congratulate the school on attaining an outstanding report from the inspectors. And, as Eskdale Terrace gears up for exam season, I’m sure you will also join me in wishing all students (and teachers!) the very best of luck and hope they achieve the grades they deserve.

Through the holidays, many of our ONs are heading far and wide –some on medical elective study trips for which we have a sponsorship fund that we are always pleased to allocate to deserving causes, in return for an article in the magazine! We are always on the look-out for stories, general interest pieces or even just updates from you all.

March brought with it the London ONA Dinner, another sell-out event now comfortably established at The East India Club and a great reunion was had by all. Thanks to Robert Torday (73-75) for taking the mantle of guest speaker and also to Paul Gustard (84-94), who apart from writing the cover story, took time out for us from leading England to the rugby Six Nations Grand Slam to organise a signed England rugby shirt and Saracens tickets to raise over £400 in a raffle for the Bursary Campaign. Please do note we have another shirt for the Newcastle dinner on 14 October so please bring your cheque books! Please also pop by and say, ‘Hello’ on 2 July at RGS Day. As always, we would love to see as many of you as possible! Perhaps we might even see you at one of our ever-popular Northern Counties Club Luncheons on the last Friday of each month throughout the year.

I would like to pass on my thanks to the committee involved lately with regards to events planning and work on the updated constitution. I would also like to pass my gratitude to Stephen Davies, who is leaving the History department having also served on the ONA committee, and to Richard Metcalfe, Bursar who after 17 years of serving the school and our committee is retiring. Richard has been more than generous to our requests over the years and we wish him a happy retirement. We can only hope his successor is even half as amenable!

Sadly, and with regret, I inform you of the passing of two former ONA Presidents, Bill Weeks (35-44) and Rev Reg Harper (42-49) – whose obituaries can be found later in the magazine.

Have a great summer!

Chris Rutter (92-02) ONA President