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The Annual Dinner was held at the RAC, Pall Mall and was a most enjoyable evening with 110 OMs, spouses and partners attending. The RAC laid on an excellent Dinner in the newly refurbished Mountbatten Room, which made a superb setting and entertaining speeches were made by the Club Secretary, the President and the Master, who brought us up to date with all that was going on at the College. Well done to all those who made the effort to attend. Pictured are Jeremy Oates (SU 1976-81), Katrina Ure (1979-81), Jeremy Light (1976-81) and Past President, Susanna Spicer (SU 1979-81)
The Centenary at S. Mary’s Tottenham – founded as the Marlborough College Mission in 1884 – recalled the work and witness of its first vicar Edward Floyer Noel Smith. On Friday 14th March, Douglas Dales, Chaplain of Marlborough College, preached at a Requiem Mass. He brought with him a silver trowel used by the OM Bishop Pullein of Glasgow to lay the foundation stone of the Mission Hall, built in 1910, and summed up what we were about: using the past to invigorate the present. We plan to open the hall, closed to church work in 1939, as a centre of Mission. At the Centenary Dinner on Saturday 15th, we welcomed Jack Thomas, grandson of the great Bursar of Marlborough and son of Rev Arthur Thomas, OM (Junior Curate at S. Mary’s the year after Noel Smith’s death). Jack was accompanied by his wife Imogen. Among those dining was Julia Edwards OM (LI 1969-70) and her husband John.
In his homily on Palm Sunday the Bishop of London announced that Edward Floyer Noel Smith would be added to the London Diocesan Calendar of holy men and Women – a local saint for the diocese.
Harry Dowty (PR 1998-2003) died suddenly on January 21st 2008. His funeral service was held at the church of St Michael and All Angels, Withington, on Friday February 1st.
The College was represented by the Chaplain, Douglas Dales, and by Harry’s Housemaster, Colin Fraser and the Dame of Preshute, Margaret Rose. A number of other beaks from the College were also present, as were many of Harry’s friends from Preshute.
The beautiful 11th century church was filled for the service, and outside more than two hundred gathered on a bitter day to say goodbye to Harry and to support his family.
Harry’s sister, Suzie, delivered a moving personal tribute to the brother she and her family loved so much; he had such a perfect smile, such a sense of fun and adventure. A family friend, Guy Rooker, spoke of Harry’s zest for life, of the terrible and unpredictable choice he had made, of an anguish that none of us could understand, of our love for a wonderful young man. Harry’s father, George, gave a reading from John 14, vv1-6 “Do not let your hearts be troubled..” John Evetts read the poem “Horses he loved”, and his close friend, James Rooker, read the poem “Courage”. The Reverend Tony Lomas gave the address, and Giles Smyly read “The Cotswold Prayer”. As Harry’s coffin was lifted by the pall-bearers, Dominic Jones, a master of fox hounds, blew the haunting call “Gone Away”. Harry was interred in the graveyard of the church.
College friends of Harry hope to meet in early September to plant a tree in his memory in the grounds of Preshute. If you would like to have more details of this (and perhaps make a contribution to the tree planting) please contact Colin Fraser on caf@marlboroughcollege.org.
The 2006 Leavers’ Christmas Reunion was held in the The Atlas pub in Fulham, marking the sixth year running that the OM Club has supported such an event. There was a very good turnout of over 90 OMs from this year group and a most enjoyable and successful evening was had by all. The Club Secretary mentioned that this was a gathering of the tallest OMs he had seen in recent years and then introduced the President, Tony Hill. The President welcomed everyone and extolled the virtues of the Marlburian Club in a brief and witty speech and Fynn Vergos, a former Senior Prefect, thanked the Club for their generosity on behalf of those OMs attending.
Festival of Remembrance
Saturday 10th November 2007
Sir Peter Jennings (B3 1948-52), former Sergeant at Arms, talking to the Club Secretary
Robert Milner (C1 1956-61) another guest at the Festival of Remembrance
The Immediate Past President of the Club, Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen (C2 1955-60), welcomed The Queen, other members of the Royal Family and leading dignitaries to The Royal Albert Hall, as National President of the British Legion, for the Annual Festival of Remembrance.
It really was a most spectacular and moving occasion with the Massed Bands of the Guards Division; the Band of the Royal Marines and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force all playing their part, along with so many current Service men and women, in expressing the Nation’s respect and gratitude to those who had sacrificed their lives in many wars to preserve our liberty.
Marlborough College associations with this 2007 Festival were not only represented by the Immediate Past President but also by Oliver Baines (C1 1996-2001) who sang superbly as a member of the Group called BLAKE; the Bishop of Manchester, who conducted the Service and was a Member of Council for many years and The Duke of York, who read the Lesson and is a current Parent.
After Air Marshal Macfadyen’s Exhortation – “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old …” thousands of poppy petals fell from the rafters of The Albert Hall to conclude a most memorable occasion.
City Dinner
TN21 Dinner
The TN21 Dinner at The Star Inn in Waldron was a great success. Nine Old Marlburians attended, and such a good time was had by all, the group are aiming to increase their numbers for next year. A provisional date of Friday 14th November has been agreed. If you are living in or near TN21, or would like to meet up with old friends in the area, please contact Jeremy Coltart on tallwood@coltart.org.
In the picture, from left to right, Robin Bather (B2 1955-60), Peter Pyemont (C1 1953-57), David Bushill (C3 1949-53), Michael Virtue (C2 1949-54). Jeremy Coltart (PR 1950-54), Christopher Pyemont (PR 1960-65), Christopher Corfield (B1 1963-67), Will Barnes Yallowley (C2 1982-87) and Michael Sargent (CO 1956-60)
Another dinner is planned for Friday 14th November 2008 and will be open to any OMs within range of Waldron.
Henry & Kirsty Saywell
Max Lowry & friend
The Club Secretary & Victoria Tryon
by Charles Grace (C1 1953-57)
There were then speeches by the Master of the O.M. Lodge, Charles Grace, followed by the Pro Grand Master, the Marquess of Northampton, and the Master, all of which were well received. By this time it was raining very hard and therefore any chance of watching cricket against Sherborne had to be abandoned. However, a number of guests took the opportunity to tour the school, guided by very knowledgeable Marlburians and Marlburiennes, followed by a cup of tea.
Reception in the Master's Garden
L-R front: John Pocock & Sandy Douglas
Back row: Mrs Pocock, Mr & Mrs Antony Dodd, Mr & Mrs Bruce Mitchell
We have hosted the Festival twice before: firstly in 1923, when Lawrence Turner was in the Chair, as well as being the then Master, and the return rail fare from London was the equivalent of 94p; and then again in 1971, when Antony Dodd – who was present again on Saturday – was in the Chair and the rail fare had risen to £2.40. The cheapest fare this time would have been £37 – and that’s just to get to Swindon and back!
Lunch for over 300 in the Norwood Hall
L-R: Rex & Sophie Thorne, Club President, Marquess of Northampton, Master of the Lodge, - Charles Grace, the Master, Mrs Harriet Grace
The Lodge is most grateful to the Master, the staff – both teaching and administrative - and pupils who gave unstintingly of their time and energy during a very busy exam term to ensure that everything ran smoothly and to time.
On Sunday 29th April a most entertaining 20Twenty Match took place between the Blues and the School. The Blues scored 204-6 off the 20 overs with Tim Marcon hitting 49 off 22 balls before retiring and Hugo Adair hitting 53 off 25 balls. The School made a valiant 197 for 6 with George Adair hitting 82 off 42 balls and James Allen 33 off 27 balls. It was great entertainment.
Friends of Marlborough Dinner.
On Friday 30th March a group of OMs, current and prospective parents met at the UN Millennium Plaza Hotel in New York for Dinner. Over 50 people attended to hear the Master speak about the future of the College and its current excellent standing. He reported on the introduction of the International Baccalaureate and Marlborough's well placed position as the leading co-educational boarding school in the UK. It was particularly pleasing to have good representation from the faithful Kirkwood family, as well as Professor John Dossetor (B3 1939-42) and his wife, Margaret, who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on that day in New York. It was also good to see so many younger OMs attending and our thanks to Erin Eusner (a former Beak) for coming up from Washington to join us.
As well as the Master, the College was well represented by Bob Pick (Second Master) and his wife, Ali, and Neil Croucher, Director of the Foundation.
Sir Mark Malloch Brown (C1 1967-71) concluded by saying a few words of thanks and encouragement and rounded off the evening by hoping that Cuba had recovered from the visit of the Club Secretary, Martin Evans!
Frank Gardner (LI 1974-79), a fluent Arabic speaker, is a leading expert on al-Qaeda and reports full-time on the "global war on terror". He has many years' experience working in Saudi Arabia as a journalist and has worked with the BBC since 1995. He also spent nine years working in and around the region as an investment banker with Saudi International Bank and Robert Fleming from 1986-95.
Frank spoke to a packed Memorial Hall on 'The Misunderstood Middle East' the full text of which will be included in the 2007 edition of the Club Magazine.
The Annual Dinner – held at the RAC, Pall Mall was a resounding success with 145 attending. The numbers were enhanced by spouses/partners being encouraged to attend as a new initiative and a most enjoyable evening took place with excellent speeches from the Club Secretary, the President and the Master. The Mountbatten Room at the Royal Automobile Club was a superb setting and it was so good to see OMs from the 1930’s mixing with those from 2002! Well done to all those who made the effort to attend.