North East Branch Lunch – Wed 8th Nov 2023, Northumberland GC, Newcastle. Since I have been Chairman, and for years before, I have always been proud of the turnout at North East evening Dinner reunions and the loyalty of our branch members. On behalf of Secretary, Bill Dove and myself, thanks to all for joining us at our first Luncheon Event on Wednesday 8th November 2023:
Adams N. W. (Nicholas, 68-71 FN), Atkinson R. E. B. (Rodney, 61-66 FN), Brown J. D. S. (‘Tim’, 53-59 G), Burn A. O. (Allon ‘Oz’, 62-65 G), Clothier N. D. (Nigel, 53-57 FN), Croft C. (Carter, 60-65 FN),   Davies D. W. (Darryl, 62-68 FS), Dove W. E. (‘Bill’, 57-60 FN), Gribble L. (Laurence, 02-09 SH), Jackson R. J. (‘Ron’, 55-58 FN),  Kennedy C. R. (Clive, 55-59 FN), Lewis R. V. (‘Rosie’ 77-79 L), Lockwood R. (Richard, 59-64 FS), Lord D. F. (David, 60-65 SH), Mackay T. (‘Tim’, 68-73 FS), McBryde J. M. (John, 58-61 FN), McLaren D. A. G. (David, 58-61 SH), Messenger F. O. (‘Frank’, 50-55 SH), Redway H. W. (Hugh, 62-67 G), Reid D. G. W. (Dougal, 75-80 FN), Rumney P. (‘Pam’, SBS Sec), Southern J. M. (John, 55-59 FN), Spencer G. L. (Gavin, 61-64 G), Steven T. G. (‘Geoff’ 59-64 G), Windle M. P. (Michael, 68-71 FS) and Williams D. H. (‘Don’, 61-64 FN).
An attendee summed-up the event in an appreciatory email to me: ‘Thank you, Bill and Don, for such a wonderful North East Branch lunch. It was a lovely occasion and seemed to be really enjoyed and appreciated by all. The lunch format worked very well and meant that people were happy to stay and chat afterwards in a lovely and relaxed setting. The numbers attending suggest that the new format worked well for many. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and was able to put some new faces to names that I have known for some time, which was lovely to do. I look forward to next year’s lunch, to celebrate Bill’s tremendous half century as Branch Secretary. A feat that I feel will be extremely hard ever to better!’
The Golf Club staff served a tasty three course meal and coffee. After the Chairman’s toasts to ‘The King’, ‘The School’ and ‘The St Beghian Society’, responses followed from Laurence Gribble, Assistant Head and Finance Director of St Bees School, and Dr Carter Croft, President of The St Beghian Society. From a student’s perspective, Laurence first spoke at a N E Branch Dinner fourteen years ago. His current overview covered the school’s 130 students, which includes 66 boarders. Crowned by good exam results, there is an expanding curriculum for ‘A levels’, better planned use of the Lakes environment and further international trips. Badminton, Eton fives, squash, and volleyball are supplemented by football and netball as the core sports. With the library now re-opened, on-stream refurbishments include the sports courts, and for future boarding expansion, Abbots Court by September 2025. In China the three St Bees Schools continue to flourish and will provide student exchanges and transfers to St Bees School UK. Laurence concluded with an invitation for all to attend the OSB Cumbria Dinner and OSB Day at St Bees.
President, Carter Croft, spoke with evident passion for the Society. Although he was clearly disappointed with gatherings that had had to be cancelled (London being one), the success of other ‘hub’ events like the one held at Grange-over-Sands worked well with 36 attendees. Carter would like to encourage more like this and to find ways of forging links with younger members of the Society. Mentioning Bill Dove’s good work over the years and organising the luncheon, his well considered speech was both inspirational and humorous. Before moving into the lounge bar for more social chat, the Chairman reminded everyone that next year we will be holding an important special event to celebrate the 50 years that Bill Dove has held the post as Secretary of the North East Branch. Don H. Williams, Chairman North East Branch.
Further photos may be seen here. If any younger OSBs from the North East area are interested in attending a different type of event, or at a different venue or location, please do get in touch with us. We would welcome your thoughts and suggestions regarding an additional future venue, location, format etc. Please do contact Don Williams on 01670 789 489 or don@kingdomofnorthumbria.co.uk or Bill Dove on (01274) 585147 or williamdove15@yahoo.co.uk with your ideas.

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk