From Our President

Carter Croft (FN 60-65)

Time has flown and I am already three quarters of the way through my two-year Presidency. This has been an interesting year for the Society and we look forward to a new calendar of events in 2024. At the end of December there will be the Thomas Froggatt Memorial Rugby Match, which I hope to attend. And rugby, will always make us remember a former Cumberland and Westmorland rugby representative, our own Peter Dixon (FS 56-63), who passed away in August. He was a superb player not only did he win 22 England caps, he was selected for the British Lions, and was also to captain England. He was in the North of England team on two occasions that defeated the touring All Blacks, at Workington and Otley, as well as being in the Lions' team that defeated the all-dominating All Blacks in New Zealand in 1971. His funeral was attended by a big group of OSBs along with a large representation of former international players. Peter, a humble and private man, would never talk of his achievements.

In 2023 a number of OSBs went up to London to attend the memorial service to that eminent pioneer of immunology, Doctor Bill Frankland MBE DM FRCP, who was known as the Grandfather of Allergy. Bill was a great supporter of his old school and a most generous benefactor to it.

In October the London Social was booked at the Samuel Pepys pub, organised by Nic Shannon Metcalfe, but the travel gods were against us again as a tube strike was called at late notice, along with National Rail strike disruption, so a decision was made to postpone the event.  I have spoken to Nic, who is happy to organise the event this coming October 2024. A date will follow.

On the 8th November Bill Dove organised a lunch at the Northumberland Golf Club, Gosforth. He has been the Secretary of this Branch for nearly fifty years and what a great job he does! Thank you, Bill. He managed to get just under thirty OSBs to attend to enjoy a few pints and a very welcome steak pie. An informative address and positive view of the future of St Bees School was delivered eloquently by Laurence Gribble, the Assistant Head, and of course himself an OSB. What a pleasure it was also to see Don Williams back on his feet again after his recent illness.

I proceeded from Gosforth to Edinburgh to attend an Edinburgh Accies RFC long luncheon. I was invited by OSB, David Parker, and attending was another OSB, Bruce Murdoch. We were on the same table, and I recollected how, when I was working in Brisbane in 2003, David looked me up as he was there for the rugby World Cup. We do get around.

I wish to thank John Braithwaite, who is organising various get-togethers at pubs in Cambridge. He has rallied a lively group of OSBs and I look forward to attending one of these popular events in the future.

Moving on to 2024, the first event of the year is the Cumbria Branch Dinner, again to be held at the Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Bassenthwaite, on Friday 9th February. Darryl has excelled in producing a superb menu, with a champagne reception; please try to support this event. At £36.00 a head it is great value for money.

Then in June we have Founders' Day and OSB Day. In conjunction with the school, we hope to offer some special events, for example a five a side football tournament, a fives competition and possibly some tennis or squash, also displays of art and music within the school. In the sporting activities we hope to involve teams made up of pupils, staff and OSBs. Please do think about getting your friends together to form a team for a fun afternoon of sport. Any other ideas would be welcome. I do understand that there is no longer a Saturday school but would hope we may be able to put on this entertainment, which would allow interaction between pupils, staff, OSBs and possibly parents.

As part of OSB Day, George Robson put on a well received tour of the Priory in 2023, and he intends to do something similar in 2024. We thank him and all who assisted him and will welcome his next event, as well as his playing of the organ in the Chapel service. Also, a big thank you to Mark Spencer Ellis for taking the service in the Chapel last year.

I am hoping that there will be an annual OSB Day Dinner in 2024, with a guest speaker. Something I am working on at the moment. Unfortunately, last year due to a lack of the uptake, the dinner on OSB Day had to be cancelled but was replaced by an excellent, and well received, barbeque on the Terrace on a fortunately dry evening!

We hope to repeat in the coming year an event to encourage a South Cumbria and Furness Branch OSB social evening. Last year, after much phoning around we managed a group of 35 OSBs and their partners, at the Grange Hotel, Grange over Sands. Unfortunately, we were interrupted by a rail strike, which robbed us of eight further guests. A big thank you to Stephen Downham for his help - he now lives in Grange. A date to repeat this event will be posted, and we are looking for another venue in the Grange over Sands area. If you have any ideas, please do let me know.

I look forward to seeing many OSBs in 2024 and hope to boost numbers at these and other events, I thank you for your support.

Carter Croft (FN 60-65)
cartertusm1946@icloud.com
07743 700 986.

 

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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