North East Branch Memorial Luncheon - Wed 6th November 2024, Northumberland GC, Newcastle. For the first time in half a century, this N. E. Branch report about our annual reunion is written by me without any shared discussion. The reason is that very sadly our Luncheon on November 6th 2024 was to commemorate the life of Bill Dove and his work over what would have been fifty years as Secretary of the North East Branch. His daughter, Amanda, agreed to act as Secretary pro tempore. As a VIP, together with her husband Tony, the Dodsworths were guests on the top table. Amanda had organised our Luncheon at The Northern Golf Club, High Gosforth Park with thirty-three attendees. St Beghian Society Members and guests began arriving at noon. After initial greetings and photographs, we gathered in the Lounge Bar for ‘catch up’ conversation. At 12.30 p.m. we moved to the dining room. The seating arrangements were as follows with guests underlined: Top Table: Tony Dodsworth, Don Williams (FN 61-64)(Chairman NE Branch), Vanessa Johnstone (St Bees School, Director of Studies), Darryl Davies (FS 62-68)(M 75-07)(OSB President), Amanda Dodsworth, Linda Williams, Fiona Lord (Former SBS Staff), David Lord (SH 60- 65)(Bursar 92-02)(OSB Treasurer), Pat Davies (Former SBS Staff). Table 1: Frank Messenger (SH 50-55), Bill Colbeck (FN 49-55), Isobel Colbeck, Clive Kennedy (FN 55-59), Ron Jackson (FN 55-58), Tim Brown (G 53-59), John Southern (FN 55-59), Henry McLaren (SH 53-57). Table 2: David McLaren (SH 58-61), Gavin Spencer (G 61-64), Julian Wood (SH 63-66), Tim MacKay (FS 68-73), Carter Croft (FN 60-64), Ben Lambert (F/AC 87-93), Sally Hopkinson, Richard Lockwood (FS 59-64). Table 3: Richard Ward (FN 74-79), Dougal Reed (FN 75-78), John Boag (FS 76-81), Stephen Pickthall (FN 75-78), Nicholas Adams (FN 68-71), Rosie Lewis (L 77-79), Pam Rumney (OSB Hon Sec), Ken Rangecroft (FN 75-78). In my ‘Welcome Address’, I named all of our guests as well as greeting all OSB attendees. Naturally, the moment was also taken to remind us that this luncheon was particularly organised in the memory of Bill Dove. Our condolences went also to his wife Marjorie, daughter Amanda and son Lindsay. For us all, Bill would have wanted this to be an enjoyable time and not at all too serious. These were the sentiments given to everyone before we said the traditional ‘Grace’. The menu was as follows: Plum Tomato Soup, basil pesto and a warm crusty roll **** Steak and Ale Pie, Seasonal vegetables and chips **** Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream **** Coffee
CHAIRMAN’S TOAST: ‘THE KING’. At the end of a short interlude it was time for the Chairman’s Address. This was brief but not without a little humour (so the rumours go!). A personal ordeal as a batsman facing a bowler’s bouncers, an oddly vanishing cricket ball with an incident doctor enquiring “How’s That?”, caused some amusement. However, the address mainly focussed on Bill’s lifetime love of cricket, enduring from school, and continued through to his beginning married life, starting a family and then to retirement.
CHAIRMAN’S TOAST: ‘THE SCHOOL’. REPLY: VANESSA JOHNSTONE - ST BEES SCHOOL. It was a great pleasure to have Vanessa speak to our OSB NE Branch. Vanessa, the Director of Studies at school, explained that she has been with St Bees since it reopened in 2018. It now has 124 students with a 30% predicted growth by September 2025, having a scheme already in place to minimise the effect of the Government’s VAT on school fees. As well as increasing staff and boarding facilities, plans are for even more students to go on to universities. There will be more beneficial student visits too, like those to Iceland, China, and the Everest Base Camp. In sport, the school now excels in volleyball, badminton, squash, and fives. However, Rugby fixtures are also important, with the staff addition of a female rugby International. An invitation was given to OSBs personally to check out St Bees School’s progress, through visits which can be organised via Pam Rumney.
Vanessa closed her school update by expressing her excitement for the future and the continued growth of its student body and community. Thanking Vanessa, the Chairman moved on to the next speaker, the President of the St Beghian Society, Darryl Davies. CHAIRMAN’S TOAST: ‘THE ST BEGHIAN SOCIETY’. REPLY: DARRYL DAVIES - PRESIDENT ST BEGHIAN SOCIETY. It is always good to see Darryl, not only from school days but many know him through his teaching at school too! Both with his aspirations as President and also with some humorous impressions of staff characters from bygone days, his speeches are always worthwhile. Importantly, the two things Darryl aims to develop during his time as President are firstly to encourage female OSBs to become more involved, and secondly to generate interest from younger members. With this in mind he had an initial meeting in October and a further one is planned for early 2025 with a group of younger OSBs. With lots of ideas already, developing suggestions are next on his agenda. Darryl concluded by emphasising that it is important for the St Beghian Society to cater for both young and old members.
After thanking Darryl, it was announced that David Lord had something special to announce. ADDRESS BY DAVID LORD – ST BEGHIAN SOCIETY TREASURER. David spoke about Bill Dove’s cricket accomplishments from his schooldays. As a tribute to Bill and the work he did for the St Beghian Society for nearly half a century, David had organised a special presentation to Amanda Dodsworth, Bill and Marjory Dove’s daughter. David explained that on behalf of the Society, he had sourced a St Bees 1st XI cricket cap. This had been mounted into a specially made display case. David then formally presented this to Amanda and photographs were taken for The Bulletin.
CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING STATEMENT and TOAST ‘TO MEMORIES OF BILL DOVE’. As a final note, a bouquet of flowers from Don and Linda Williams was presented to Amanda Dodsworth for all her work in stepping into the role of Secretary for this event. For all attendees, there was a miniature bottle of spirits or wine individually given for a drink in memory of Bill. There was also a seasonal card for everyone, with best wishes from myself and my wife, Linda. The final words were given by me in a short, tongue in cheek, story about the tradition of Christmas trees topped with fairies. By around 4.00 p.m., I believe everyone was in good form for their return journeys.
As Chairman I recently have had to think a great deal about how to continue organising our OSB events, something I have done happily for many years. Sadly, I feel unable to carry on doing this and the time is right for me to step down. I would like to thank everyone for their past participation. In a background capacity, I will be more than pleased to assist anyone ‘taking up the mantle’ in the interests of future Branch gatherings. Don Williams (FN 61-64), Further Photos may be seen here.

 

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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