FROM THE PRESIDENT: A Fond Farewell
	As the last few months of my term of office draw to a close, I would like to thank Philip and Helen Capes, the staff of the school and its governors, the OSB’s Hon. Sec., David Lord, office administrator Pam Rumney, Bulletin editor Tony Reeve, our committee, and members of the Society for the support and enthusiasm they have given to me. I would particularly like to thank everyone who has taken part in my Presidential sporting event initiatives. These have included two visits to Newcastle Races, a visit to see a Newcastle Falcons match, and to watch Durham Dynamos play at Durham County Cricket Club.
Overall, this support has enabled me to encourage a more active involvement in St. Beghian events by members of the Society, and also helped my work towards stronger links with the school and its pupils by founding The Virtual Careers Forum. The VCF has also been used as a reason to send out questionnaires to expand the information on our data base about St. Beghians. In difficult economic times its purpose is to open avenues for young people, which I’m certain will be to their advantage as the initiative gains impetus.
We are all aware about how tough things are at present and St. Bees School is no stranger to hard times. However, I look confidently to its future based on all of the positive elements I have seen while being President of the St. Beghian Society. I have witnessed much of which the Society and the school should be proud. It has an amazing number of strengths that must be the envy of many other educational establishments. Apart from the exemplary standard of education which it provides, St. Bees has a unique Golf Academy, and is now to become a Centre for Cricketing Excellence backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). After meeting most of the teaching staff I am also certain that St. Bees School can publically demonstrate other levels of excellence (especially in Arts and Music). I never thought that I would be so enthusiastic about what we have together in this hamlet on the north west coast. In places steeped in tradition, change is often a fearful word but St. Bees School many years ago took the opportunity to become co-educational and quite recently a prep-school has been opened. We are fortunate to have substantial assets, and harnessing these to our best advantage will be the key to unlocking the school’s prosperity in future years. My own belief is that the infrastructure at St. Bees will continue to develop and already has the potential to attract additional commercial revenue streams. To facilitate this, we are fortunate to have some very well qualified people on hand to provide sound advice. While recognising all these strengths, I feel sure that with positive and focussed minds, the school, the governors, and the Society form a dynamic entity, and that working together in a co-ordinated manner will only be to the advantage of the future success of the school. As individuals we can play a role too. It is important for us all to grasp every opportune moment to reinforce belief in our establishment and its people. Directly or indirectly it is amazing how this filters through and permeates into a sense of pride; how it “oils the wheels” and will make the task of change both creative and stimulating. So I for one will continue to “walk the talk”, speak my mind and foster a well deserved confidence in the school and its people, and most importantly this will be both in and out of school. I invite you all to join me in this. Thank you once again. For me it has been a great pleasure and privilege being President of The St. Beghian Society. I pass on my best wishes to Anthony Wills as my successor. Don H Williams MCIM President St. Beghian Society Email: don@kingdomofnorthumbria.co.uk