North East

North East Branch Dinner – Wednesday, 11^th November, 2015.

Once again the North East Branch chose Northumberland Golf Club as a venue for their Annual Dinner. The plush bar area and the well-appointed dining room make excellent surroundings for memorable events. Although the current situation at the school cast something of a shadow over the evening, thirty-seven OSBs attended and made the best of it all. Judging by the banter on the night, reviewing the photographs and subsequent emails of appreciation, the evening was highly successful.

Society President Dacre Watson and Secretary/Treasurer David ‘Fred’ Lord were the evening’s Guests of Honour. They sat at the top table with Chairman Don Williams, Secretary Bill Dove and past Branch Chairman George Robson. Bill had organised this, his forty-first Branch Dinner, from his new home in Yorkshire and stayed over for the event with Don and Linda Williams at their home in nearby Stannington. Meeting and greeting in the bar was followed by an excellent meal. After dinner, George Robson presented a half hour video entitled ‘St Bees in the 1960s’. This film had been produced over a three year period by OSB Richard Taylor and his father. Scenes of the village, school, pupils and staff of 1962, 1963 and 1964 are historically featured. George added some commentary and occasionally paused the film to highlight points of particular interest. The showing of this film was well received and it evoked many delightful memories.

Before making a toast to the St Beghian Society, President Dacre Watson spoke candidly about the current ‘mothballing’ of the school and plans for the future. Together with Secretary ‘Fred’ they fielded a number of questions from the floor. Following this, the evening was rounded off nicely by everyone returning to the bar where happy chat continued. That is to say until 11pm, closing time, when most left with beds as destinations. However, still in high spirits, the younger crowd known as ‘The Pitchford Lads’, departed in a fleet of taxis heading for Newcastle’s clubland!

Those present were (* OSB Past Presidents):

Top Table – D.H. Williams* (FN 61-64) (Chairman), D.F. Lord (SH 60-65) (OSB Hon Secretary/Treasurer), W.E. Dove* (FN 57-60) (Secretary NE Branch), George Robson* (FN 57-64), and D.R. Watson (FN 61-64) (President of St Beghian Society).

Table 1 – J.F. Bullock (FN 44-48), F.O. Messenger (SH 50-55), I.D. Nimmo (FN 52-57), N.C. Wakefield (G 53-57),
A.H. Dobson (G 53-58), J.D.S. Brown (G 53-59), W.M.H. Dix* (FN 55-58), J.M. Southern (FN 55-59), A.M. Carstairs (FN 57-62),
J. Mosgrove (SH 60-63) and G.L. Spencer (G 61-64).

Table 2 – J.M McBryde (G 58-61), G.M. Burn (G 58-61), A.O. Burn (G 62-65), N.W. Adams (FN 68-71), M.P. Windle (FS 68-71), K.D. Rangecroft (FN 73-78), D.G.W. Reed (FN 75-78), S.G. Walker (G 75-77), Mrs R.V. Lewis (nee Larkin) (L 77-79) and P.A. McAteer (FN 83-85).

Table 3 – D.J. Pitchford (G 95-02), D. Bushby (SH 95-02), P.J. Drysdale (SH 95-02), B. Wilson (SH 97-04), R.I. Littler (SH 98-05), M.T. Garstang (SH 98-05), J.R.A. Woodhouse (SH 99-02), D. Rowlands (SH 99-06), D. Rhodes (SH 04-11), A. Littler (SH 04-11) and R. Carlill (SH 04-11).

Please click here to see photogrpahs from the evening.

 

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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