Old Tamensians: Latest News from the School and OTA

 

 

 

 

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(Last updated October 2009)

 

Dates for 2009

Friday 6th November

1730: Foundation Lecture, Foundation Centre, Oxford Road, Thame. Howard Goodall has been invited to speak but it is likely that instead his father Geoff Goodall will take his place.

Saturday 7th November

0915 Founders Day starting with the service in St Mary’s Church, Thame.

1030 Coffee in the Buttery, 6th Form Centre, Oxford Road

1100 OTA AGM

1100-1230 Tours of the school

1230 Lunch (£10 a head please send cheques to George as above)

1330 Hockey/Netball

1400-1600 Over 100 OTs will be playing in a series of mini-rugby matches

1630-1800 Tea and Raffle

1900 An evening of celebration 1559-2009 in Words and Music at Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road. This will include the first performance of a new choral piece by Howard Goodall. Please contact us if you wish to participate in the performance.

 

News: Please send you news to Stuart Davies

 

100th Anniversary Rugby Match, 7th November 2009

Thanks to all that have responded and shown interest in taking part in the OT's 100th anniversary rugby match on Founders Day 2009.

So far, those confirmed as players are:

Adams, Matty

Bailey, Julian 'Reg'

Bailey, Mike

Batting, Will ‘Batty’

Begley, Conor

Begley, Sean

Belcher, Simon

Blackwell, Steve

Bowyer, Ben

Brooks, Jon

Burch, Sam

Daly, Tony

Davies, Gareth 'Lofty'

Davis, Gareth 'Stumpy'

Dickerty, Nick

Ellis, Ralph

Faithfull, Wayne 'Beastie'

Field, Tim

Finken, Paul

Forward, Ben 'B J'

Gemmell, James 'Archie'

Hall, Dan

Harper, Tim

Hazeldine, Jay

Humphries, Doug

Jordan, Tim 'T J'

Lloyd, John

Millburn, Andy 'Milly'

Nebel, Matt

Oyebade, Charlie

Phillips, Rob 'Dosser'

Quigley, Joe

Ratcliffe, Dave

Rixon, Ed

Rumens, Dave

Simpson, Richard 'Simmo'

Stanley, Rob 'Digger'

Stock, Ian 'Stocki'

Swift, Nathan

Thirlwall, Ben 'Jugsy'

Volders, Gresham

Volley, Paul

Wagstaff, Steve

Walton, Matt

Warner, Chris

Whelan, Jake

Whelan, Tom

Wood, Tom (aka the Blue Flash) ;-)

Keep spreading the word and have people confirm with me, more news as and when i have it, everyone will play, you only need to bring shorts, socks, boots and a gumshield!!.

Cheers

Dave Ratcliffe

07738 390 427

PS: if anyone in the Thame area fancies a couple of matches to warm up, towards the end of this season, or the beginning of next then let me know, i can get you a game with the Chinnor Vets, a nice social warm up!!!

 

NEWS

100th Anniversary Buffet Lunch

An excellent kick-off to the 450/100th year of celebrations. Almost 100 OTs of all ages, members of staff and 6th formers gathered in the 6th Form Centre on Saturday 10th January to drink champagne and enjoy canapés. The speeches were thankfully short; the fun and reminiscing long. Photos can be found on Flickr.

2008 Exam Results

The overall a Level pass rate for 2008 was 98% with 51% at grades A or B. 209 entrants sat 549 full A Level examinations.

18 students sat advanced vocational qualifications with 100% rate and 69% A to C grades.

221 Year 12s entered 757 AS examinations and achieved a 88% pass rate with 36% at grades A or B. The 2008 GCSE results saw 77% of the students gain 5 or more A)-C grades.

The Sixth Form in September 2008 stood at 480 students.

 

1947 Intake

 

You may recall the '47 intake had its 60th anniversary reunion in September. I have produced a 36 page A5 booklet with then and now photos etc. I have sent to our class members, and also sent a copy to Trudi for the archives .

We have a class web which I am updating. Can you add a link

http://lordbill47.osborn.ws/

Many thanks Alan Osborn

We also have an excellent 1947.pdf on line. Well worth reading for its insight and photos of school life 60 years ago or more.

Other News

Urgent request: As part of the 2009 celebrations we are holding a very special and formal dinner at New College, Oxford on Monday 21st September 2009. We hope you can join us and make it a very special evening.

Due to a requirement to book this very soon, we need to have some indication of the likely numbers of OTs that will attend. At this stage, we know that the cost will be in the region of £50 per head. Accommodation will be available at New College itself at a reduced rate if you need to stay overnight. Please can you let us know as soon as possible by dropping me an e-mail mailto:ota@waitrose.com if you are interested in attending and would like your name added to the invitation list.

Facebook? Are you on Facebook? There is now a “Lord Williams’s School OT” group with over 1,000 members. School, Thame)

1000 Archived Photos: we have now added what we hope will be a wide ranging collection of photos that illustrate the history of the school (and some others of local interest.) If you have any photos you'd like to add, please send them as an e-mail attachment to the Photo Archivist along with any information you'd like included. They will be much appreciated.

Lord Williams’s is now on Wikipedia and footage of the 2007 fire can be seen at Youtube. The Old Tamensians Association also have a page on mySpace under the name Tamensians.

Desperately Seeking Placements for 2009!

Each year we find work experience placements for our Year 10 students in 2009. Our local employers are very supportive. However, we always struggle to find enough suitable places and at the last count, we still have some 100 students to find placements for by the end of March. We are particularly short of general clerical, retail and catering placements in and around Thame.

We would be delighted to hear from anyone who is able to offer a placement to a student this July. In terms of health and safety, employers should have employee insurance or public liability to cover under 16 year olds.

Please contact either Karen Hanson on 01844 210738 or Nicky Stallwood on 01844 210524, email n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk

 

 

Do you have some spare time to help at the School?

The school is looking for people who can help supervise exams this academic year.

The job includes distributing and collecting exam papers and observing students and alerting the Senior Invigilator of any concerns.

The pay is £ 7.78 an hour, and interested people should contact

Pauline Taylor - Examinations Officer, at the School. Call: 01844 210510

 

The new Thame Museum has opened. This is a new venture for Thame and long in the planning. If you would like to support it, you can join the Thame Museum Trust.

 

Singers Wanted !!

We are planning an exciting musical event as a central part of the 2009 LWS/OTA Celebrations.

Exactly what this is depends largely on the response from you!

So far, we know that:

  • Howard Goodall will compose a special piece of choral music
  • Robin Nelson will conduct the choir
  • Current school pupils and Thame Festival Chorus will be invited to take part
  • We hope to perform the music in New College, Oxford.
  • It's likely to be in the late spring/early summer of 2009

The next stage is to find out from you:

  • Are you interested?
  • What would be the best timing (& dates to avoid)?
  • Would you be willing to attend rehearsals before the day?

We plan to set up an easy (electronic) route for you to express your interest and of course will keep you up to date with developments as things progress.

Please make sure you help to spread the word. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet up with old friends and have fun doing something lots of us enjoyed doing together all those years ago!! I look forward to hearing from all you singers out there

Annabel Edwards (nee Overton) – (1971-1974)

 

Some of you might have seen the School in its new role as an arms dealer featured in the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary. Guardian Article. New Statesman.

 

The School now has its own Amnesty site.

 

  • Please would anyone interested in putting their profession out on this website list, contact Bridget (free advertising to over 140 visitors daily.)
  • If you're missing a piece of favourite news, it's most likely been transferred to Old News.
  • John Hampden War Memorial Fund. If any OTs are studying for any course after school, and need to have financial help with e.g. books, write a letter to W Eason, John Hampden War Memorial Scholarship Fund, The Manor House, Whitchurch, Nr Pangbourne, Berks RG8 7EX, enclosing a books list with prices. Grants are at the discretion of the committee. They are disbursed on Founders’ Day and letters should be received by the beginning of October. (John Hampden Junior School has a similar grants system.)

 

Lord Williams's Festival Chorus

Message from Sarah Rothwell (84-91). Lord Williams's Festival Chorus has a new Musical Director, John Gibbons, MA Cantab FRCO Hon ARAM, and a new rehearsal night - Monday evenings, 7:30-9:30pm in the Upper School Hall. Please join us - the choir is a mix of Lord Williams's parents, pupils, teachers, former pupils and others who just enjoy singing. Annual subscription £45 - membership is free to Lord Williams's pupils, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Photos

In 1971, the School had close connections with Holton Park Girls' Grammar School, with lessons being shared, and the coming together of pupils for dance, drama, choir...and going down the pub. The 1971 HPGS School Photo is a reminder of those days.

Animated 1979 School Photo - move your mouse to move the image.

 

 

Read Old News

 

© 2009 Old Tamensians Association. Keeping you in touch with Lord Williams's School.