Old Tamensians: Latest News from the School and OTA

 

 

 

 

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(Last updated October 2008)

Founders Weekend 2008

Friday 7th November:

17:30 Foundation Lecture in the 6th Form Centre, Oxford Road by Michael Beech on the life of Lord Williams. This will be followed by Prize Giving. OTs are welcome to both events. There will also be an OT Stand at the Prize Giving.

Saturday 8th November

09:45 doors open at St Mary’s

10:00 church service

10:45 coffee at the 6th Form Centre, Oxford Road

11:00 AGM

12:00 tours

12:30 lunch

14:30 netball / raffle

15:00 rugby

16:30 tea & prizes / raffle

 

December 4/5/6

 

Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Tickets will be on sale from the Reprographics department at both sites from Monday 3rd November priced at £5.00 adult/£2.00 students/concessions, a family ticket at £10.00.

Dates for 2009

Saturday 10th January 2009

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the OTs.

To celebrate the start of the LWS’s 450th year and to celebrate the centenary of the OTA, we will be holding a sparkling celebration at 12.00 Saturday 10th January 2009 in the 6th Form Centre on the Oxford Road. Everyone is invited to a buffet champagne lunch but it would be great if you could e-mail beforehand so we have an idea of numbers: ota@waitrose.com 

Cost will be a subsidised! £7 a head, payable on the day.

Wednesday Ist July 2009

LWS 450 Festival. A full day of events will take place from morning to night. Details to follow.

Monday 21st September 2009

New College Reception & Dinner

Arrangements are now coming together and as matters stand the evening will start at 18:45 with canapés and champagne in the cloisters. We will then move to the Dining Room at around 19:30 for a three-course meal, with wine – half a bottle per head.

Well that’s the good news.  The not so good news is, unsurprisingly, that this all comes at a cost I’m afraid and this is coming out at £80 (including VAT) per ticket.

Clearly we need to firm up the numbers and it seems to me that the best way of confirming commitment is to take a £20 per ticket deposit.  On the positive side this will naturally have the effect of lessening the final blow and should anybody wish to pay in instalments I will be happy to take them!  From our records you appear to have requested two tickets, therefore we look forward to receiving a deposit of £40.00 for secure this request.

I’m afraid that we cannot take plastic but would you please send your cheque, payable to “Old Tamensians Association” to me at the address shown below. Alternatively, you may wish to pass your cheque to me on Founder’s Day – Saturday 8th November.

Either way I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you next September, if not before.

Regards

George Edwards OTA - Treasurer

Please send your cheque, made payable to the "Old Tamensians' Association" to:

George Edwards, OTA Treasurer, 4 Moore Road, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire.  GU52 6JB

Tel.:  01252 653662          Mobile:  07786 837847          Email:  georgebedwards@ntlworld.com

 

NEWS

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.

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

 

Founders’ Weekend 2007 Friday/Saturday November 2nd 3rd

The Founder's Day weekend began on Friday evening with the Founder's Lecture given by former teacher Rob Woore on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. This was followed by the 2007 Awards Evening held in a standing-room-only School Hall. The OTA were present to press-gang new members.

 

The School's overall A-Level pass rate was one of the best ever: 98% with 52% passes at Grade A or B. In total, 213 entrants sat 549 full A Level examinations.

 

Saturday was a glorious day: both the autumnal weather and the Founder's Day programme.

 

The day began with the 10:00 service at St Mary’s which was taken by Rev Daplyn. He based his message on the text below.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (New King James Version)

New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

 

Ecclesiastes 3

Everything Has Its Time

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.

The service also included a musical interlude played by Judy Thompson, Stephanie Caulfield and Judy Thompson from the School. As was highlighted in the opening remarks, the service was both a sombre occasion - an Act of Commemoration - but also one to celebrate the founding of the School and its achievements today

The day continued with10:45 coffee served by the sixth form and the11:00 AGM. At 12:00 members were treated to excellent tours which included the new science block; and 4 year 12 showed us their Art coursework on the lawn, based on the archives. They will be expanding this for the 2009 celebrations and this living art is a must-see. The12:30 luncheon was serenaded with music provided by the Jazz Band, attended by 46 people. At 14:00 there was netball and at 14:30 the rugby won by the OTs

The 16:00 tea / raffle made £235 Sales !!! Less £6 (£5.98 if you're picky) to give a profit of £229. Many thanks to all those who brought a prize along. The 2 main prizes were won by Martyn Read – the dinner for 2 at The Bell (see below); and the family ticket for the Wasps rugby match by Trevor Cook. Many thanks to Trevor for donating this to a family that helps LWS regularly, volunteers with LWS rugby. The Raffle and presentations were held in the Hall. Sadly this is the last year that Mrs Buggins and her team (Vera and Cath) will serve a hearty hot lunch and a delicious sticky bun tea. All are retiring, with Joan Buggins going off on her gap year to New Zealand. She wished the assembled throng well for the future.

At 17:00 the John Hampden meeting was held.

OT Obituaries – names read at the Founders’ Day 2007 service

 

Below is a listing of members who passed away this 2006-2007. The date on the right is, as far as I can ascertain, the date of death.

 

Gerald

 

Howat

1975

1986

10/10/2007

Ralph

Field

Hoddinott

1921

1929

29/09/2007

H

C

Cox

 

 

10/07/2007

Geoffrey

E.T

Osborne

1938

1944

01/03/2007

Steven

 

Summersbee

1929

1934

01/02/2007

John

Raymond

Dance

 

 

01/12/2006

Prof. Peter

Malcolm

Holt

1930

1937

02/11/2006

 

‘The Bell’ again donated a very generous prize of a “Dinner for Two” ‘The Bell’ again donated a very generous prize of a “Dinner for Two”. The Bell at Charlbury, Chipping Norton is a charming hostelry in an historic Cotswolds town, telephone 01608-810278

‘The Bell is a vibrant, stylish 18th century hotel in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Situated in the centre of Charlbury, an idyllic little town on the edge of the ancient Wychwood forest, we pride ourselves on our warm welcome and excellent food. A world away from the pressures of modern life, we're only 12 minutes' drive from Oxford, and only an hour and ten minutes from London Paddington by train.’

The Bell at Charlbury, Chipping Norton is a charming hostelry in an historic Cotswolds town, telephone 01608-810278

‘The Bell is a vibrant, stylish 18th century hotel in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Situated in the centre of Charlbury, an idyllic little town on the edge of the ancient Wychwood forest, we pride ourselves on our warm welcome and excellent food. A world away from the pressures of modern life, we're only 12 minutes' drive from Oxford, and only an hour and ten minutes from London Paddington by train.’

Concert Jazz was founded in Thame in 2005 by Jazz Eddie a lifelong jazz fan and passionate follower of jazz.  Eddie is dedicated to raising awareness for jazz music, producing live events that inspire both youth and adults . Throughout his career Eddie has kept his ears open to what is going on in the jazz, blues and contemporary music fields and enjoys creating platforms for up and coming talent and supporting established professionals.

Concert Jazz

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.

 

Latest Issue of the Governor's Report

 

Do you know anything about...?

  • We have been contacted by James Bardrick who is authoring a book which makes reference to an OT. Whilst I appreciate this is quite a dig back in to history, however does any OT know anything about Francis Willoughby Fielding which we can offer James? We have supplied the information which has come from 'A short History of Thame School' by J. Howard Brown.

Below is the text of the note received from James:

'I am currently writing a book in which a former pupil of Lord Williams`s School who fell in action at the Battle of the Somme is to feature. He is Francis Willoughby Fielding, and he fell in action in France with the Queen Victoria Rifles on 01 July 1916. Does the Association retain any information which provides biographical details on this fellow for inclusion into my text? Any help that you can offer is appreciated.'

If you can help please drop us a line at : members@oldtamensians.info

 

Fancy getting involved with organizing the 2009 Celebrations?

Firstly, why 2009 Celebrations?

Well, it marks 100 years of the Old Tamensians’ Association and 450 years of Lord Williams’s School.So probably a really good reason to celebrate!!

As time moves on we will be steeping up the organisation of the 2009 celebrations.If you want to be involved in helping to organise the celebrations then why not drop us a line at:

members@oldtamensians.info

 

  • 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

 

© 2008 Old Tamensians Association. Keeping you in touch with Lord Williams's School.