79th Annual Reunion Dinner

The Annual Reunion Dinner of the Association was held this year at the Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavilion: a change of venue from Thorpe Hall Golf Club, where we have been for the past 6 years, was deemed necessary because of the limit of 120, and this decision was more than justified with a turnout of 170 at the Cliffs.  As is usual at this event, a most enjoyable occasion was had by all renewing old, and making new, friends. The food was excellent and the staff looked after us extremely well.

The official part of the evening was both informative and entertaining and Clive Shiret started proceedings by proposing the toast to the President, Association and its Guests and, after recounting the achievements of our President (Michael Frampton, Headmaster 1988-2007), moved on to explain how he (Clive) as Chairman of the Association, was overseeing a root and branch overhaul of its workings and injecting changes and new ideas – exciting times!

In his response Michael continued in this theme and explained how, using his contacts with the School, he was trying to build closer links between the sixth formers and the Association for the benefit of all in the future. Finally, it was his pleasant duty to present a decanter each to Lesley Iles and John Baker in recognition of all their hard work in sourcing detailed information on nearly all the Old Southendians who died in the First World War: their names appear on the Roll of Honour Board in the main hall of the School. This information has been collated into a most interesting book ‘They Rest From Their Labours’ which was available for sale on the evening.

Paul Richards (Chairman of the School Governors) proposed the toast to the School in entertaining fashion to which the Headteacher, Robin Bevan, replied. Apart from informing every one of the challenges and achievements of the School in the past year, he returned to his theme from last year, in not only praising but also pointing out the weaknesses, of ancient Trojans, Spartans, Athenians and Tuscans. This was done to great amusement from the various House members present. Last but not least, the School Captain, Lloyd Peters-Hartman, rounded off the speeches with some personal memories of life at our School. The whole event was presided over in excellent fashion by our Toastmaster, Richard Campbell-Carr, and proceedings were brought to a close at midnight.

For information, our guests were:

Robin Bevan, Headteacher

Alan Gardner and Liz Duffy, Deputy Headteachers

Paul Richards, Chairman of the School Governors

Lloyd Peters-Hartman, School Captain

House Captains: Jack Eddie, Athens; Daniel Walden, Sparta; Jack Cripps, Troy; Mark Masson, Tuscany

Lesley Iles and John Baker, Authors of ‘They Rest From Their Labours’

The list of members attending the Dinner can be found by using the following link: clickhere

Richard Fenn

Secretary, Dinner & Social sub-Committee

(Tuscany, 1952-57)