At the Annual General Meeting of the Association held on the 21st October 2009, Members gave their unanimous approval to the appointment of Paul Johnson [Troy, 1966-1973] as President Designate for 2010 and therefore Association President for 2011. Paul has provided the following information about his time at School and a working life through to retirement to share with the Membership of the Association:
"I was born in Rochford Hospital in April 1955 and spent my childhood living close to the School in Westcliff-on-Sea.
My memories of the School start with attending Saturday morning inter School football matches in the early 1960’s, watching my 2 brothers, Keith and Trevor, taking part. The School playing field in those days was given character by a number of elm trees, sadly removed a few years later due to Dutch elm disease. All three of us attended Westborough Infants and Junior Schools, and in 1966, a year of sacred memory for England football supporters, I was able to follow their path to Southend High School for Boys.
For the next seven years, I was able to combine academic interests (particularly Geography and Geology) and a range of sporting interests (representing the School’s 1st XI Football and Cricket Teams). After “A” levels, I joined Barclays Bank, where for the next 32 years, I worked in a number of Branches and Departments, initially in south Essex and an overlap between work and sport continued. After a knee injury incurred whilst representing the Old Boys at football meant that I had to give up the game, cricket took precedence, both for the Old Boys and for the Bank. To continue playing cricket, I had to have a knee operation at the end of 1982, which led to me being off work for four months – but fit to start the 1983 cricket season!
I was asked to return to work at the Bank’s new Business Centre in Southend, it was whilst working here that I met my wife, Chris, we married in 1985 and celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary in 2010.
The success of the knee operation allowed me to continue to play cricket for both the Bank and the Old Boys. I organised several Cricket Tours and Cricket Weeks for the Bank’s Area Team, Chelmsford, the highlight being when the Team reached the final of the Barclays National competition in 1985 but losing out to a strong Leeds District Team.
My Banking career latterly took me well away from Southend into a number of Corporate Management and Governance roles, moving to Basildon, Romford, the City, Borehamwood, Reigate and lastly back to the City. An opportunity to take early retirement at the end of 2003 was not to be missed, and both Chris and I are now both Bank “pensioners”, enjoying a range of activities whilst keeping in touch with a number of former colleagues around the country.
I have had a number of roles in the Old Boys Cricket Club, including Secretary and as a Team Captain, and was delighted to be made a Life Member of the Club in 2003. I am currently responsible for Club Development activities and hoping that my most recent knee operation (October 2009) will allow me to play some cricket in 2010 in my 36th Season with the Club.
Since retirement from Barclays, I have become an ECB qualified Cricket Coach and Umpire, helping to establish a strong Youth Cricket section within the Cricket Club, and encouraging a number of the Club’s young players to become Coaches. Close links continue exist between the Club and the School, the new Sports Hall and other facilities are vital for the Development work. I have also organised Cricket Coaching in Southend Schools as part of the Cricket Foundation’s “Chance to Shine” initiative, in 2009, over 1500 boys and girls received an introduction to cricket at their School through the Scheme.
I joined the Association on leaving School in 1973, and have been a member of the Association’s Executive Committee for nearly 30 years, becoming Secretary of the Association in 2004. I well remember the former Association HQ at Crowstone Road, and how wonderful it would be if a new HQ allowing all the Association’s many activities to take place on one site could be established. Over the last few years, the Association, under the leadership of Chairman Clive Shiret, has made great strides in developing its activities and in particular how it works with the School, all Members can take great pride in the outcomes and the standing of their Association.
I am delighted to accept the opportunity to be your President in 2011. I look forward as Association Secretary and President Designate to supporting Derek during his year of Office in 2010 and working to ensure the longevity and continued success of the relationship between the School and the Association!"