Reg Severn, who was head Master for the last few years of the school’s life, has had Parkinson’s Disease for a number of years, and has been away from home for more than a year. Matthew Cripps lives close by to Gill, and his wife sees her quite often. Reg’s heart is very strong, but the rest of his body is in terrible shape and he is suffering a great deal. We shall let you know as soon as possible if there are any developments. We discussed this at the Meeting we had in July, without really coming to any conclusion about how we could be involved other than by trying to let you all know if anything happens, as soon as we can. My problem here is that I do have foreign holidays, although on most of them I can get to the internet.
Slimbridge have put our War Memorial statue by Lady Scott in a more prominent position. I haven’t seen it yet, but I understand there is some explanation of who the names commemorated on it are. I collaborated with them in linking most of these names with people they could get in touch with. All this was happening about the time of the previous dinner in 2004.
Prompted by an interested researcher I recently expanded the piece in our own War Memorial page about Bim Tennant (1907). It is well worth a read, if you haven’t done so already.
Sue Taylor, staff 1975-85, died on 20th January 2006. Her ashes are interred at St. Catherine’s Church, Littleton, near Winchester. Lionel Kay attended the interment. I understand that the mother of Tom and Emma Kemp (1983) was also there.
Donald Geikie (1957) sent us a gift of One Hundred US Dollars, for the drinks afterwards. I have this in actual dollar bills. Donald is the youngest of four Geikie brothers. They entered the school in 48, 51, 54 and 57. Looks like accurate family planning! I think he went on to Winchester, and I believe he is a self-made millionaire in real estate sales. He is quite a good-looking man, even taking into account his age. He sent us a picture from his brochure.
James le Bouedec (1981) was down to come to today’s dinner, but his wife is expecting a baby today, so he won’t be here.
The Masters’ Lodge. A year ago this fine Lutyens-style building was given planning permission for development. We will be interested to see what they make of it. Of direct concern to us was the fact that the Scholarship Boards were stacked up there, and Winchester University wanted them out as soon as possible. They were a bit large for any one with a name on them to take them away, but I had taken photos of them and will put a transcribed list onto the website soon. I believe they were destroyed or recycled. David Priestley wrote to ask what had happened.
W.N.C. Scott (1949) died recently. Some years ago he donated £1000 to the OWD Society funds, which was much appreciated.
The Society’s funds now stand at less than £3000. The outgoings are in round figures £250 for a mailshot every two years, £57 annually for the website, and £50 annually for a meeting at a pub (Ye Olde Cocke) in Fleet Street. Thus we could go on for quite a long time, but whether the present membership secretary, who has done the job since Founder’s Day 1980, would be able to do so is open to question.
I recently put a pdf of the book by Nowell Smith about the life of the Founder, Lionel Helbert, onto the website. Actually this is not really out of copyright, but so far no one has complained. If they do I shall of course remove it instantly.
I have quite a few memorabilia of the school ready to put on the website, and I believe Nick Bloxam has brought some for me this evening. Gill Severn sent me some old pictures, and the one I like best is the one of the Founder’s dog. I don’t suppose many people will remember that dog, though former chairman Sir Edward Ford (1917) possibly will! I saw Sir Edward at a lunch a few weeks ago. He is now in a wheel-chair, and looking a bit frail, but he is nearly 100 now, and his mind is as good as ever.
In the last few days I have been corresponding with an American lady who paid a visit to Blair Castle in the 1980s. Hearing that there had been a school there during the war she decided to write a school-life book about a fictional school in that setting. She interviewed the late Marquess of Bute (1942), who in our day was known as Cardiff, and she also went to Winchester to speak with Miss Richardson. I hope that there is a copy of this book on its way to me: I had hoped it would be with us by this evening.
I see that you can still find books by Peg-Leg (Wilfred) Tremellen on Abebooks. These were about flying in the First World War.
I still have some copies of the book about West Downs by Mark Hichens (1936), who was the OWDS secretary for many years after the War, and who is still on our Committee. He is here with us this evening. The books are available today at a special price.
The OWDS information on the website was updated 24 October 2006.
Paul Morgan (1930-35) writes from Macclesfield
When my cousin John Mallory, who is the only son of George Mallory, who died on Mount Everest in 1924, and who now lives in South Africa, was at Winchester, on permitted Sundays one or other of our mothers would visit to take us both out. The day invariably took the same form: the mother would bring a book and read while John and I drove her car up and down the Old Sarum Road. In those days there were no policemen and no traffic on that road.
Two of my grand-daughters sing in the Prestbury Girls’ Choir. Each year this choir “stands in” for a week in the cathedral while its regular choir have a holiday. Three years ago it was Winchester cathedral. Parents and grandparents are invited to visit. I took the opportunity to visit the Old Sarum Road. It is no longer the empty narrow dirt road of the 1930 but a broad tarmac road with houses and gardens which would not change hands for less than £1 million. Even if West Downs were still a school, the thought of a ten-year-old driving a car on it was laughable. Traffic in Winchester is horrendous and they have a one-way clockwise rotation.
News of John Mallory is good. At 85 he got married for the second time to a lady he has known for forty years. Both were previously married. I am sure it will be a success.
I am sorry that I shan’t be with you on 23 October, but wish you all a most successful evening.
Rob Tillard (1933) sends his best wishes. He went to a re-union of his house at Winchester recently, and was totally ignored. We wouldn’t do that, would we?
Lt.-Cdr. Charles Scott (1930), a former OWDS Chairman, writes: Unfortunately I am still recovering from heart trouble and pneumonia last December. Recovery is slow and will prevent me from attending the dinner. However, may you have a happy and successful evening.
Michael Cripps writes: I am very sorry to have to bow out of the dinner on Monday, as I have got myself an infected leg. and there is now way it will clear up by Monday. I hope you have a great evening, and my best wishes to all.
We very much regret that Ian Alexander Scott (1936) and J.H. Phillips (1940) of Picton Castle, have died.
Nick Hodson (1943), OWDS Hon Secretary, Treasurer, Webmaster