THE ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN ASSOCIATION
INTERIM NEWSSHEET
Winter
Edition December 2001
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Welcome
Again to this Winter
Newssheet to bring you up‑to‑date with current and proposed
happenings of the ADA in addition to letting you all know this year's Committee Members.
Welcome too to the new Upper and
Lower Forms of the Ashcombe School. You know of our existence from our awards
of the ADA Bursaries and the ADA School Prizes. We are the Association of the
ex‑pupils and staff of The Ashcombe and all former constituent Schools.
We hold a large database of former pupils to enable you to keep in touch with
each other and we encourage you to hold regular reunions.
…and to Former Pupils
who may read this on the Website
Hopefully you will join
us if only to ensure the survival of the Association. Membership is free for the first 2 years
after leaving school – just write to us or email us at adamemsec@ashcombedorkinian.com
The Annual Reunion/AGM
The AGM was well
attended with Norman Bradshaw again occupying his customary place in the
front row. We say ‘Welcome' to our new
Chairman, John Hayns who was elected into the hot‑seat. In
his inaugural address John thanked his predecessor for his leadership and
effort, acknowledging that it will be difficult act to follow. He also paid
tribute to David Mountain, who has
so splendidly held the newsletter editorship since the inception of the
Association.
He reiterated the aims
of the Association, as defined in the Constitution and felt that the reports
which had been presented at the AGM were testament to their achievement within
the limits set by finite resources, particularly on matters financial. These
are derived almost entirely from subscriptions. Recent increases in annual
subscription, John continued, are largely to maintain the quality of the
newsletter and the level of bursaries. How we might improve on financial
support to the school is a topic for debate some other time.
He felt that the
Committee walks a fine line when it comes to financial decisions and it would
be helpful if some feed back were received from members. If feel we are achieving our objectives or
whether more should be done. The obvious
way is to increase
membership, thus helping to keep down subscriptions. We
should consider increasing membership as an additional objective in our
Constitution. He looked forward to his first year in office and being able to
report a year of progress.
Mr Webster's Headteacher's Review was well received.
Pupils at The Ashcombe School had done particularly well (again!) both
academically and athletically. The Sports Hall was virtually completed on time
and on budget. The Ashcombe School
celebrated its Silver
Jubilee in September, having been formed in 1976. Although it had originally
been decided to keep the celebrations 'low‑key’, there were more than 100
who turned up, many having seen the notice on the Friends Reunited website.
Your Committee for
2001/02
Our Constitution
decrees that the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall not hold office for
more than three consecutive years. So it was a bit like 'all‑change' at
this year's AGM. John Hayns, introduced above, is our new Chairman, and Maureen
Meier has been elected Treasurer. Sheila Sandford, our ever hard‑working
Secretary, elected last year, has agreed o continue as such, as does our Vice
Chairman David Mountain. John Gent moves over to be Membership Secretary.
We say goodbye to Mike Dobson, our Chairman for the
past 3 years who is now taking on the role of 'Archivist` Also to Rosemary Dale, our recent Membership Secretary,
and to Committee Member and former
Secretary, Lionel Rose. We welcome
three new Committee Members. Anna Cooper, Peter George and Mike Nicholson‑Florence. Anthony
Lockwood and Robert Miller
have agreed to continue their good work on the Committee.
The Reunion Lunch
There was a disastrous
fire at the Watermill Restaurant just a week before the AGM. With the greatest of
luck we managed to find another venue at the Leatherhead Leisure Centre. Not
only that we were able to get the same menu at a similar price. Needless to
say, a great time was had by all!
Next Year's Reunion Lunch
will be held on Saturday. 6 OCTOBER 2002 when we have
been fortunate enough to secure a reservation at Denbies Vineyard. This is a
week earlier than usual so we want to give you plenty of notice. The news of
this venue will be very warmly welcomed and, at the moment, we have the choice of two rooms.
Therefore we need an idea of numbers
before finalising the details in the New Year. Could you please send Sheila
Sandford a brief note indicating your interest (and whether one or two places) by WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY 2002. We would
hate to have to turn anyone away because we had not booked a large enough room, but the Association has to make
a commitment to Denbies in mid‑January
hence the request. Please e‑mail or post to Sheila Sandford ( details below).
Remembrance Sunday 2001
A group of members,
Including members of the Committee, held a short service of Remembrance on
Sunday 11th November. John Hayns had managed to obtain details and
information of all those former pupils
and staff who are listed on the plaques in the school's entrance foyer. The
ceremony took the form they of a Commemoration with John Hayns and Mike Dobson
reading out the information. The picture below shows the group in front of the Memorial Gates just after the ceremony.
Sunday
11th November 2001 ADA Members and the Committee at the Memorial Gates at
the Ashcombe School after a short
act of Remembrance.
Doc
Morgan Award
Originally, Pat
Ruthven's proposal -- was for a ‘one
off’ award to a School student as a tribute to Doc Morgan. The award would be
in recognition of Doc's talent and musical ability and his services to the
School, not only in the many musical productions he directed, but in encouraging his pupils to gain an
appreciation of music which has
lasted all their lives.
Thus far, it must be
said, contributions have been somewhat disappointing. A small subcommittee has
been setup to consider the form of the award, which of course should be
musically associated: whether it be a plaque to be engraved annually or
something more
tangible, such as an
item for the school music department, or both. The fund is still open for
further donations as is the suggestion box.
All interested please contact Maureen Meier
(details below).
On Sad Note it is with deep regret that we announce the
deaths of two we loved and stalwart
members of the Association.
Prof. Peter Newman died
on November 6th and we extend our sincere condolences to his widow,
Jennifer and his family. lan Taylor who
some will remember came
to the AGM with his wife Jill but was not well enough to stay for the lunch, died early in December from bowel
cancer which was only
diagnosed about (6 months ago. Our
sincere condolences to Jill, his family and friends, particularly David
Mountain who knew him for over 50 years.
Also we are sorry to report the death of Bill Slogrove on 15th October
at the age of 92 in Bognor. For many years he was of course the School
Caretaker.
In Conclusion
We on the Committee
would like to wish all of you the Compliments of the Season and a Happy,
Healthy New Year.
Please
Note:
Subscriptions are due 1st September (Standing Order Payments: 1st
December) £10.00 (Single), £15.00 (Joint), Full Time Students and School
Leavers Free. Please pay any outstanding subscriptions, but do not duplicate if
you have already paid. (Some of you have
still not altered your SO !)
|
Committee 2001‑2002 |
Name |
Address |
Tel. |
e‑mail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman |
John
Hayns |
48
Archer House, Vicarage Crescent,
London SW1 1 3LG |
0207
‑ 738 1675 |
johnhayns@aol.com |
|
Treasurer |
Maureen
Meier |
318
Lower Road, Bookham, Surrey,
KT23 4DU |
01372
‑ 457 407 |
rmeier@lineone.net |
|
Secretary |
Sheila
Sandford |
73
Copthorne Rd, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7EE |
01372
‑ 372 936 |
s.sandford@freeuk.com |
|
Membership Secretary |
John
Gent |
19
Chesters, Horley, RH6 8BP |
01293
- 821 411 |
johngent@mail.com |
|
& School Liaison |
|
|
|
|
|
Vice Chairman |
David
H Mountain |
65
Broadhurst, Ashtead, |
01372
- 273 227 |
David.H.
Mountain |
|
& Newsletter Editor |
|
KT21
1 QD |
|
@BTinternet.com |
|
Committee Members |
Anna Cooper, Peter George, Anthony Lockwood, Robert Miller, Mike Nicholson-Florence |
|||