THE ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN ASSOCIATION
Interim
NewsSheet
WINTER EDITION
December 2005 2005
REUNION SPECIAL . AGM . Chairman's Report . Headteacher's Report . Membership Report . Treasurer's Report . New Committee Copy date for Spring 2006 Newsletter 1st March
2006 WEBSITE: www.ashcombedorkinian.com
Welcome to
this Interim NewsSheet
mainly concerning the recent Annual Reunion/AGM and
giving you details of the new Committee.
Mike Nicholson‑Florence invites you to view Reunion photos on our
website and will welcome contributions at:
www.ashcombedorkinian.com
The 14th
Annual Reunion/AGM ‑ October 8th
The Chairman, Keith Verran, opened the meeting by
welcoming Mr David Blow, the Headteacher, together with fifty three Members and
supporters. Fifty seven Members sent apologies for absence.
At this point Keith explained that there would be a
break with tradition to accommodate a tour of the new Bradley Arts Centre,
calling for the Headteacher's Report to precede his own.
Headteacher's
Report
David Blow started by introducing Many Penman, a
VIth Form student, who gave an excellent presentation on her recent trip to
China. Members gave her an enthusiastic round of applause and the Chairman
presented her with a small gift as a mark of appreciation.
Mr Blow then looked back over the last academic year
and said the A Level results had been of high quality. He emphasised that all
students were given the opportunity for A level study, whatever their academic
prospects ‑ all had gained at least two Es. A good number had attained
grade A. GCSE results showed an excellent 82% ‑ even those who were not
keen on school bothered to turn up for the exams and achieved. Currently over
160 students were doing A levels and, with inspirational Music Teachers, as
many as 25% of the students were doing GCSE in Music.
The Bradley Arts Centre was now completed, on time
and on budget. It opened on 1 st September and, despite this addition, there
was still pressure for space. The Bradley Arts Centre has 3 large art rooms,
and 3 large music rooms, with adjoining teaching rooms. There was a Drama
Teaching room with lights and curtains, and a performance area. He reminded
members that the name "Bradley" was taken from Bradley Farm.
He then took the majority of members on a short tour
to see the new Bradley Arts Centre. This was much admired by members, many of
whom felt they would have undertaken their arts studies more enthusiastically
if they had had such wonderful modern facilities!
On returning to the Study Centre, Mr. Blow concluded
his review by saying that there had been a massive upgrade of IT resources,
with every computer now using Windows XP. Mr. Blow paid tribute to a superb new
IT Manager and an IT Technician who provided excellent support.
Business Week
had been held in July and this had included interviewing experience, The
Ashcombe had won a European Award for Languages and a prestigious Award for the
number of pupils learning two extra languages.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Blow for
his presentation and for organising the IT facilities in the Study Centre for
our meeting. It had all been most interesting and we wish it had been like this
when we were at school! The Chairman made a presentation of
.'something liquid", which he had brought from France, in
appreciation of Mr. Blow's contribution to our meeting.
THE ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN
ASSOCIATION
Officers and Committee for the year
2005/2006, elected at AGM, 8.10.2005:
CHAIRMAN: Keith
VERRAN
"Le Bourg de
Cenac", 24250 Cenac et St. Julien, Dordogne, FRANCE Tel: 0033 (0) 5 53 28 57 01 E: keithverran@bodicote‑u‑net.com
VICE
CHAIRMAN: David MOUNTAIN
65, Broadhurst. Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1
QD Tel: 01372 ‑
273 227 E:
david@davidhmountain.demon.co.uk
SECRETARY: Miss
Sheila SANDFORD
73, Copthorne Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7EE Tel: 01372 ‑ 372 936 E:
sheilasandford@stscomputers.co.uk
TREASURER ‑‑‑Mrs. Maureen MEIER
Old Forge House, 318 Lower Road, Bookham, Surrey, KT23 4DU.
Tel/FAX: 01372‑457407 E: RobertMeier@waitrose.com
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY; Ted HAZELDEN
23 Dunsdon Avenue, Guildford, Surrey,
GU2 7NX Tel: 01283 ‑
566 639 E:
ted@hazeldenfamily.co.uk
COMMITTEE: ANTHONY LOCKWOOD ROBERT
MILLER MIKE NICHOLSON‑FLORENCE
JOHN
HAYNS GERRY
MOSS JOHN HARDY LIONEL HARRIS
ARCHIVIST:
Michael DOBSON
Trescott,
Church End, Ravensden, Bedford, MK44 2RP Tel/FAX: 01234 ‑ 771 685
Chairman's Report
The Committee had met four times in
the past year, and he had been able to travel from France to attend all of
them. He thanked the various members of the Committee for their contributions.
He was sorry to have to report the
deaths during the year under review of Mr T E Dryer, former much respected
Latin teacher, Jim Spencer, who had been our oldest member, Sandy Hughes, and
Michael Pearson. Tributes had appeared in the Spring Newsletter.
Membership Secretary's
Report
Ted Hazelden said that when he took
on this task in May his priority had been to chase up the non‑payers,
resulting in the loss of 24 student members, some of whom had 'disappeared';
others were unwilling to continue membership when invited to subscribe. He had
prepared an updated Membership List for the Meeting with a number of queries on
the reverse which he hoped Members present might be able to help with. He
expressed thanks to those who had signed Bank Standing Orders which simplified
administration and helped greatly towards keeping the financial situation
stable.
Treasurer's Report
Maureen Meier presented the accounts
and commented that we would have a serious financial problem if it weren't for
our printers charging very little for producing the Newsletters. Otherwise, the
Association's finances were in a healthy state.
In answer to a question from the
floor, she explained that the annual Bursary for an Ashcombe student still
stood at £250, but in 2004 the Bursary Sub‑committee had had great
difficulty in choosing between two excellent candidates, and the full Committee
had agreed to make two awards of £250.
After the Accounts were adopted the
Chairman thanked Ray Alexander for his work as Auditor and for agreeing to be
reappointed for the year 2005‑2006.
The New Committee
is shown on the front page, is the same as the previous
one apart from the confirmation of Ted Hazelden as Membership Secretary (having
taken over the position from Sheila Sandford in May), and the very welcome
addition of John Hardy and Lionel Harris.
Lunch at Betchworth Park Golf Club
A very good lunch at this beautiful
'new' venue was enjoyed by 64 Members and guests. John Hayns was MC, Grace was
spoken by Rosemary Dale, and Toasts were proposed by Valerie Bartlett (Absent
Friends), Andrew Glass (The School), and Marilyn James (The Association).
Coming Events?
Is there anyone willing to host a
party to revive the memories of the splendid occasions we had in 2004? Please
let Sheila Sandford know by the end of January if it's a possibility.
Sad news
We are very sorry to report the
death of Tony Luck on 26th October after a long illness. Would anyone with
memories of Tony please send them to the Editor in time for the next Newsletter.
Good News
Congratulations to Peter Mills on
his recent award for Outstanding Service to Sport in Mole Valley ‑ more
details in the next Newsletter!
Diary Dates for 2006
The Annual Reunion/AGM: will be on Saturday 14th October, with lunch at
Betchworth Park Golf Club
Copy for the next Newsletter: by 1st March 2006, please
NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
David H Mountain, 65
Broadhurst, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1QD
Tel: 01372 ‑
273 22 e‑mail.. david@davidhmountain.demon.co.
uk