source: Wilkes Walton (1936)
source: HA Dink Palmer 46
source: HA Dink Palmer 46SOHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD 17TH BOYS CLUB
ANNUAL DINNER
BELL HOTEL ELY
Saturday Dec 11th 1948
MENU
Cream of Tomato Soup
Roast Chicken and Bread Sauce
Creamed Potatoes - Cauliflower
Sherry Trifle
or
Apple Tart and Custard
or
Welsh RarebitChairman: HH Parr Esq
TOAST LIST
THE KING
Proposer - The Chairman
THE SCHOOL
Proposer - Dr A Eden PhD, MA
Responder - The Headmaster
THE OLD BOYS' CLUB
Proposer - LG Johnson Esq., BA
Responder - BG Wright Esq.
THE GUESTS
Proposer - The Chairman
Responder - E Leonard Esq.
THE CHAIRMAN
Proposer - RF Watts Esq.
from the Autumn 1948 Soham Grammarian
THE OLD BOYS' SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL DINNER
The first annual dinner of the recently re-formed Old Boys' Club took place at the Bell Hotel, Ely, on Saturday, December 11th, and a great success it was too. It was the first since 1938 and with an attendance of eighty it equalled the records of the palmy days of AJ Covell and R Britton. Most of the credit for this must be attributed to the organizing ability of Richard Watts and the charm and capabilities of the Chairman, HH Parr. A choice and substantial meal was honoured by a well designed Menu and Toast Card - the work of KD Drake. The Chairman was throughout a model master of ceremonies.
Dr Alfred Eden, in proposing the toast of the School, gave a fluent account of the School's history, particularly instructive to younger members, and made an eloquent plea for the retention of tradition, while at the same time looking to the future. In reply, the Headmaster struck a highly amusing anecdotal vein and then turned to more serious matters. He was glad to announce that the catchment area of Cambridgeshire was to be widened with a resounding advantage to the School.
The toast of the Old Boys' Club was proposed by Mr LG Johnson, who likened the revival of the Club to the glorious revival of the Phoenix from its own ashes. He then dwelt on the spiritual problems of the adolescent in a materialistic and chaotic age. Mr BG Wright, in replying, drew time [sic] attention to the need of houses for schoolmasters if their work was to be satisfactory and their services retained.
The Chairman cordially welcomed the guests, Mr E Leonard and Mr BG Wright, both Old Boys, the former Chairman of the Governing Body and the latter a Governor. His analogies from mechanics were both ingenious and amusing. Mr Leonard's reply struck the note of reminiscence, which was not only pleasant to listen to, but must have been a revelation to younger members. MrRFA Clark, a former President, then rose to ask members to remember those who had fallen in the war, and a respectful silence was observed.
RF Watts rounded off the proceedings in a speech of grateful thanks to the Chairman. Many delightful renewals of old contacts were made, the one with most personal effort behind it being that of AE Almond, who is now living at Portsmouth.
Altogether a fine augury for the future of the Club !OLD BOYS' CLUB
OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN : HH PARR, Cambridge
HON JOINT SECRETARIES : RF WATTS, Soham, GO WHITE, Soham
HON TREASURER : AJ THOMPSON, Ely
HON RESIDENT SECRETARY KD DRAKE, Soham
COMMITTEE : THE HEADMASTER; The Head Boy of the School, JE LEANEY, Soham; F BENSTEAD, Swaffham Prior; SG DARBY, Sutton; H IBBOTT, Sutton; LG JOHNSON, Ely; IF NICHOLLS, Fordham; R POOLE, Stretham; NJ SNEESBY, Wilburton; BA WRIGHT, Littleport.
page created 14 Nov 2003: last updated 2 Nov 2010
