OPA Newsletter July 1965
New Series No. 8
July 1965
THE OLD PHAROSIANS’
NEWS LETTER
President: J. C. BOOTH, Esq., M.A.
Secretary:
H. R. SLATER, Meadow Cottage, Sandwich Rd., Whitfield, Dover
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
To me falls the special privilege of sending you greetings at a time when we are turning to the celebrations which will mark our Diamond Jubilee. In view of the significance of these events I hope that Old Pharosians will not hesitate to draw the attention of other Old Boys who are not members of the Association for they, too, can be certain of a warm welcome.
Notice will be sent of the various events that are being planned but, in this News Letter, we are naturally thinking of the first function-the Diamond Jubilee Dinner to be held at the School on Saturday, 18th September. We trust that this date will make it easier for Old Boys who are living away from Dover to come and join us.
I am sure that many Old Boys will regard it as an opportunity for a “re-union”a re-union with some of their contemporaries whom they have missed during the years. It will be a time for happy reminiscences when some will recall schooldays in Ladywell, or in Frith Road, or in the School on the Hill, or in Ebbw Vale.
We are hoping, of course, that past and present members of the Staff will be with us to make these recollections all the more real.
We shall not forget those who have passed on to a higher servicethose whose names we shall see on the Roll of Honour for the two World Wars, and the names we shall recall of masters who have died in retirement.
Here, then, is a splendid opportunity to show our appreciation of what the School has done for us. By filling the School Hall at the Diamond Jubilee Dinner we can genuinely express our best wishes for the School’s continuing success in the days ahead.
J. C. BOOTH
MR. F. L. KENDALL
Frank Kendall was educated in Kent at Gravesend Grammar School and afterwards at Sidney Sussex, Cambridge.
For a short time he was on the staff at Thirsk Grammar School but came to Dover in 1931 and has taught chemistry here ever since. His department has taken its full share in the expansion of science teaching during recent decades and many Old Pharosians will be grateful for the constantly courteous but firmly disciplined teaching of Mr. Kendall.
In pre-war days he had charge of tennis in the School and he has always enjoyed playing his flute, whether in private or in the School orchestra. He has given generous service to the School in many ways, not least during the war-time evacuation to Ebbw Vale.
The Pharos Lodge has always been a source of great pleasure to him and no doubt Old Boys will have many further opportunities to meet him there and at functions elsewhere.
We offer our good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Kendall for many happy years of retirement. It is rumoured that Mr. Kendall has been persuaded to give some of his time and skill to the benefit of our sister school but he and his wife will have leisure to stand and stare at Channel shipping passing before their sea-front flat, to cut grass in Guston church-yard and enjoy the many pleasures of untime-tabled living.
K.H.R.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and DINNER
The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on Saturday, 2nd October, 1965 at 7 p.m. at the School.
AGENDA
- Read the notice convening the meeting
- Minutes
- Matters arising
- Treasurer’s Report
- Secretary’s Report
- Election of Officers
- Any other business
HAROLD R. SLATER,
Hon. Secretary
EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday, 18 September, 7 for 7.30 p.m.: Jubilee Year Old Boys’ Dinner (details elsewhere in this issue).
Saturday, 2 October, 7.30 p.m.: Old Pharosians’ Annual General Meeting (details elsewhere in this issue).
Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11, 13, 15, 16 December, 7.15 p.m.: School Opera, Pirates of Penzance. Tickets can be obtained from Mr. W. G. King at the School.
Saturday, 18 December, 2.30 p.m.: Old Boys’ football match.
Please get in touch with Mr. Ruffell at the School if you wish to play.
N.B.There will be no Christmas Dance this year but a JUBILEE BALL is to be held at the School on Friday, 13 May, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Please book this date in your diary; further details in the next issue.
NEWS OF OLD BOYS
J. M. SIMMONDS (1939-45) did military service with the Royal Signals before spending five years at the School of Architecture, Canterbury. In 1954 he passed the Final Examination of the Royal Institute of British Architects and next year was elected an Associate of that body. Unti11963 he was with Gotch & Partners, Architects, London. He is now an Associate Partner with R. M. Rayner, Chartered Architects, London.
L. J. TAYLOR (1924-30) was a Baptist Missionary for some 30 years in the Belgian Congo before political disturbance drove him out. He went to Nigeria in charge of the British and Foreign Bible Society Depot, but now, banished from there, he is attached to the Society’s Headquarters in London.
C. M. R. TYRELL (1925-32) after entering the police force transferred to the C.I.D. and became a plain-clothed officer at Scotland Yard. He was in charge of Westminster Abbey on the occasion of two royal weddings (of Princess Margaret and of Princess Alexandra) and frequently acts as body-guard to V.I.P’s. Mr. Menzies always asks for him especially. He is now Chief Detective Inspector at London Airport.
M. B. THORP (1951-55) spent five years at Liverpool University. In 1962 he led a six-man expedition from the university to Finnish Lapland, 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, to study pioneer settlement.
B. J. E. WILSON (1950-57) went to the London School of Economics and was awarded an Honours B.Sc. degree in Economics. In 1962 he went as a student teacher to Strasbourg University for one year.
L. G. WILLCOX (1946-52) joined the R.A.F. on leaving school, passing out with his “wings” in 1954. After fighter conversion training he served in Iraq, Cyprus, Jordan and Aden. Returned to U.K in 1957 and most of the time since he has been serving at Abingdon. He initially had a “short service” commission but is now on a permanent engagement.
L. C. SPARHAM (1923-31) who has worked in Kenya for nearly 30 years and who was Head Master and Chaplain of St. Joseph’s College, Chidya, has now, owing to recent political changes been superseded by an African layman. The Bishop of the Masasi diocese has appointed him Diocesan Inspector of Schools in that vast diocese.
A J. WELLARD (1952-59) left school to become a Student Apprentice with English Electric Co. Ltd. at Stafford. He spent a year working for the Higher National Diploma at Stafford College of Technology before transferring to the course leading to the Diploma in Technology (Electrical Engineering) at Loughborough College of Technology.
L. R. PHILLIPS (1915-23) who was School Captain, gained an Open Exhibition to Caius College, Cambridge, where he studied for five years and received his M.A. He then spent five years as an Assistant Master at Forest School and a further 13 years at Watford Grammar School, during which time he gained a London M.A. Then he became a lecturer at Forest Training College for five years and taught at various Secondary Modern Schools before being appointed a lecturer at Bognor Regis Training College in 1953.
R. J. WEST (1947-54) served in the RAF. until 1957 before becoming a Management Trainee with Thomas Hedley and Co. Ltd. Then he joined A.E.I. Hotpoint Ltd., becoming, in 1961, Assistant Manager Administration Service Division.
R G. STANDEN (1932-37) was for three years a clerk with the Pearl Assurance Co. Ltd. before joining the R.A.F. He reached the rank of Sergeant and served in Normandy, Germany and Gibraltar. He is now a Technical Assistant with RP. (Kent) Refinery, Isle of Grain. He has been a member of Gillingham Council and of Strood R.D. Council. being Chairman of the latter 1962-63. He is a Governor of two schools.
A W. S. WEBBER (1942-50) did two years National Service in the Royal Artillery and the R.A.S.C., serving in Egypt and Tobruk. In 1952 he joined the London Police Force. He was married in 1956 and has one daughter.
ONLY 200 OLD BOYS CAN ATTEND
THE JUBILEE DINNER
in THE SCHOOL HALL
on SATURDAY, 18th SEPTEMBER, 1965
7 for 7.30 pm.
Licensed Bar. . Dress Optional. Tickets £1.1.0
Please order your ticket from the School or the Secretary by 14th Septemberearlier if possible as only the first 200 applications can be accommodated.