More information coming soon!

• Sunday 1st July 2012
• Memorial service
• AGM
• Cricket match (2:00pm start at Maxton)

[Original Cricket artwork by bechnokid]

Welcome to the 2011 Newsletter. While many of you will still receive this by traditional “snail mail”, our distribution is now limited to those who have supplied us with their updated mailing addresses. Therefore, if you know of any ODs who have not received this letter and would like to, please forward a copy to them and ask that they contact us through the school or email so that we may keep in contact with them in future. Contact details can be found at the end of this newsletter.

Download this newsletter as a PDF

Through the kind offices of John Barber (School 1973-78), we continue to use the facilities of the RAF Club in Piccadilly for our annual drinks party, where this year, many of us had the opportunity to meet Gerry Holden and his wife Liese, in advance of their arrival at Dover College in August this year. Stephen Jones turned his hand to auctioneer, where the original framed water colour of the Gatehouse, painted by Dick Dot Bates (Priory 1950-55) was sold to raise funds (over £300) for the Old Dovorian Trust. Mounted prints can be purchased via the website for £35 + p7&p, with all funds going to the Old Dovorian Trust. As with previous years, the event was well attended by both Old Dovorians and current students and staff of the College. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible again this year.

The Old Dovorians were proud to assist the opening of the Tallis Music school in the building which many of you will remember as the head master’s house. Julian Lloyd Webber was invited to officially open the school at the end of January this year, and this ensured much interest from the town and Press. Julian was very impressed with the musical facilities being offered to our students, and enjoyed the various renditions put on by the students and school.

We have continued to improve our website through the year. The website is clearly helping us reach out to all our ODs dispersed around the globe. Penelope Else, our webmaster, continues to be pleased and impressed to read the vivid recollections of ODs going back to the war and days at Poltimore. This has definitely helped many of our senior ODs to link up with friends, some of whom they had not heard of for over 50 years! Both our website and the school website have assisted ODs in their quest for information. We have also embraced Facebook and twitter: our stance being that we want to encourage and facilitate communication and therefore socialising between ODs. From my personal experience, I have found that ODs in general have never had a problem with the socialising aspect. Finally, we have a small number of ODs who have volunteered their services to go through the archives in order to dig out some of the more interesting pictures end events so that these can be published on the website for all to see and comment upon.

Leading up to the summer term, the Old Dovorians were very pleased to purchase a new lawn mower for use at Maxton in readiness for that all important match of the season, ODs vs Dover College 1st XI. This year proved to be an exciting match with Matt Jay (Leamington 2005-10) scoring an unbeaten century, helping to set a total of 208. The well mown outfield clearly helping the score, as did his selection of fielders to offer catches to. To their credit the school reached 185 but lost too many wickets resulting in a win for the ODs. Our thanks must be recorded to our President, John Widgery (St Martins 1952-57), for not only organising the match but umpiring it as well. The gauntlet has been laid down for next year!

Before the cricket match we had the OD Chapel service and AGM, which were both very well supported. This gave many of us the opportunity to give Stephen Jones a fitting send off to thank him for both his efforts and dedication to Dover College. Now Stephen has yet another Old School tie to add to his “box of frogs” collection. Furthermore, the Old Dovorians presented Stephen with a water colour print of a collage of the College which was painted by Dick Dot Bates. You can see copies of this collage, including a picture of Priory House for those that can remember, on our website www.olddovorians.com. Mounted prints can be purchased for £35 + p&p with all proceeds going to the Old Dovorian Trust.

Some 50+ ODs attended the AGM, which resulted in my election to Chairman. Much interest was expressed in the website, resulting in the unanimous decision to take our website away from the incumbent website company and service in house which we continue to do. I am therefore under no illusion as to the interest ODs have in both the running of the club and the events it organises.

We have heard on many occasions, that only one sporting event a year between the school and ODs is not enough. Indeed, in previous years there were many more OD sporting events. We are therefore organising an OD sporting weekend in March next year, which if successful can be repeated and enhanced in future years. This is one our many agenda items discussed at committee meetings in the ward room on board HQS Wellington. We are looking for willing, energetic, athletic, sporting ODs to take on both the girls and boys. More information on this sporting weekend will be posted on our website and Facebook.

Many of you will remember Farthingloe for wind, rain and rugby! This year, the Old Dovorians were proud to sponsor again the annual junior cross country event, hosted by Dover College and open to junior schools across Kent. I had not visited Farthingloe for some 20 years so was pleasantly surprised to see the development of the upper ground carved into the hillside. Competitors up to the age of 11 take part, both girls and boys and this year, there were nearly 400 competitors. On this occasion home advantage did not favour our runners. If Gerry were to speak with any of my previous masters, he would have thought twice before giving me the microphone to address 400 children plus parents in giving out the prizes. However, the Mayor of Dover, Mrs Ronnie Philpott was in attendance to give out he awards and ensure my good behaviour!

Both the new Head Master, Gerry Holden, and I made the journey to Cranleigh in October this year to see some 23 ODs gathered, initially at the Rectory, and then moving on to the Punch Bowl for a fine supper of steak and ale pie. Thank you Nigel Nicholson (St Martins 1960-64) for your kind hospitality, and efforts in organising such an enjoyable OD event.

It was at Cranleigh, where I met our new OD Golfing Society captain Richard Owen (School 1961-66). Tony Robin (St Martins 1961-66) has done an excellent job over the past years organising our fixtures and teams and is to be commended for it. A separate OD Golfing Society report is accompanies this letter.

In previous years we have had sections on births, marriages and deaths. Since much of this information is updated on the website, I shall not list details here and encourage you to continue feeding news to our webmaster. However, no newsletter would be complete without reference to John Turnpenny (Crescent 1937-41). John passed away only recently on 27 October 2011 aged 88. His funeral took place in St Mary’s Church Dover on 11/11/11, where I counted over 30 OD’s in attendance. Graham Turner (School 1946-49) read the eulogy, where we learnt of the time and effort John had given both to the School and the town of Dover. John had supported with absolute regularity so many OD and school events and he will be sadly missed.

And finally we should thank our retiring chairman John Sinclair (School 1962-67) and all committee members for their efforts and success in taking the club forward these last few years.
On behalf of our new committee and officers, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the London drinks party or another OD event.

Richard Robinson
Leamington 1980-85

Old Dovorians vs College, followed by Drinks at the Flotilla Pub. Don’t miss it!

The AGM was held at Knole Park G.C., Sevenoaks on 14th October 2011. Those present thanked the outgoing Captain Tony Robin for his sterling work over the past 4 years on behalf of the membership. A new era was ushered in with the election of Richard Owen as Captain – Charlie Scott as his Vice Captain and Michael Walter as our treasurer.

We returned to Littlestone G.C. for our Spring meeting this year. Rare, idyllic conditions led to some good golf scores with Charlie Scott retaining the Turner plate with 39 points.

At our Summer meeting at Tandridge G.C., after a morning of torrential rain, the skies cleared for a dry round in the afternoon. David Walter won the Crescent Salver with an excellent 36 points.

Patrick King won the Turpenny Jug at Redlibbets G.C. with 39 points on a warm September day with a gentle breeze – ideal golfing weather.

Once again we were treated to a beautiful autumnal day at Knole Park G.C. However, there was a testing wind that was reflected in the scores. Andy Hitchcock’s 30 points was sufficient to win (after a count back with outgoing Captain Tony Robin).

Charlie Scott was awarded the Bruce- Johnston Salver for the best aggregate over the year.

For the fourth year it was encouraging to see our five trophies in four different pairs of hands.

Finally, after a most enjoyable season, the icing on the cake was to retain the trophy at our annual Triangular match against King’s Canterbury and St. Lawrence.

We meet with the Old Lawrentians for a full diary of fixtures in 2012 as follows:

Schedule for 2012

• Friday 18th May Triangular Match at Royal Ashdown Forest G.C.
• Thursday 31st May Get together at West Hill G.C.
• Thursday 12th July Summer meeting at Tandridge G.C.
• Friday 31st August Late Summer Meeting at Redlibbets G.C.
• Friday 28th September Autumn Meeting & AGM at Knole Park G.C.

Littlestone Golf Day – Friday 13^th April 2012

 The new season started well with agreeable temperatures, light winds and sunny weather. Seven OD Golfers teamed up with the Old Laurentians and partook in an excellent morning stableford.

The overall winner was Stephen Alleyne, playing off 10, who scored a wonderful 40 points stableford. This also meant that Stephen was the winner of the Turner Plate. This was a terrific start to his future with the OD Golf Society.

We were also delighted to welcome John Widgery at our lunch and EGM.

The EGM concerned the subject of the generous legacy of £5.000 left by John Turpenny to the care of the ODGS. Members will have been sent a copy by email.

The Laurentians went out to play a further round in the afternoon but no ODs took up the offer.

Winner of the Turner Plate was   Stephen Alleyne                   40 points

                                   Second                        Richard Owen                       39 points

                                   Third                            David Walter                         30 points

Equal                      Fourth                          Tony Robin                             29 points

                                                                             Graham Turner                  29 points

 Our next event is the Triangular Match at Royal Ashdown on Friday 18^th May 2012.  Tony Robin has kindly stepped in as Match Captain for this event.

We always welcome new members. If you would like to join us please contact Richard Owen on 01276 475950 or golf@olddovorians.com

Richard Owen – Captain

How splendid is this Dover Sports cap?
(Click it to see it in microscopic glory!) It was awarded to Alan Victor King while he was in the 1st XV Rugby team, and his daughter sent us this photo in order to find out more about it. Alan was in School House from 1929 to 1933 and was also a House and School Prefect.

Do you have any photos of Dover College memorabilia? Please send them to us!

Alan Victor King - 1916-1994

Funeral Information

John Turnpenny’s funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church, Cannon Street, in the precinct off Market Square, Dover. Arrangements are as follows:

• Place: St Mary’s Church, Dover
• Date: Friday 11 November 2011
• Time: 12 o’clock
• Dress: John wanted no black ties and a cheerful service.
• Refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall afterwards.

An obituary will appear in the Times and the Telegraph tomorrow and also in the East Kent Mercury and the Dover Express.The Mercury will also contain an article about John.

The Funeral Directors are Farrier and Son, Dover

Family Flowers only; donations to RNLI Dover.

[Please login to the Members site to see personal tributes to John Turnpenny]

Some press notices in Dover newspapers (large PDFs):
This is Kent
Kent Online
Dover Mercury

Dear Old Dovorians,

Having completed my first full month in office, I thought that it would be useful to write a brief letter of introduction. First and foremost, Liese and I would like to thank-you once again for your excellent hospitality in London at the RAF club last January: it was our first official Dover College occasion and a thoroughly enjoyable evening it was and a wonderful entrée to the subsequent warm reception which we have received from the whole “Dover College family”. I have already articulated both in Monday Assemblies, which incidentally are now back in the refectory, and in our newsletters that I am delighted to be Headmaster of Dover College and I hope that I will serve the whole college community with commitment and style.

Every alumni association has a different modus operandi and I look forward to working closely with the OD Committee and all ODs to continue to enhance college-OD relations. Indeed, I have already held two meetings with your chairman, who visited the college earlier this week to give away prizes at our Junior School Cross Country competition which was attended by over 500 local children from primary schools.

Whether you loved your time at Dover College or you couldn’t wait to leave, this is of course still your school and rest assured that you will be made very welcome to visit us when your “flight path” takes you over East Kent.
There are already initial plans “on the table” for a sporting weekend in March 2012 which Benn Smith, our Director of Sport, Rupert Hill, Richard Robinson and myself have been discussing. We have also been discussing other possible developments.

In these challenging economic times for small independent schools, it is good to know that my staff and I can rely on the enthusiastic support of a lively and long-established network of committed old boys and girls.

I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you back to your alma mater.

With warm best wishes,

GH

You are cordially invited

As a member of the Old Dovorian Club, you are invited together with your spouse, partner, friends or guests to the Old Dovorian Club Party. This is going to be the liveliest one yet, so book now on-line – we are expecting a big turnout and numbers are limited!

Date: Friday 20th January 2012 at 7.00pm – 9.30pm
Venue: The Ballroom at the Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, London
Dress code: Smart. Men must wear jacket and tie
Tickets: Ticket are £35.00 per person (which includes sparkling wine, orange juice (etc) and deliciousfinger food)

House and year (from-to)

Nee (if applicable)

The Cranleigh Group is meeting on Friday 28th October 2011 at the Punchbowl Inn on Oakwood.

For further information, please login to the Members Area.

Dear Friend of Poltimore House

This is to let you know that Poltimore House and grounds will be open for Heritage Weekend – Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of September from 11am to 4pm. Admission is FREE.

This may be your last chance to take a look inside the House as major building works are due to start soon on the roofs which will put the inside of the House out of bounds for at least a year. If, in the mean time, more finances become available then this might be longer.

There will be many things going on around the site including, on the Saturday only, flights in a tethered balloon. You can also experience the award winning “Organ of Corti” – see their web site for more details – http://www.liminal.org.uk/portfolio/organ-of-corti/

There will be the usual displays but additionally will be a chance to discover the archaeology of Poltimore with the celebration of the first of the University of Exeter’s Community Landscape Project.

There is an opportunity to show your skills with a camera by entering the Poltimore Landscape Photographic competition.

And there will be food – especial the famous cakes (at very reasonable prices) washed down with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

Thank you for your continued support.

Rikky Apps

For The Friends of Poltimore House
Registered Charity No: 1111977