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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0 EDITORIAL It is very interesting to note that individual Year Groups that have started a Reunion once usually after 50 years or 60 years since the first year at Stationers' Company's School, have been holding further Reunions regularly. This has been a very successful way of introducing new members to the Association and also swollen the numbers for the Luncheons and particularly for the Christmas Lunch. In the Year 2014, the '44 Year had a Reunion and have held this for many a year. In addition, the 1951 starters met again, with 1952 having three get togethers, albeit in small groups, as well as the 1954 starters having a reunion as they have done since 2004 which means they have held the event for over 10 years continually. Also it is good to record that the 1953 starters held their first gathering in 2014. Now there is an intention for 1955 starters to hold their first one in 2015, marking sixty years since they commenced at Stationers'. That is five consecutive years all holding reunions. We are also aware that there is at least one other in 2015, which is a very successful method of recruitment. Bear in mind the last pupil to join SCS was in 1981 which makes the youngest Old Stationer the age of 45 years! Therefore all recruitment is most likely to be in the age bracket of 50 to 75 years of age!! So the forecast year of 2056 for the existence of the OSA is still possible for the few left to continue to meet in the second half of this century. This is because of the dedication and support, as well as the foresight of some very active members in the various sections of activities of the Clubs, particularly the OSFC and the OSCC together with the OSA and its forerunner SOBA, that encouraged and fostered membership of the Association itself, particularly on retirement of Footballers and Cricketers from their Saturday Games. One of the main characters together with others on Committee at the time was Past President PETER BULLEN who was instrumental in change at that critical time of introducing the OLD STATIONERS' ASSOCIATION and the Clubs, particularly the Football Club and the Cricket Club being more autonomous from that time. Sadly we record the death of PETER in this magazine but on the other hand give thanks for his major contribution with others to a strategic change in our organisation all those years ago! From observation and comment, within and particularly outside the Old Stationers' Association, is a unique organisation. Listen to all those who look in from outside our Association and can do nothing but admire our strength and fortitude in running an Annual Cricket Match and a Football Club, more than 30 years after the School was closed. Also an Old Stationers Association of 500 membership today which is the envy of many similar organisations and has the potential to serve most Old Stationers for their lifetime and thus the life of the Old Stationers' Association. Yes, it is truly unique in today's world. Do not forget that uniqueness and may it serve and last while Old Stationers live on this planet. VERBUM DOMINI IN AETERNUM MANET. Geraint DATES for the DIARY AGM & ANNUAL DINNER Friday March 27th 2015 Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane LONDON EC4 7DD AGM 6.00pm. Annual Dinner 7.00pm. LUNCHEON MEETINGS Tuesday, 12th May 2015 Imperial Hotel, Russell Square Wednesday, 9th September 2015 Imperial Hotel, Russell Square Wednesday, 2nd December 2015 Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane PRESIDENT'S DAY Sunday, 30th August 2015 43rd Annual Cricket Match Botany Bay, East Lodge Lane, Enfield, EN2 8AS Lunch 12.30pm; Match 2.00pm. 4
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS I concluded my Presidential address in last July's Old Stationer with the comment that 'there is now the possibility of a new Stationers' School rising like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes'. Well, on 8th October 2014, 26 Old Stationers attended the official opening of the Stationers' Crown Woods Academy. We were impressed by both the pupils and the amazing facilities that the school is able to provide. A truly worthy successor to the school we grew to love and value so much. The Old Stationers concluded the opening ceremonies with an impromptu rendition of the school song. There was some concern as to how this would be received but both pupils and those invited to attend the opening ceremony were very appreciative of our efforts. Your Committee is giving careful consideration as to how the OSA can best provide support to the new school. This is not a time for knee jerk reactions but measured consideration of the possibilities. Elsewhere in this edition are two pieces about the new school. One raises the possibility of the need to change our constitution in order to admit 'old' pupils from the new school. Your Committee does not have such a proposal at the present time and, if at any time there is one, there would be extensive consultation before this is given formal consideration. It is considered far more likely that the OSA would choose to use its experience and expertise to assist the school in setting up its own Old Pupils Association. It is important to reflect that the present first formers [year 7 in current terminology] will conclude their secondary education under the 'Stationers banner' in several years time. They will have different aims and aspirations for an Old Pupils Association than those of us who went to a school that will have been closed then for nearly 40 years. The Committee will shortly be having discussions with key members of the Company who have been actively involved in establishing relationships with the school. We hope these discussions will clarify how we will best be able to support the school. We will want to raise the possibility of the school adopting our house names and our donating the old school cups that have been gathering dust for many years. The new school will require financial support and I hope that we can help here. With this in mind you should by now have received a brochure giving you more detail about the school and inviting you to make a contribution to the Company's support fund. It is now only two months to the end of my presidential year, so as always time flies. I never expected to be President but it has been both enjoyable and a huge privilege. I am so grateful for all the support so many of you have given me and the opportunity to attend several pleasant and interesting events. This included my first invitation which was to attend the Football Club Annual Dinner; this club continues to be at the heart of the Association even if, these days, there are few Old Stationers fit enough to play. This was a very enjoyable evening with a wonderful after dinner speaker. The Apostles Club also was kind enough to invite me to their lunch in October and we met in the wonderful surroundings of the library in the Chesterfield Hotel and enjoyed much discussion. Then, again in October, I was invited to join the Master and Wardens for lunch at the Hall. We were able to reflect on the opening of the new school and the Master and Wardens were very interested to hear about the support the OSA could provide for it. It was good to see so many of you on President's Day. We were blessed with good weather and it was an enjoyable cricket match. It's called President's Day but it should really be called the Gordon Rose Day! He works very hard to ensure that we have a great lunch and a good day's cricket. Thank you Gordon for all you do for the OSA. My thanks also go to Geoff Blackmore for organising the President's Team-something well beyond my capabilities! The luncheons held at the Imperial Hotel are other occasions when Old Stationers can renew friendships and generally catch up. The Master of the Company, lan Locks, was our guest at the September Luncheon when he spoke about the Company's involvement with the new school. Michael Murphy, the Principal of the school, also attended and spoke very interestingly about the school's history. The Christmas Luncheon at the Hall was particularly well attended with over 100 present. We are all very grateful to Alan Green for organising these lunches so superbly over many years. Quite understandably he has decided it is time to hang up his 'Knife and Fork' but we hope he will continue to join us at these meals. Mike Pinfield has agreed to take over from Alan; so the lunches will continue. If you have not done so please come and join us. You will be very well received. Any Old Stationer is welcome even if he is not a member of the OSA. Sadly it has been my privilege to represent the OSA at the funerals of Old Stationers. In July I attended Peter Bullen's funeral. I did not know Peter but I have been told that he was instrumental in creating the Old Stationers Association as we know it today. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude. This magazine includes a full obituary. I also attended Brian Simpson's funeral which was particularly poignant 5
Page 1 and 2: No 80 /February 2015 The Old Statio
Page 3: T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o
Page 7 and 8: T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o
Page 17 and 18: 70th Anniversary of Operation Marke
Page 35 and 36: WHY WE SPEND NEARLY HALF THE YEAR I
Page 39 and 40: My first excursion to Norway was pr
Page 45 and 46: PETER BULLEN 1927-2014 A Service of

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