Versa: Issue Ten

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Contacts & Dates
OA ASSOCIATION
President
Mike Hodge
07774 161624
mike@mikehodge.co.uk
Secretary
David Buxton
01727 840499
07775 938368
davidbuxton36@gmail.com
Treasurer
David Hughes
07701 027881
hughespostuk@gmail.com
Membership Secretary
Roger Cook
01727 836877
rogercook@btinternet.com
Hon. Auditor
Peter Dew
01582 453773
peter.a.dew@btinternet.com
OA RUGBY
www.oarugby.com
President
Richard Milnes
07940 255355
richard.milnes@oarugby.com
Chairman
Rory Davis
07748 146521
rory.davis@oarugby.com
Hon. Treasurer
Rick Powdrell
07795 200125
rick.powdrell@oarugby.com
Hon. Secretary
Peter Lipscomb
07856 240229
peter.lipscomb@oarugby.com
Joint Mini Chairmen
James Hathaway
07793 609279
james.hathaway@oarugby.com
Scott Bachmann
07931 338080
scott.bachmann@oarugby.com
Junior Chairman
Ian Tomlins
07867 971585
ian.tomlins@oarugby.com
OA Saints Chairperson
Steph Plunkett
steph.plunkett@oarugby.com
OA FOOTBALL
President
Nick Jackson
oldalbaniansfc@gmail.com
OA CRICKET
Chairman
David Goodier
07796 551657
davidgoodier@hotmail.com
President
Richard Morgan
01727 843844
richard.morgan50@btinternet.com
Director of Cricket
Simon Bates
07720 383600
simon.bates@s2mprofits.co.uk
Treasurer
Richard Ransley
07878 499432
richransley@gmail.com
Secretary
Alison Finley
01727 853985
ajfinley@ntlworld.com
OA TENNIS
www.oatennis.com
Chairman
Geoff Lamb
07546 078970
Head Coach
Margie Edge
07946 225557
Hon. Secretary
Justin Azzopardo
07973 369350
justazzo@hotmail.com
OA RIFLE
www.oashooting.com
President
Owen Simmons
01438 840674
olsandpjs@aol.com
Captain
Andrew Wilkie
01202 424190
Andrew.wilkie@ymail.com
Treasurer
Andrew Moore
01984 641539
caroline985moore@btinternet.com
OA GOLF
Captain
Peter Dredge
01582 834572
pjdredge42@aol.com
Hon. Secretary
Mike Crowston
01242 672222
michaelcrowston02@gmail.com
OA LODGE
Assistant Secretary
John Williams
01438 715679
johntwilliams@talktalk.net
SCHOOL
www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Development Director
Kate Gray
01727 515177
kgray@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Manager
Chris Harbour
01727 515184
charbour@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Assistant
Sarah Osborne
01727 224540
slosborne@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Archivist
Sue Gregory
01727 515178
sgregory@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
UPCOMING
EVENTS
FOUNDERS’ DAY
Saturday 2nd July 2022
St Albans Abbey / St Albans School / The Woollam Playing Fields
Following two years of virtual services, we are thrilled to be holding
this year’s Founders’ Day in person on Saturday 2nd July. The day will
comprise of the traditional Abbey Service at 10.45am followed by a drinks
reception and Summer Social in the Conference Room at the School
Pavilion, Woollam Playing Fields. OAs are warmly invited to join us for the
celebrations. Please keep an eye on your emails for further event details.
CLASS OF 2021 LEAVERS’ BBQ
Thursday 18th August 2022
St Albans School, School Orchard
All recent leavers from the Class of 2021 are invited to join us on the School
Orchard (behind the Sports Centre) from 3pm for their Leavers’ BBQ.
This event was originally scheduled for December 2021 in the Peahen but
unfortunately it was another casualty of Covid. The event is free and a
perfect opportunity to catch up with teachers and OAs from your Class over
a drink and a burger!
OA NETBALL & AFTERNOON TEA
Saturday 10th September 2022
The Woollam Playing Fields
At 1:30pm on Saturday 10th September, we will be holding an OA netball
match and afternoon tea for all OA girls. The School’s 1st VII will be up
against the OAs, an alumni team largely made up of recent leavers from the
Class of 2022, but all OAs are welcome to participate. An afternoon tea (with
fizz!) will follow in the Conference Room in the School Pavilion. All female
OAs are welcome to attend either part of the day (whether you want to play
in the match or just spectate).
OA DINNER
Friday 23rd September 2022
St Albans School, Refectory
The provisional date for the annual OA Dinner is Friday 23rd September, so
please do save the date. Covid permitting, the informal dinner, open to all
OAs and former staff, will start with optional tours of the School, followed by a
drinks reception in the Library and a delicious dinner in the Refectory. Tickets
are £15.00 for two courses and a drink on arrival. A cash bar will be open on
the night for further purchases. Official invite to follow.
Tickets for all OA events are available to book online via oaconnect.co.uk or
by telephone, post or email using the contact details below.
Development Office:
Tel: 01727 515187
Email: development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Post: St Albans School, Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts, AL1 5SA
OA PRESIDENT’S NOTES
When I was working (mostly self-employed as a
Customs Consultant), I had a large white board
on my office wall ostensibly to show the flow of
goods being imported, processed and (maybe) exported as
that helped me focus on the issues I had to resolve relating
to my work. This white board was also used as a place to
write a variety of wise sayings to spur me on to greater
productivity. Sayings like “If you want to see more of life,
paddle more slowly” and “1800 hours is G&T time unless
previously provoked”. The one saying that still resonates with
me today is “All it takes for bad men to thrive is for good
men to do nothing”. This, to my mind reflects the appalling
situation in Ukraine. As I write these notes, there seems to
be no solution and I fervently hope that when the next issue
of Versa is published, Europe is “enjoying” a bit of peace. I
am not optimistic. I never thought that, in my time as OA
President, I would use the word “war” in my notes.
Meanwhile, the threat of Covid seems to have reduced
somewhat but there are, currently, still plenty of cases.
Events at the School have started to be held in person and
I attended the School Carol Service (behind a mask) last
December. The Choir performed some really lovely carols
which, with their musical complexities, are a long way
removed from the works I performed in the School choir
all those years ago. I also attended the School play DNA by
Dennis Kelly (image, right) with a particularly dark script
– brilliantly acted. A reflection on the nature of bullies. The
School band were exceptional.
At the end of January, Chris Jewell QGM (OA 2000) came
to the School to deliver a fascinating lecture on cave diving
and the rescue of the 12 boys and their football coach from
a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018. A unique opportunity
to hear about the unprecedented situation that led to the
high-risk recovery. In February, the School’s Development
team held regional events in Bristol, Exeter, Oxford and
London and in March, I attended the School’s CCF Annual
General Inspection at Woollams. The Inspecting Officer was
Lt Col Kenny Everitt who has now retired after 27 years at the
School. He has earnt time off for good behaviour and very
clean shoes! You can read about all these events in the OA
News section (page 6) and on oaconnect.co.uk – which I hope
you are all using!
And now to the OAA. Woollams is now back to normal
with Saracens training in the week and a full OARFC rugby
programme on evenings and weekends. Preparations have
begun for the switch to cricket in early May and plans put
in place for the annual maintenance programme with much
help from the School’s ground staff. We are also seeing a
Mike Hodge (OA 1965), OA President
SCHOOL PLAY, DNA
return to functions as people venture out and become more
confident with socialising once again.
In my position as a Trustee of OASA, I am aware that our
relationship with Saracens is nearing its end, with them
planning to move their training facility away from Woollams
in the not-too-distant future. As such, those who run
Woollams are busy reviewing what the facility will look like
when Saracens leave, ensuring that it continues to be a vibrant
self-funding community sports hub.
Over the years of my OA presidency and before, I have spent
a great deal of time in the delightful company of David
Pepper (Former Governor) whose obituary is on page 17.
The full version of this can be read online and I would urge
all of you to read it. David and I used to go to Twickenham
together – I would drive and he would talk – about Woollams
and the history of, and investment in, the site. Put simply,
without David’s huge input into this project – he found out
that Cheapside Farm was for sale – the School and the Old
Albanians would not be enjoying the wonderful facilities we
currently have. With the OAs’ investment in the site, following
the sale of Beech Bottom, the grounds are the envy of many.
And, of course, we still have the 948 Sports Foundation which
continues to give financial grants to many young people to
improve their participation in sport. Thank you, David and all
your family for all you have done for us and the School.
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Chris
Harbour in the Development team as he leaves the School to
take on new challenges. I have really enjoyed my work with
Chris and much of what is in place for OAs is due to his vision
and enthusiasm. The OAs wish you, Chris, all the very best for
your future.
To all readers, enjoy the summer months and let’s all pray for
peace.