New Club Constitution

Following the integration of the Edward Alleyn Clubhouse with the School, the Executive of the Edward Alleyn Club has revised the Club's constitution to reflect the change in the role of the Club and its officers.

The proposed constitution was debated at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at the Clubhouse on Friday 11 November.

Please follow this link to see the revised constitution.

Follow this link to see the minutes from the Annual General Meeting.

At our recent AGM, there was an informal discussion about including a report from our Archives team in the formal AGM business each year. This suggestion was received very warmly by those present and from 2012 onwards it will be included in the agenda. Certainly, with the work recently done by Peter Rodway, and now by Neil French and Robert Holden, the joint EAC and School Archives are in fantastic shape and will benefit from an ever increasing focus. We will also include a brief update on the Archives in our new Management Board meetings across the year.'

Michael's funeral took place on Friday 2 December at St Stephen's Church, College Road, Sydenham, and was followed by a burial at Beckenham Cemetery. There was a wake at Trinity Arms,Trinity Gardens, Brixton. 

It is with sadness that the Club reports the death of John Cleary (Brading's, 1945-51). John was a long-serving friend to the Edward Alleyn Club and was a long-serving assistant to the late Arthur Chandler, the School's honorary archivist. He was also the Edward Alleyn Lodge representative to the Club. John took part in this year's 1940s' oral history project.

During the October 2011 half term break the School hosted the inaugural Word Up! Festival. Taking place over a three day period, the Festival (sponsored by the Daily Telegraph and organised by the Ways With Words team responsible for the annual Dartington Hall Festival) brought more than 4,500 youngsters, parents and grandchildren into our gates to celebrate their love of books, authors and artists.  The Festival featured over 40 separate events, including parades at the beginning and end of proceedings for primary school children from 6 local Southwark primary schools. Many high profile authors and artists, including Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Judith Kerr and Philip Ardagh, came and gave fascinating talks about their latest books and their lives. Artists such as performance poets Charlie Dark (AOB) and John Hegley and children's comedian James Campbell gave outstanding performances delighting audiences young and old.  On the opening day we were very pleased to have the BBC's Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton and her dog Barney come in to try their hand (and paw) at stand-up comedy. In addition to these goodies we had book and craft stores, food and drink stalls, community stage performances  and workshops with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Kinetica Bloco, all of which required constant attention and vigilance of the School's Events Management Team, ably  assisted by the Southwark Police Cadets.

Many of our Junior School pupils attended the event and several of them acted as journalists interviewing our famous visitors before they spoke to the crowds.  Tom Reeve (Year 4L) asked author Andy Stanton the following killer question:

Q. I like Killer Boring Facts such as; I own my own pen.  Do you know any Killer Boring Facts?

A. Ah that's a good question .. how about this for a Killer Boring Fact:  Yesterday I saw a man with arms.  Or how about this: Carpets are nice.  Or this one: I've got no more Boring Facts.

..while his sister Grace (Year 6N) asked Dame Jacqueline Wilson the following insightful question:

Q. You always wear lots of jewellery.  Does it symbolise anything?

A. When I was young I never had any jewellery because my mother never let me have anything like that.  So when I first started to earn a bit of money I would buy myself a flashy ring or bangle.  I don't wear as many as I used to because I find them too heavy, but my jewellery helps children to recognise me when I'm out and about.

The Festival was an outstanding success and the School received much local and national publicity and, as you can see from the Daily Telegraph's closing blog www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/word-up-festival. This is an event which has been received very warmly and looks likely to be one which is repeated annually.

BBC2 documentary: The Spitfire flying past

Second World War pilot Rodney Scrase DFC FTS MCIM (Tyson's, 1937-39) appeared on a BBC2 documentary about the Spitfire aeroplane on Thursday 22 September at 9pm. Mr Scrase, who was decorated for his bravery during the War, saw action in Tunisia, Gibraltar, Malta, Sicily and Italy.

The BBC2 documentary is a celebration of the Spitfire's 75th anniversary. It is ‘a TV love letter to this most British triumph of design and endeavour. The film follows the story of a Spitfire from birth to retirement and tells the stories of ordinary people with extraordinary tales.' In it, Mr Scrase is interviewed about his Second World War experiences.

During the war he won the Distinguished Flying Cross and the citation read:

‘Flight Officer Scrase joined the squadron in January 1943 and took part in the North African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. His aggressiveness, outstanding leadership and keenness to engage the enemy has resulted in many successful combats for the squadron. He has himself destroyed four enemy aircraft, probably destroyed one and damaged two others. F/O Scrase took part in the Salerno invasion and his enthusiasm and devotion to duty were an example to the whole squadron. I strongly recommended this award. Dated 12 Feb, 1944. Signed by S/Ldr JM Carpenter CO 72 Sqn.'

Mr Scrase took part in last year's oral history project into Alleyn's in the 1930s.

September 15 - Ladies Indulgence Pamper Evening  

Come to the newly refurbished Edward Alleyn Club for temptingly priced taster treatments including manicure, pedicure, massage and also retail therapy. Tickets £5.00 in advance(click here for ticket form) or £6.00 on the door

Iwan Davies

The Edward Alleyn Club regrets to announce the death of former Maths teacher and Brading's Housemaster, Iwan Davies. Mr Davies died at home on 13 August. He taught at Alleyn's from 1979 until 1991 and during that time, as his valete in Scriblerus states, ‘he has been involved in almost everything!'. He was a form tutor to all age groups and Mr Davies, ‘almost single handedly revived the tradition of "doing" Gilbert and Sullivan' he ran the Lower School Choir... He ran the Under-14 cricket team from 1971 to 1981 and was often seen delivering his slow left arm spin in the staff team...'.

Mr Davies's wife, Jill, died last year.

July 2011

Founders' Day

Thank you to all our Pimm's Tent volunteers and all our wonderful customers!

Against the backdrop of a thousand happy voices, young and old, which came together to celebrate Founder's Day and the downwash of the Chinook's rotor blades, the Pimm's Tent did a roaring trade on a hot, sunny afternoon. With many AOBs and AOGs retreating to the relative cool of the large marquee, the Club's volunteers, Gap Year students and the staff of the Development & Alumni Office had to work very hard to slake the thirsts of their enthusiastic customers. A record £1,700 profit was realised for the Benevolent Fund and our profound thanks go to John Battle and Paul Barber for all their hard work and military planning

Alleyn's School reunion at Rossall

The sunshine blessed the Fylde coastline for a nostalgic return to Rossall: the school where Alleyn's was evacuated during the Second World War. Some 27 AOBs who had their Alleyn's war-time education at Rossall spent a weekend at Rossall to revisit their school-boy haunts and memories.

Former Alleyn's School Chaplain (1981-88), Rev'd Martin Oram, led a thanksgiving service in Rossall's chapel, a place remembered by all our guests. Rossall's headmaster, Dr Stephen Winkley, then took our group on a tour of the Rossall site showing them familiar places as well as the school's new developments.

After a drinks reception in the Sumner Library where everyone pored over Rossalleyn's memorabilia, the party adjourned to a fine three-course dinner in the Common Room. Speeches were made by headmasters of both Rossall and Alleyn's where it was agreed that the war-time co-existence of the two schools was one of the more successful school evacuations of the time.

Nicholas Digby Ratcliffe (Brown's, 1959-67)

The Edward Alleyn Club regrets to announce the death of Nicholas Ratcliffe who died at King's College Hospital on 16 July 2011.

Mr Ratcliffe lived mostly in Hong Kong where he built up a successful consultant engineering business, and was over here in UK on a visit.

The funeral will took place at 2pm on Friday 26 August 2011, in West Norwood Crematorium, Norwood High Street, London SE27 9JU.

Giraffe is looking for help in researching and verifying data for a new internet project.

Giraffe is new and vibrant company operating in Herne Hill which develops opportunities in the world of domain names. It is, says AOB Paul Barber (Spurgeon's, 1972-79), 'a small, keen and friendly team!' The work in the business would be for 5-6 weeks initially. Ideally, it would suit a gap year student, a recent returner from university or a recent school leaver looking for interim-employment.

Please e-mail paul@giraffe.co.uk or call Paul on 07770 643204 for more details.

Summer reunion at Alleyn's School: Saturday 18 June

Over 100 alumni and their guests came to this reunion. If you would like to see photos from this event, please follow this link to see the relevant year groups (year of 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991).

We have had many happy comments and compliments to the School and our Year 12 and 13 guides.  One of our 1971 leavers, Nigel Dingley (Tulley's 1964-71) sums up the understandable nerves before the day as well as the pleasure at re-entering the gates at Townley Road: 

'Just a quick line to say thank you for organising today's reunion.  I have to say that I was a little uncertain about attending but found it thoroughly enjoyable and on top of that the weather didn't disrupt us!

It was marvellous to meet up with former classmates and although I was able to grab a couple of email addresses on searching through the members' area most people don't seem to quote their email addresses.  Perhaps you could let me know what the procedure is for contacting these people?

Speak soon and once more thanks for a great day.'

The Development and Alumni Office is always happy to pass on messages to fellow staff and pupils and we also have a 'lost and wondering' page where you can try to locate those not currently on our records.

Edward Alleyn Club President knighted

Air Marshal Christopher Harper (Cribb's, 1968-75), President of the Edward Alleyn Club, has received a knighthood in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Sir Christopher, who joined the RAF in 1976, is currently the UK's military representative to NATO and the European Union, having served for two years as deputy commander Allied Joint Force Command, in the Netherlands.

Headmaster, Dr Gary Savage, says: ‘On behalf of the entire Alleyn's community, I am delighted to send our heartfelt congratulations to Sir Christopher. This award is richly deserved in recognition of his outstanding career and his long-standing service to the country.'

We shall looking forward to toasting Sir Christopher in person when he attends the School's Regimental Dinner as the CCF's guest of honour on 24 June.

Andrew Robertson writes: 'Do we have any Alleyn's Alumni in Beijing or Shanghai who might be able to guide us round their factory or speak to us? I am hoping to take a group of about 20 Economics and Business Studies students from Y12 and 13 out there in April 2012.'

Please get in touch with us at alumni@alleyns.org.uk if you can, thank you.

I am the Wind

Tom Brooke (Brading's, 1990-97) appeared at the Young Vic/Théâtre de la Ville-Paris co-production commissioned by Wiener Festwochen (Vienna), les Nuits de Fourvière/Département du Rhône, Festival Grec 2011 - Barcelona and Festival d'Avignon.

I am the Wind, by Jon Fosse (English language version by Simon Stephens), is directed by France's leading film, opera and theatre director, Patrice Chéreau (La Reine Margot). I am the Wind ran from 3-24 May at the Young Vic, SE1.

For more information, please follow this link 

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our request for information updates.  Thank you also for your patience with us over this busy time. 

David Taylor (Tulley's 1956-63) was our first online respondent, and from his message it look as if he enjoyed the process as well as the magazine.  David writes :

'Thank you Martha. I've updated my profile online having received the update form in the post.

I had the privilege of being taught by Dora Wiggs, who's mentioned in the current issue of the magazine.

She was possibly the best teacher of my school career. Her enthusiasm and energy for French conveyed itself to most of us - me, certainly, and I retain my schoolboy French learned with her to this day. From the 2nd year when I was first taught by her, lessons were conducted almost wholly in French. She seemed to have boundless energy and humour. I recall she seemed not to be allowed into the Masters' Common Room but had an "office" just inside the front door of the school. I bet things have changed a bit since then!

I wasn't in the least surprised to learn a few years back that she had links with the Resistance during the war. There was something charismatic about her that was indefinable. She didn't brook any nonsense whatsoever, but there was a twinkle in her eye and a ready smile too.

I wish I could add more on her history but I guess a lot of it necessarily wasn't archived at the time. But I'd love to discover or learn of anything and hope the Club will share anything they find out.'

If only Dora Wiggs could have been sent an update form too .....

Ian Goodwin (Brading's, 1973-80)
Running the London Marathon 2011

AOB, Ian Goodwin ran in the London Marathon 2011, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.  
Ian writes 'as you know I was running in Sunday's London Marathon. I really enjoyed the day. The crowds were brilliant and seeing some of the other runners like the double amputee on crutches made me appreciate that however hard it was for me, it was going to be a much bigger achievement for him.I finished in 4hrs 30, and would thoroughly recommend the experience. Last night was definitely never again, but even this morning I'm thinking maybe...............I know I could do 4 15!Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given. I've so far raised over £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.'

The 2011 cricket season got underway on the afternoon of Friday 29 April with a special benefit match at the Edward Alleyn Club to mark the retirement of Keith Rodwell, who has served the Club well beyond the call of duty for longer than any cricketing member can recall. To mark his occasion, John Battle, the Edward Alleyn Club Chairman, led Keith Rodwell's XI against a Cricket Club XI captained by the Cricket Club Chairman, Kato Harris.

1940s Memories Day

The Development and Alumni Office held the second reunion in our oral history series on Tuesday 1 March.
We welcomed back 23 Alleyn Old Boys (AOBs) who were at the School in the 1940s, some of whom hadn't crossed the school gates in over 60 years. For further details click here. 

Laurence Olivier Awards

After the Dance, Rattigan's drama about bright young things in the inter-war years, was named best revival while Nancy Carroll (Brading's 1985-92) won best actress for her performance as a glamorous Mayfair hostess

AOB Michal Cwizewicz plays for Polish Ambassador at Charity Concert

Outstanding virtuosos violinist Michal Cwizewicz (Brading's 1995-2002) and pianist John Paul Ekins delighted a large crowd of benefactors at the Polish Embassy on 18th February 2011 by performing at a charity concert for The Medical Aid for Poland Fund to support fundraising for the Caritas Educational-Rehabilitation centre for disabled children in Sandomierz, Poland which was severely hit by floods last year. Michal's parents are both Polish and he and the whole family has great sympathy for their compatriots' suffering in last year's floods.

Playing before an entranced audience which included the Polish Ambassador, the luminaries of the Polish Medical Association and (less augustly) David Young, Development Director at Alleyn's, Michal and John Paul performed works by Mozart, Wieniawski, Elgar and Szymanowski with great passion, maturity and skill. David and his family came along to support the charity, with which they have a personal connection, and were delighted to find an AOB of such talent and distinction was "the turn" for the evening.

Winner of many awards and competitions, including the Royal College of Music Concerto Competition in 2010, Michal has performed as a concerto soloist in the UK, Spain, France, Czech Republic and Poland in eminent venues such as La Madeleine in Paris, London's St. John's Smith Square and the Cadogan Hall.

Michal's website is http://www.michalcwizewicz.com/

Bishop Christopher Chessun

Downing Street has announced that Bishop Christopher Chessun, a member of Alleyn's Board of Governors, is to succeed Bishop Tom Butler as the next Bishop of Southwark.  He will be enthroned as the new Bishop in Southwark Cathedral early in 2011.

The entire school community is delighted for Bishop Christopher and we offer him warm congratulations and best wishes.

Dr John McAnuff
Tulley's 1936 -1943, School Captain 1942-43

The Club regrets to announce the death of Dr John Williamson McAnuff on Friday 10 December aged 85, at the Florence Nightingale Hospice, Stoke Mandeville.
Loving husband of Margaret, father of Mary and grandfather of Will, Helen, Frances & Becky. Funeral at Holy Trinity Church, Seer Green, Bucks, Tuesday 21 December, 2.00pm. Family flowers. Enquiries to Arnolds 01494 685000
In his last email to us he wrote that he was 'confident that the dear old School will go on from strength to strength.  Floreat Alleyna!'

House of Games at the Almeida

Former Club President Nancy Carroll (Brading's, 1985-92) appeared in David Mamet's psychological thriller House of Games at the Almeida. Nancy has recently finished appearing in the National's After the Dance and this is Nancy's third visit to the Almeida (Waste, King Lear).

In House of Games Nancy plays a top psychiatrist who specialises in dealing with compulsion disorders and addiction. Her character tries to help a patient with his gambling debts, and is drawn into the world of a charismatic hustler. 

Brother Wolf Presents
Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol As told by Jacob Marley (DECEASED)
Brother Wolf's production of A Christmas Carol as told by Jacob Marley (deceased) is adapted and performed by five-times award-winning James Hyland, who, as James Donovan (Tyson's 1985-92), remembers fondly his time at Alleyn's under the tutelage of Eileen Chivers and Geoff Tonkin.

James returned to Alleyn's to perform his one-man show on the stage of the Michael Croft Theatre before an audience who were amazed by James's virtuosity and skill at conveying a host of characters from Dickens' Christmas Carol. 

Edward Alleyn Club Annual Dinner

A bumper turn-out of 160 guests came to the Club's Annual Dinner on Saturday 20 November. The dinner marked the end of Neil French's (Cribb's, 1954-61, pictured left) presidency and welcomed in the new President, Air Marshal Christopher N Harper CBE MA FCMI RAF (Cribb's).

Our guest speaker this year was Professor the Lord Kakkar BSc MBBS (Hons) PhD FRCS, former School Captain (Roper's, 1977-82) and now the School's chairman of governors. During the dinner, guests were serenaded by pupils who sang from this term's production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.

To see more photographs of the occasion - click here.

Parky Pot Quiz
The hugely popular Parky Pot Quiz was held down at the Clubhouse (between 83 & 85 Burbage Road SE24).
'Gather a team of four and face questions on general knowledge. Prizes and trophy for winners.
Friday 26 November, Club and bar open from 7.30pm
Entry: £5 per team'

Clubhouse Open Day and Barbecue
The Edward Alleyn Club opened its doors to its newest members on Saturday 11 September before they embarked on their university courses and Gap year itineraries. This summer's Year 13 leavers were the Club's guests of honour at the Clubhouse's Open Day and Barbecue. All the different sections of the Club were represented and guests played rounders and had the opportunity to meet Section leaders and also the new Headmaster. The fun and frivolity continued well into the evening over the bar, pool table and darts board....click here for photographs and details of other reunions.

Tom Godwin & Tom Goodman-Hill swap Enron for Earthquakes in London
A duo from Alleyn's are reunited again in a new Mike Bartlett play at the National Theatre. Tom Godwin (Roper's, 1987-94) and parent Tom Goodman-Hill are appearing in Earthquakes in London, ‘an epic rollercoaster of a play'. The two Toms appeared together earlier this year in Enron.
‘A rush of invention, humour and raw emotion. Blessed with terrific visual coups, stirring rock music and a hurtling narrative pace.' Daily Telegraph 
 The play ran until 22 September at the Cottesloe Theatre.

REUNION FOR CLASS OF 2000
Alleyn's held a ten-year reunion on Saturday 25 September 8pm at the Clubhouse.
Once again the Clubhouse witnessed a reunion of old school friendships, this time for the class of 1993-2000.
Former pupils plucked up the courage to meet up with their old sparring partners and fellow class conspirators. They need not have worried: by the time your correspondent left, the Clubhouse was full of happy, smiling, forgiving faces and the buzz of non-stop chatter. 
Click here for photographs and details of other reunions.

FOUNDER'S DAY
The Pimm's Tent on Founder's Day basked in glorious sunshine and was heaving with thirsty alumni, current parents and friends of Alleyn's. The guest of honour was Sir Gus O'Donnell, former parent, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service.

All our visitors wore a cornflower in remembrance of our Founder, Edward Alleyn - cornflowers are thought to have been his favourite flower. Visitors wandered around the School site looking at the buildings and Founder's Day stalls and attractions. Hundreds of people gathered around the cricket ground to watch the thrilling parachute drop by the ‘Black Knights' of the Royal Artillery Parachute Display Team.

It was a perfect family day out with lots of opportunities for visiting the various scenes of past school-days' antics.

Alasdair Aston

It is with regret that the Club reports the death of Alasdair Aston who taught English at School in the 60s and became head of department after Edward Upward. He was buried on Thursday 5 August. 

You can read his obituary in the October 2010 issue of the Edward Alleyn Club magazine - to download the magazine go to the Publications area of our website.

Former PE teacher now Liverpool manager 
Roy Hodgson, whose first job was teaching PE at Alleyn's School in 1972-73, has been appointed as Liverpool's manager. His managerial career started in 1976 and the football teams he has managed include the Swiss national team, Blackburn Rovers, Copenhagen and Finland. He was recently voted manager of the year by the League Managers' Association (LMA).

With England manager, Fabio Capello, fighting to keep the England job after a disastrous World Cup, Hodgson had also been touted as a leading contender to replace the Italian. Of managing football, Roy said 'Of course it's nice for people to believe some managers are born with a magical quality that will transform bad into good, but I don't,' he says. 'It's about leadership skills, practice, repetition and bloody hard work.'

The refreshed Edward Alleyn Club Website
Those of you who have registered on the previous version of our alumni website will be sent a new user name and password shortly. We will be doing this in stages so that we can support our members using the site and keep track of any issues.  Access to the members' log-in will give you a secure method of searching for and contacting fellow members as well as the facility to upload photographs and contribute to our online forum.
We very much hope to welcome you back to the site very soon and look forward to hearing your thoughts as well as reading your news. We would like to encourage you to update your personal records where necessary so that we can continue to provide a service tailored to your requirements and interests.
New users will be able to register with the site by clicking on the "click here to register" link on the log-in page. We will then send you a user name and password which will give you access to the 'members only' section of this site.  At the moment, this part of the site is under construction.

JONATHAN LOWE
It is with regret that the Club reports the death of Jonathan Lowe, Saddlers' Scholar and Cribb's House Captain (1971-78). His funeral was held on Friday, 2 July at the West Chapel of Cambridge Crematorium. The family requested donations to be made in Jonathan's memory to the Motor Neurone Disease Society.

The Golf Society held a dinner at Dulwich & Sydenham Golf course to mark its 200th meeting on 18 June. There were eighty members who gathered to dinner and Dr and Mrs Diggory were guests of honour.

Mr Neil French, the President of the Edward Alleyn Club presented Colin with a Golf Society Captains' blazer to mark his retirement on behalf of the Club, and Mrs Diggory with an AOG silk scarf.

Dr Diggory was clearly delighted with his new blazer with its dashing scarlet lining and is looking forward to wearing it on Founder's Day. At the dinner he described how surprised he was at being invited to be the Golf Society's President, following in the illustrious footsteps of golf legend AOB Sir Henry Cotton, saying to the Golf Society ‘but I don't play golf!'. ‘Don't worry,' came back the quick reply, ‘neither do we!'

Dr Diggory further expressed his thanks to us for the friendship shown towards him and his wife in the past, and his pleasure that his links with the Alleyn's community will continue in the future through his association with the Edward Alleyn Club.

© 2010, Alleyn's School

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