All the Men’s Presidents
(past and present)

LtoR: Cyril Trust, Brian Daniels, Bryan Bone, Michael Horner, Brian Williams, John Crotty & Dennis Philips

__________________________

After many years holding their annual dinner/lunch at Farnham Castle the Old Farnhamians have decided to move the 2013 venue to the Ramada Hotel on the Hogs Back. This long standing event, for former pupils of the now defunct Farnham Grammar School, has also altered the reunion to a lunchtime meal instead of an evening meal. Therefore Saturday 11th May brought many changes, but the result was one of the most successful reunions for many years. The number of Old Boys sitting down to an excellent lunch totalled just short of one hundred, which was one of the highest number for a few years. Roger Edgell, the Association secretary and the organiser of this event, deserves much praise for bringing together so many Old Boys.

The first class meal was followed by a number of speeches, with Maurice Jeffreys being the first on his feet to speak about his days at the school, and to propose a toast to it. His nostalgic and humorous speech resulted in a standing ovation. He was followed by Julian Walden who spoke about the Association and proposed a toast to this organisation that started in 1925. Both speakers praised the old grammar school and the way that it had shaped their lives, and valued the opportunity to remain in contact with former classmates.

Bryan Bone, the current President, and in his final year in this role, replied and endorsed the words of both the speakers and hoped that the Association would remain active for many years to come, although gradual shrinkage was inevitable. He particularly praised Roger Edgell for arranging such a splendid event.

Cyril Trust, chairman of the 400 Farnhamian Trust, spoke about 2013 anniversaries. He pointed out that in 1853 the grammar school welcomed a new headmaster in Charles Stroud. At that time the school was almost finished, being short of cash and low on numbers (less than ten pupils). Stroud managed to overcome the school entering administration in the 1861 and then began to build the school, we all knew, until its closure in 1973. When he retired in 1897 there were over 190 pupils and plans for the Morley Road School had begun. Each place setting at the lunch had a copy of the 1906 opening ceremony and menu for the opening of the school that is now Farnham College.

Cyril then continued by pointing out that this year is the fortieth anniversary of the closure of the Boys and Girls Grammar Schools in Farnham. He said that a commemorative reception was being planned for the autumn and hoped that many Old Boys and Old Girls would attend. The annual Farnham Lecture celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and he was delighted that The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt, local MP and Minister of State for Health, had agreed to give the lecture at South Farnham School on 1st November. It was the 10th year of the Sponsorship Awards Scheme, with the Old Boys and their families giving to the top students at the college financial rewards totalling over £20,000 to date.

The Roll Call followed and then the traditional singing of the School Song and the National Anthem. As usual, these ageing singers raised the roof with their enthusiasm and departed to various parts of the country, indeed the world, having enjoyed meeting old pals. This new venue had proved highly successful and the Old Farnhamians are still very much a part of the town of Farnham.

Cyril Trust

Photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them. Press key F11 for full screen, repeat to return

Photos taken by Jamie Bush

Attending

G.E.Allman: G.Andrews: H.Batchelor: J.Bateman: C.Beal: R.Bennett: P.Blowfield: D.J.Blunt: B.E.Bone: D.Bowtell: R.Bowtell: M.Burchett: M.Burgess: M.Byfield: F.Carter: J.Clarke: M.Collier: J.Cooke: P.Cranswick: J.Crotty: D.Cutler: B.Daniels: J.Davis: D.Edgell: R.Edgell: A.Gathercole: G.Glazier: H.Groves: R.H.Hewes: J.Hirst: T.Homewood: G.Hooker: P.Huntingford: Rev.J.Innes: M.Jeffreys: R.Jones: R.Kite: D.Lampard: G.LeVey: M.Little: R.Lord: R.Luckhurst: J.Matthews: E.Mayne: M.Mehta: D.McManamon: R.Parker: J.Pesterfield: D.Phillips: R.Phillips: B.Philpott: D.Polglaze: D.Pollard: S.Pritchard: P.Read: M.Rochefort: D.Roe: L.Scard: M.Seignot: M.D.Seignot: J.Sherwood: C.Slyfield: A.Spink: M.Sturt: J.Terrill: N.Timmins: J.Travers: C.D.Trust: K.Elkins: B.Elson: C.Fairclough: C.Fitch: R.Frampton: A.Gatfield: A.Moore: K.Mortimer: C.Mullins: P.Mylles: C.Nash: J.Neave: J.Peace: H.Upfold: J.Walden: W.Walsh: R.Welland-Jones: B.Williams: M.Wingent: N.Wood: M.Horner: S.Lord. A.Gatfield.

Return to Homepage