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AOSA ANNUAL
REPORT 2001 - NEWS OF OLD SCHOLARS |
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[Page twelve]
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On return from his summer 2000 holidays, Dick Dennis received this e-mail from PAUL VODDEN (1961-64) twin brother of CHRISTOPHER (1961-65). Younger brother, WILLIAM also attended (1963-67). : 'I went to Australia in 1969 returning to the UK in 1974. I am now a fully paid up house husband doing a bit of beginner computer training on the side after spells as a zoo keeper, wildlife officer with the R.S.P.C.A., campaigner for Greenpeace, independent consultant (with little success, I might add) and co-founder of a charity called “Sea Watch” which was set up, and still functions, to find out more about cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in British waters with a view to their more effective conservation. One reason for contacting you is to inform you that I have just returned from four days on my brother-in-law’s farm in Glaisdale during which visit I met up with JEREMY STRANGWARD (1962-67) with whom I have kept in fairly close contact over the years, and HELEN SPINKS (BELL 1962-67), at her home in Castleton. I met Helen last year for the first time since school days and Jeremy met her on this occasion for the first time since then. It was a warm and happy meet.’ WENDY SMITH tells me that EDWARD FORTH (1961- 64) , a solicitor from Yarm, is the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats for Richmond , Yorks, (which includes Great Ayton) – William Hague’s Constituency. What an upset that would cause if he won! The e-mail system, via our website, is also responsible for the news from TONY RICE (1962-67) who lives in South Africa. : -‘My wife Anna and I and two children went on a two year contract in Swaziland, 20 years ago, and never quite made it back again. We live near the coastal town of Durban, South Africa, have had two more children here, and I work from home as an independent management consultant. I have just launched a website to try to sell my skills internationally. Anna does voluntary work for an organisation that sets up pre-primary schools in rural areas, finding funding, equipping the schools and finding teachers. Our youngest son has just left the primary school, where I was the Chairman of the Governing body for 7 years. An interesting time, during which we worked to transform the place into a non-racial school. South Africa is an exciting and vibrant place to live.’ AILSA BOND (PURDIE 1963-70) and her family were due to move from Buckinghamshire to Preston in Lancs during the summer holidays 2000 to join husband John who had been offered a permanent post at Alston Preston (doing what Ailsa? Ed.) Ailsa was appointed as a course leader for Key Stage 3 English at Edge Hill College of Higher Education, in Ormskirk. This meant changing jobs as well as location after only one year in her post as an Assistant Headteacher. As their youngest, David, would have completed his ‘A’ levels last summer, it was a good time to move. I am sure that Ailsa and family will miss the Chilterns, but they are not far from the Lake District and even nearer to the Forest of Bowland. In October, SUE (TURNER 1964-71) FOX sent me a photograph (which appears in this Annual Report) which was taken at the Silver Wedding Celebrations of LIZ (BANKS 1965-71) and Steve BOWNES in July 2000. SUE COOPER (HORNE 1965-71) daughter of the late Freda and DOUGLAS (1930-34) and Sue Fox were both bridesmaids at the couple’s wedding in the summer of 1975. Also pictured are NEIL FOX (1965-70), SARAH STONOR (BOULTON 1965-70) and RICHARD BANKS (1967-73) brother of Liz. From CLIFFORD WESCHENFELDER (1943-51), via District Secretary ROBIN GREY (1975-81) came a ‘round robin’ letter from regular correspondent COLIN BROOKING (1967-72), it was dated Christmas 1999, but arrived too late to be included in the Annual Report for 2000. Colin’s very busy life seems to revolve around many things, his nursing duties, his church commitments, the many voluntary duties he undertakes, his holiday trips and family visits. I would like to include a couple of excerpts from this letter. - ‘During June (1999) and one of mum’s visits to London, we included a day on the river where many of the new residences jostle with active old wharves and warehouses for water frontage. Tea at Portland Place and an evening concert completed the day and were a prelude, to Pugin’s Houses of Parliament, as requested, the next morning.’….. ‘Christmas in Hackney AIDS Initiative has been able to celebrate the 10th birthday of St. John’s church, Hoxton. The church of St. John is by a former pupil of Sir John Soane and deserves to be better known, especially after the recent R. A. Exhibition. The subject of ‘proposals’ while I was working with the Diocesan Architect Tom Hornsby, it is pleasing to see that the roof has been saved. The brilliance of the ceiling, which is now restored, was picked up by the cluster of red balloons forming an avenue for this occasion. Clare Le Vay, Martin Prendergast, David Vale, Desrinah Brown and others have seen the long awaited Membership Pack for supporters launched. I retire as Secretary after 4 years, but I have contributed as one of the trust’s new members.’…. JOYCE SPINKS (1932-42) was able to track down, for the interest of his contemporaries, the address in Florida of VICTOR JACOBS who came to Ayton from Jamaica in 1939 and found himself trapped in the UK owing to the outbreak of war; - please see 1930s for further details. 60s’ OS may remember his son, ALLAN who spent a year at the school from 1966-67. He played the trombone and, like his father, was a charismatic singer, performing the Beatles’ song ‘ Yesterday’ – arranged by DOUGLAS JONES (1961-68) – in a marquee on Open Day. Does anyone know where Allan is now? |
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