A.O.S.A. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT - NEWS OF OLD SCHOLARS

Thanks to Chris Vodden, William Pine, Jim Slater, Dorothy Newby, Charles Danson, Nick Lamb, Mike Adam, Wendy Smith; Dick Dennis for all the forwarded e-mail news, the District Secretaries and all OS who sent in news via any method for the Annual Report 2007. I am very grateful, deadline for the 2008 Annual Report, – Christmas 2007, please - Gill Jackson. Reporters: news from District 13 – Chris Vodden; all other news - Gill Jackson Phone: 0151 334 7563. e-mail: gill-jackson@beeb.net

In March last year, WILLIAM PINE (81-86) , our wonderful Treasurer, sent me the following news from JOHN DOUGLASS (1923-28) who at nearly 95 must be one of our oldest Old Scholars…. “ISOBEL (DIZ) DEXTER (1960-65) , who is a relation of mine, ( John's father THEODORE (1897-99) and Diz's grandfather THOMAS MICHAEL (1907-09) were brothers G.J.) keeps me up to date with matters related to the AOSA. I still keep in touch with JEAN LEAKE (ALLINSON 1923-29) and also MARGARET EDEN (1927-31), who like me, lives in Darlington . We always end up talking about Ayton and remember with horror, 80 years ago, having to wash in cold water using carbolic soap! My best wishes to the Association, keep up the good work.”

Via her daughter Gill Nichols, SUZIE HERON (BURDON 1927-30) sent William Pine a donation to our appeal . Gill remembers attending Old Scholars' Reunions many years ago with her mother and says that the friendliness of everyone has stayed in her mind. Suzie enjoys very good health, though unfortunately she is blind. Her beloved husband of 68 years died in 2005 at the age of 97.

For DOROTHY NEWBY (DANBY 1934-39) it has been a year of somewhat mixed fortunes… “My daughter and son-in-law returned to Germany last weekend, ( early March 06 GJ) and only a few hours later my youngest daughter and her daughter arrived for four days to look at York and Leeds Universities……I was in South Brent, near Totness in Devon for ten days over the Easter period for my youngest daughter's 50 th birthday. She had a party in the village hall - country dancing - did the catering herself, and instead of presents asked for donations for the Infant Cot Death Foundation. She raised more than £400. My daughter, who lives in Spain , also attended as did two of my granddaughters and their families. I have two more great grandchildren due shortly.”… Later on and after experiencing health problems since her knee op the previous year, which her medics had been unable to explain, Dorothy found herself back in hospital having emergency abdominal surgery. After this, and a suitable recovery period, she said, she felt much better and was told she looked about ten years younger. In the autumn Dorothy had further surgery to resolve carpel tunnel problems in one wrist and needs, so she says, further surgery to sort out the other wrist and possibly another knee op, enough to floor a lesser being. But Dorothy is made of stern stuff and despite all her problems retains her remarkable zest for life and sense of humour and still spends regular periods of time using the email facilities at Hartrigg Oaks…In July Dorothy met GEOFF EASTON (1943-48) …..“Yesterday, I was at my next door neighbour's Memorial Service and Geoffrey Easton was also present. I knew Geoffrey when he was about nine years of age so we had a lot to talk about. He had cycled from his home in York . He and his wife use public transport and his car has not been used for three years! Geoffrey lives about three miles from me. I knew him and his sister, DOROTHY DAWSON (EASTON 1947-53) when they were children. I was at college in Sunderland and, while there, attended Meeting where all the Easton family and their three unmarried aunts were members. After I married I lived in Sunderland and so saw them regularly.”… “Did you know that my husband was the brother of two of my Ayton friends, twins, MARJORIE and OLIVE NEWBY (1937-40) ? Olive later married another Old Scholar, BOB TROTTER (1941-43) , brother of LOUIS (1947-52) who was in your year. There are three Quaker meetings in York plus one which is held here in our music room each Tuesday. Geoffrey goes to Friargate meeting in York . I only go to the Tuesday Hartrigg Oaks Meeting. RUTH HARWOOD (1924-30) used to also attend but hasn't been for a long time. I see her occasionally, but I am not sure she knows who I am…..There are several Aytonians here: Ruth Harwood, THEODORE BACON (1937-43) , VIVIEN FLYNN (1954-61) who lives a couples of doors from me, but spends are fair amount of time in Luxemburg, PHILLIP WRAGGE (1931-35) and me. Hartrigg Oaks has about 30% who are Quakers although we seem to be getting more newcomers from the Society. When I applied for a bungalow no one asked me what my religion was but being a Joseph Rowntree housing complex word spreads about it through "The Friend" and the various Meetings. I was brought up as a Methodist and am not a member of the Society of Friends but I married a Quaker and have always attended Meeting. ….. We are very lucky here, this afternoon we had a brass band concert in the rose garden. It has been a very hot day, and so we were served icecreams - some couples were dancing to the music, very nice it was. There are some very active people here. We have 53 Societies, all organised by residents, of which the following are but a few; table tennis, yoga, carpet bowls, t'ai chi, line dancing, literature, music, French and German conversation, book reading, theology, music and movement and play reading.”

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