What an incredible gathering for this year’s OH Clay Pigeon Shoot!

OHs and guests came together at the Purbeck Shooting School for a fantastic day of catching up and competitive shooting, full of friendly inter-house rivalry. Teams represented Baker, Chudleigh, Lillies, Middlemist, Stanton, and Venning, with a guest team from Millfield joining the action.

A huge thank you goes to Richard Clyst for his invaluable support and organisation, as well as for generously providing equipment and cartridges. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Jim Rowe for his vital role in organising, chairing the event, and overseeing the prizegiving.

Attendees included:

• Jim Rowe

• Tim Salter

• Andrew Hughes

• Niel Dowsett

• Nick Taylor

• Claus Andersen

• Mark Turner

• Frederick Andersen

• Mark Sienesi

• Richard Clyst

• James Eyre and his two children

Well done to everyone for making it such a fun and competitive shoot! Venning claimed victory, with Lillies taking second place.

Special congratulations to Andrew Hughes, who won the trophy for Best Shot in the competition – well done, Andrew!

What a day! Thank you again to everyone who made it so enjoyable. We’re already looking forward to our next OH shooting event at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre on Saturday, 4th October.

You can find out more here.

🎯 Our OH Clay Pigeon Shoot returns this Saturday, 26th July.

This fabulous event is being held at the Purbeck Shooting School.

Meet us at 10:00 AM for breakfast before we head out for a fun and friendly shoot.

📍 Location details: Purbeck Shooting School, Puddletown Rd, Wareham BH20 7NG

It’s always a great day out, and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible!
 

As we look ahead to the rest of the year, there are plenty of exciting opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make new ones at our upcoming OH events.

Next up on the calendar: OH Clay Pigeon Shooting

📅 Saturday 26th July

🕙 10:00 AM

📍 The Purbeck Shooting School, Dorset

Whether you're a seasoned shot or just fancy a fun morning out, we’d love to see you there! Take a look at what else we’ve got planned for the months ahead in this video. 

A Truly Historic Gathering at Rousdon

What an unforgettable and historic event it was as we welcomed the largest number of OHs ever back to the Rousdon Estate for the Lyme Regis leg of the OH Golf this summer!

A magical evening filled with laughter, memories, and connection, the spirit of the OH community was truly alive.

A big thank again to Stephen White (Shallow 1981–1985) and his wife Marlene for hosting such an incredible event — your generosity and warmth made this gathering one to remember. And a special thanks to our OHGS President, David Danskin, for his dedication and leadership.

This video offers just a glimpse of the extraordinary atmosphere that evening.

OH Golfing Society: A Triumphant South West Golf Week

This week (17th - 20th June), OHs from across the country—and indeed, the globe—gathered for the much-anticipated OH Golfing Society South West Golf Week. It was a celebration of friendship, competition, and cherished tradition, beginning at Yeovil Golf Club with a friendly yet spirited match against the Fleet Air Arm Officers’ Association, and concluding at East Devon Golf Club, where OHs faced off against The Stand Club.

But it was Wednesday's event at Lyme Regis Golf Club that truly captured the spirit of the week. This special day marked the OH Golf Championship and saw the largest gathering of OHs to stay on the Rousdon Estate since the closure of our school in 1998—a truly historic moment.

The group was based at Coast House, a truly spectacular residence on the estate, nestled just beyond the walled garden. With breathtaking views and a setting full of nostalgia, Coast House provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable midweek celebration of both golf and old friendships.

A heartfelt thank you goes to OH Stephen White (Shallow 1981– 1985) and his wife Marlene, whose extraordinary organisation and warm hospitality made the event at Rousdon a sheer joy, with a private cef and team for the two evenings everyone was their, an amazing selection of fine wines and, of course, the best company—bringing people together and reminding us all why this club means so much.

There was laughter and storytelling, echoing the same energy and joy that filled the air during the much-loved OH Cricket Week. In fact, in a delightful and spontaneous twist, an impromptu game of cricket broke out on the lawn, a truly lovely moment.

From competitive fairways to nostalgic evenings, the week was a vibrant testament to what makes the OHGS so special.

Once again, a sincere thank you to Stephen and Marlene. It is deeply appreciated by all who attended.

A huge thank you must also go to our OHGS President, David Danskin, whose organisation of all the OH golfing events is absolutely fantastic and very much appreciated by all the members and the club.

The OHGS is such a big part of our club, and we look forward to a full write-up of the week and our other OH golfing events in the next edition of the OH Magazine.

You can see all the images in higher resolution here.

There are events… and then there are events to remember.

Last weekend’s Old Honitonians West Country Lunch, held at the beautiful Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, certainly falls into the latter
category.

With nearly 60 Old Honitonians gathered for the occasion, the atmosphere was filled with warm reunions, shared stories, and plenty of laughter. As two OHs perfectly put it, “we thought it was the most enjoyable West Country lunch we’d been to.” Another attendee captured the spirit of the day by saying, “I caught up with two guys I hadn’t seen in over 50 years, and it was great!”

The lunch itself was delicious, with Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding a 'hit' as usual and a particularly popular pudding was the Sticky Ginger sponge. Compliments were shared across the room!

A huge thank you goes to Duncan and his exceptional team at the Victoria Hotel for their service and hospitality throughout.

Reflections and Remembrance

A true highlight of the afternoon was a rousing and heartfelt address from OH legend Nigel French, who spoke with his typical humour and conviction about the club and his time and antics whilst at Allhallows. His words also honoured the recent VE Day commemorations and paid moving tribute to the OHs who gave their lives for the freedoms
we hold so dearly today. It was a powerful reminder of the strength and values of our community.

Stories, Smiles & A Surprise Twist

The room echoed with the sound of shared anecdotes and easy laughter — a testament to the enduring bonds formed at school and beyond. It was also a moment to recognise those who make
events like this possible. Huge thanks to Nigel French for his inspiring speech, Victoria Berry, for
her organisation, without which the lunch would not have
happened and David Richardson, the Club’s Treasurer, for all of his help with both financial side of the lunch and of course, the Club as a whole!

And then came the twist…

What started as a lovely afternoon lunch carried on well into the night, with several OHs making the most of a stay in Sidmouth. The post-lunch gathering turned into an unofficial “after-show
party” that went on until midnight, just in time to celebrate Nik Milner’s birthday in true OH
style. A very Happy Birthday, Nik – we’re so glad we could raise a glass (or two!) with you.

Finally, there were a number who couldn’t make it on the day, due to illness and other commitments, may we take this opportunity to say we hope you feel better soon and we will see you at another event in the future; a full list of 2025 events here and save the date for the 2026 West Country Lunch- May 9th!

See this and all OH events HERE.

Remembering the Forres Five: A Lasting Tribute in Swanage

Allhallows School shared a long and close connection with Forres School in Swanage. Over many decades, a number of boys made the natural transition from Forres to Allhallows, and the two schools developed strong links through shared values, friendships, and family traditions. Among those who made that journey were some of the boys tragically involved in one of the darkest moments in Forres history.

In 1955, five Forres pupils lost their lives in a devastating incident on the beach at Swanage. What began as a carefree afternoon turned to tragedy when the boys unearthed what they believed to be buried treasure—only to discover it was, in fact, a Second World War land mine. Recent heavy rain and a small landslip had dislodged the mine from the cliffs above, setting the stage for disaster.

The explosion sent shockwaves through the Forres and Swanage communities and far beyond. Five families were left heartbroken, and a generation of school friends, teachers, and local residents were left reeling. The incident became one of national significance and was remembered for decades afterwards.

For many years, the boys were honoured quietly at the Forres School site with a commemorative plaque. But with the original school building no longer in use and its future uncertain, the need for a more permanent and public memorial became clear.

Old Forresian and President of the Old Honitonians Club, Seb Warner (Forres 1988–1993), (Venning 1993-1998) led a remarkable community campaign to create a new tribute. Through dedicated crowdfunding and careful planning, Seb delivered a stunning new memorial overlooking Swanage Bay, now placed alongside the town’s official war memorials.

The project was completed just days before the 70th anniversary of the tragedy. Its timing, location, and significance were deeply moving—not just for those connected to Forres, but for all who value the preservation of memory and the honouring of lives cut short.

Though Forres School is no longer open, its legacy lives on through the lives of its former pupils, many of whom went on to Allhallows and became part of the wider Old Honitonians family. The new memorial is a powerful reminder of the shared history between our schools and of the deep human stories behind them.

We extend our heartfelt thanks and admiration to Seb Warner and all those who supported the project. Swanage needed this.  A truly humbling and lasting tribute.

OH Club President Seb Warner said:

“It was incredibly moving to welcome over 50 Old Forresians, relatives, and friends to Swanage on the 10th of May for the memorial service and unveiling. To come together, almost 70 years on, and honour Robin Ardagh, Richard Birch, David North-Lewis, Jeremy Dennis, and Jason Oliver was truly special. The new memorial overlooking the bay is a lasting tribute to five boys whose lives were cut tragically short—and a reminder that they are never forgotten.”

Recognise anyone?

Over 30 people were at the Ship in Axmouth to celebrate the 90^th birthday of Allhallows legend Derek Blooman.

A rousing Happy Birthday To You was sung to the much-loved master as he arrived at the jolly lunch on the big day, March 24th.

There was a toast and amusing speeches, and among presents for the consummate educator were a signed sports shirt and a gigantic TV.

All those OHs didn't hold back in conversation. Here is the video to see them all nattering at full volume. Very nearly every OH there is in this video . . .

With thanks to OH George Hayter for the video.

We are thrilled to invite you to one of the standout events of the OH calendar — the West Country Lunch at the beautiful The Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth, on Saturday 17th May 2025 at 12:30 p.m.

Last year's lunch was a big hit, and we're excited to already have lots of OHs from the 1950s through the 1990s joining us again this year!

Tickets are £35 per person

To book your spot, email OH Victoria Berry: torberryconsultancy@gmail.com

You can see the menu here - https://app.box.com/s/wwl6qc1ubmmwrk21xmlhaqhabra62hz1 (please let Victoria know your menu choices when booking).

We look forward to another amazing afternoon of great food, good company, and fond memories!

On Monday 24th March, Derek Blooman's Birthday, family and friends gathered at the Ship Inn, Axmouth, to celebrate with Derek.

Nigel French writes:

Derek Bloomans 90th

When James Hilton wrote Goodbye Mr Chips in 1934, just before Derek was born, he could have been forgiven for not knowing that Derek would emulate Mr Chips, and more, in his long tenure and affiliation with Allhallows. It was always difficult to judge what Derek saw as his priorities: his Pupils, the School, Chudleigh House, the Faculty, The OH Club, History or Cricket. In truth, they all were, and his warmth, kindness and professionalism shone on them all equally.

When I started organising his 90^th Birthday party, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of OH’s who recited just how Derek had caused them to fall in love with History to the extent that they now have large libraries of Historical Books published on eras that Derek first exposed to them. One OH also revealed that he is writing his own book on an historical period, to which Derek opened his eyes!

The private dining room at The Ship Inn in Axmouth provided a perfect setting with excellent food and wines. The renditions of Happy Birthday and For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow had undertones of choral practices in the Chapel, in the dungeons of our old school.

Thanks are due to Tor Berry for organising and presenting to Derek a framed Cricket Shirt signed by a number of OH’s.

To David Woollatt for getting all the printed matter co-ordinated and the email addresses of many OH’s and his general help in organising the day.

To those who came, a huge thank you, to those who could not be there but donated towards our gift of a new state of the art 50” TV with Alexa to help Derek find his programmes within the subscriptions we gave him to Sky Sports, Netflix, Amazon Prime, The History Channel and Discovery plus……thank you for your generosity

But most of all thanks to Derek for being himself, doing all that he did for the school, its pupils, The OH club and so much more.

Nigel French. March 24^th 2025

Photographs by David Woollatt and Geroge Hayter.