Old Honitonians Annual AGM – Event Recording

Last Thursday evening, the Old Honitonians held the Annual General Meeting at the Royal Society in London. We were delighted to welcome members for an informative and reflective gathering, with updates shared from across the Club’s activities.

A full recording of the event is now available for members to watch.

During the AGM, we heard from:

• Seb Warner, Club President

• David Richardson, Honorary Treasurer

• David Danskin, OH Golf Society President

• Victoria Berry, Social Secretary

• David Woollatt, Honorary Secretary

Each provided updates on their respective areas, highlighting the ongoing work and continued momentum of the Club.

We were also privileged to hear from Jeremy Harding, who offered heartfelt words about his uncle, Ralph Harding, the Father of the Club, whose recent passing was marked with great respect and appreciation for his remarkable legacy.

Please note: the video recording experiences a brief visual drop-out towards the end of the session, but the audio remains fully intact.

We extend our thanks to all who attended.

Last night (20/11/25), Old Honitonians gathered at the prestigious Royal Society in London for one of the most anticipated events in our calendar—the Annual London Cocktail Party and AGM. From start to finish, the evening was filled with energy, good conversation, and a wonderful sense of community.

We opened with the AGM, where members received updates on all areas of club life, including finances, the West Country Lunch, the OH Golf Society, the Magazine, website developments, social media communications, and the evolving club structure. It was a productive and positive session that set the tone for the rest of the evening.

After the AGM, we were honoured to hear from Jeremy Harding, who delivered a heartfelt tribute to his uncle, Ralph Harding, the Father of the Club. Ralph, who passed away recently at the age of 99, played a central role in shaping the spirit and history of our community. Jeremy’s words painted a vivid picture of Ralph’s journey—from his days at the school in Honiton and the move to Rousdon, to his family’s farming heritage and his wartime service in the Home Guard. It was a beautifully delivered reflection on a truly remarkable life, and we look forward to sharing Jeremy’s full tribute soon.

We were then treated to a captivating talk by Richard Anderson (Middlemist 1966–71), Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire, who joined us to speak about his newly released book, A History of Rousdon Mansion and Allhallows School. Richard’s talk was filled with stories, memories, and fascinating details about a place many of us know so well. His book, enriched with unique anecdotes and photographs, is a treasure for anyone connected to Allhallows. It was a pleasure to welcome Richard and his wife, Angie, to the event.

For those wishing to explore the history further, copies are available at: https://richardanderson.uk/work

With the formalities complete, the evening flowed effortlessly into our legendary London Cocktail Party. The room soon filled with laughter, storytelling, and joyful reunions, reminding us once again why this event holds such a special place in the OH calendar. It was a night of warm connections and shared memories, enjoyed by all who attended.

We were delighted to be joined by:

Angie Anderson

Richard Anderson

Myfanwy Adams

Stephen Bath

Lucille Bath

Victoria Berry

Trevor Blevins

John Campbell Clause

Gerald Classey

Jon Crosse

David Danskin

Stephen Dixon

Tessa Everleigh

Nigel Fawcett

Patrick Groves

Charles Harding

Jeremy Harding

Richard Heard

George Hayter

Clare Hopkins

Dudley Hopkins

Andrew Hamilton

Tim Huxtable

Jamie Jemmeson

Richard Le Fleming

Nick Lerwill

Robert Morton

Tom Morgan

Andrew Poë

David Richardson

Michael Shaw

Chris Shallow

Tom Simpson

Peter Sloan

Seb Warner

Roddy Wakeford

Steve White

David Woollatt

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so memorable. Special appreciation goes to Jeremy Harding for his moving tribute, Stephen Bath for his introduction to our guest speaker, Richard Anderson for his excellent talk, and to the Royal Society for once again providing a superb venue.

We look forward to sharing even more in the next edition of the OH Magazine and to seeing many of you again at future gatherings.

Death of much-loved OH who wrote of Rousdon at war

by George Hayter

•Update•

In Memory of Ralph Harding, “Father of the OH Club”

After our very sad recent announcement about OH Ralph Harding, fondly known as the Father of the OH Club, who passed away last month at the remarkable age of 99.

The Club has been informed that Ralph’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, 12th November at 12 noon, at St John’s Church, Long Street, Devizes.

Old Honitonians who wish to attend are warmly invited. To help Ralph’s daughters, Sarah and Katie, with catering arrangements, please let us know if you plan to come by emailing honsecretary@oldhonitonians.online

We will pass the numbers on to the family.

Thank you.

Ralph Harding (Baker 36-43) passed away peacefully at home on the night of 15 October 2025. He was 99 and had been so looking forward to his 100th birthday. A regular at the Sidmouth lunch and other events, Ralph had for many years been the oldest known OH — the honoured father of the club.

Invariably accompanied by his nephew Jeremy Harding (Chudleigh 64-69), Ralph’s enthusiasm, humour and friendly demeanour long delighted old boys and girls at gatherings.

He had been in Swindon Hospital with advanced and untreatable lung cancer. Determined to get home, he made that final journey to Devizes with the support of his two daughters, arriving just one day before he died.

Ralph Durbin Harding entered Allhallows in the summer term of 1936, aged just nine, initially joining the school’s junior section.

His parents were from Honiton but had moved 80 miles to Devizes to farm. “I grew anxious about leaving home for the first time,” he recalled (in an article on page 18 of the 2016 OH Magazine).

“I was also concerned about being worthy of upholding the Harding family name.” At Allhallows before him there had been seven Hardings, and two cousins. “I loved being at school in Honiton because all my relatives were living in the town.”

He excelled at rugby and boxing, earning his boxing colours in each of his final three years. He was a house prefect for two terms before leaving the school in 1943 at age 16.

Ralph remembered headmaster George Shallow coming into class in 1937 and announcing out of the blue that the school was going to uproot and leave Honiton.

Boys were used as labour in the exciting relocation to Rousdon, which was completed the following year. “Working parties were sent over to Rousdon to help remove debris from what were to become sports pitches, and to clear up around the buildings. The stables beneath the bell tower were being converted into classrooms.” Ralph was awed by the size of the clifftop estate, and its isolation compared to the school’s town centre position at Honiton.

His education was disrupted again a year later, when war was declared. “Three masters were called up, along with some boys over 18.” Because of his farming background, young Ralph was put in charge of 200 hens and was expected to double the school’s wartime egg ration.

And there were nocturnal observation shifts in the mansion’s tower, to warn of German bombers heading for Plymouth. “I found I was able to tell Dorniers and Heinkels apart, not by their outlines against the night sky, but by the different sounds of their engines.”

Ralph remained deeply connected to Allhallows and its legacy throughout his life and was devastated by the school’s closure in 1998. “I do not understand the reason why this had to happen to such a great school,” wrote Ralph, whose life was a testament to loyalty.

At a recent West Country Lunch, we recorded an interview where Ralph's Nephew, Jeremy Harding, asked Ralph about his time at Allhallows. You can see the interview HERE.

...

More than 30 OHs gathered in Sidmouth for lunch at the Victoria Hotel on 20 September, with some of their number having dinner at the Harbour Hotel the night before.



'The event was organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of leaving Allhallows for the last time. That we could get something approaching half our year group together in one place is a testament to organiser John Wong’s efforts and persuasive powers, helped considerably by the attendance of five from Charton House: Jo (nee Grimwood), Rosie (Payne), Alison (Bailey), Jane (Booth) and Fiona (Darbishire).


At the lunch, we were entertained by a number of speeches: John Wong welcomed us all; Gavin Howard (Sh 70-75) told us about his career with the Royal Irish Rangers; Steve Dixon (V 70-75) gave us a hair raising account of his recently completed motorbike trip from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego; Steve de Wild reminisced amusingly and Andy Green gave us one of his famous poems (in the style of William McGonagall).


We were also honoured by the presence of Keith Moore, Allhallows’ last Headmaster.


The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants, and it’s hoped that we can meet again in two years' time.'

What a fantastic day it was for the Old Honitonians Golfing Society, who gathered on Thursday, 2nd October, for a wonderful afternoon of golf at the stunning Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club, nestled in the heart of the New Forest. 

Our group of enthusiastic OH golfers were welcomed with bacon rolls and refreshments before teeing off at 2:00 PM for an enjoyable 18-hole round. The autumn weather couldn’t have been better — calm, clear, and perfect for a great day on the course.

The event was made all the more special as players had the chance to experience the home course of OH Bryn Shorey, who was instrumental in helping showcase the very best that Brokenhurst Manor has to offer.

There was some fantastic play throughout the afternoon, with plenty of friendly competition and camaraderie on display — true OH spirit in full swing. 

A heartfelt thank you to all who joined us for a brilliant day of golf, laughter, and shared memories, including:

Richard Heard, Paul Selway-Swift, Roddy Wakeford, Jeremy Page, Bryn Shorey, Roger Hopkins, and David Danskin — with special thanks to Charles Pipkin, who joined as a non-playing supporter.

Do keep an eye on our OH Events page for more fantastic OH Golfing Society meet-ups.

We’re delighted to share news of a new publication by Old Honitonian Richard Anderson (Middlemist, 1966–71), whose second book promises to strike a nostalgic and entertaining chord with anyone connected to Allhallows School and Rousdon.

“A History of Rousdon Mansion and Allhallows School - It’s Published!”

Richard recently got in touch to announce the release of his latest book, which he describes as “of interest to OHs generally”. The book is a personal and engaging look at Allhallows, enriched with anecdotes, memories, and reflections from former pupils.

“There is a chapter I love, which is a number of OHs have sent me short stories about an episode when they were at Rousdon,” Richard writes. “I have had to do a bit of editing to make it publishable!”

From humorous escapades to touching recollections, the stories create a vivid picture of life at Rousdon through the decades. Whether you were there in the ‘50s, ‘70s, or ‘90s, there will be something familiar, and perhaps even your own tale in print.

This book has been a labour of love, compiled over six months, with three weeks of intensive writing while on a cruise!

“I was able to spend three solid weeks on a cruise getting it all together,” Richard says. “I’ve also had to learn about websites and get help producing what you are about to see, so please bear with me!”

He’s even created a dedicated website where you can flick through pages, see if it sparks your interest, and place an order.

If you’re attending the upcoming West Country Lunch, Richard will be there, with copies in hand! 

Alongside the OH memories, the book includes a mix of personal insights and reflections, drawing from Richard’s wide range of interests and experiences. And if that’s not enough, book number three is already on the way — titled From Eva to Edwina — covering a variety of topics from Richard’s public talks, including:

• Eva Braun & Edwina Mountbatten

• Wallis Simpson & Christine Keeler

• Kensal Green Cemetery (where Richard is a catacombs guide!)

• His time in Northern Ireland

• A journey to Ukraine

• And even… “Hitler: A Gentleman?”

As Richard notes, “About 70% of the new OH book is general interest, and the stories you’ve written to me fill a whole chapter. There’s plenty to enjoy — and perhaps a little to be blackmailed with!”

How to Purchase a Copy

If you’d like to purchase a copy, it’s straightforward:

1. Visit www.richardanderson.uk

2. Click Contact to access the order form

3. Review the book online

4. Submit the form — and once payment is received, a copy will be sent to you

International shipping is available — Richard will let you know the postage cost if you're overseas.

Help Spread the Word!

If you know any other OHs — from any year — who would enjoy the book, please pass this on. Richard has written this with the entire OH community in mind, and it’s a wonderful way to reconnect with memories of Rousdon and the spirit of Allhallows.

Thank you, Richard, for capturing these fabulous stories and sharing them with us. We also look forward to interviewing you about the book and your stories in the future. We will see you at the West Country Lunch and wish you every success with the book (and book number three!).

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.