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Dear OHs,

I am writing to inform you about a significant decision that was made during the Annual General Meeting held on November 16th at the RAC Club. The decision was to transition to an opt-in model for receiving a printed edition of the OH Magazine. This decision was made after careful consideration and in response to various factors.

The primary objective behind this decision was to maintain the high quality of the magazine. The club wanted to ensure that the printed version of the newsletter was delivered only to those who genuinely preferred a hard copy. By adopting an opt-in system, the focus shifted from widespread distribution to targeted delivery, which would enhance the overall satisfaction of those who truly valued a physical edition. Additionally, there were environmental and financial factors behind producing and sending out fewer copies. The funds saved through this streamlined approach could then be redirected into vital areas such as organising events, enriching member experiences, and furthering the club's core objectives.

To secure your printed copy of the 2023 and future editions, please fill in the form here.

All OHs we have email addresses for will continue to receive the OH Magazine in digital format, and it will be available here on the website. This is just opting in to have a printed copy delivered to your address.

All the very best,

David Woollatt

Honorary Secretary

Dear OHs, please find below the minutes of the AGM that was conducted on 16/11/23 at the RAC Club, London. There is also a link at the bottom to download the minutes and accounts as a PDF file.

Minutes of the Old Honitonians Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Date: 16th November 2023

Venue: RAC Club

Opening Remarks

The President, Seb Warner, opened the meeting at 6pm. He welcomed all attendees and expressed gratitude for their presence. The AGM reflected for a moment on all the OHs we had sadly lost in the last 12 months.

New Member of the OH Committee

Victoria Berry was introduced as the as the newest member of the OH Committee.

West Country Lunch

It was announced that the West Country Lunch will be moved to a May date. Victoria has generously agreed to lead the organisation of the event. The Secretary will contact David Richardson to confirm the details for the transfer.

Opt-In Policy for Old Honitonians Magazine

A proposal for an opt-in policy for the Old Honitonians magazine was discussed. Members will be able to opt-in to receive a hard copy of the magazine. Digital copies will be emailed to all members on the database and made available on the Old Honitonians website.

Old Honitonians (Unofficial) Facebook Page

The members expressed the desire for closer control over the unofficial Old Honitonians Facebook Page. President Seb Warner spoke with Toby Davis, an OH and Admin of the page, who confirmed that Dave Woollatt will be made an Admin. Dave Woollatt was requested to inform the club when this has been completed.

Ladies' Broach/Pin/Scarf

The possibility of producing a Ladies' broach, pin, or scarf was discussed. Members are invited to share ideas and preferences on this matter.

Instagram Account

The suggestion of creating an Instagram account for the Old Honitonians was discussed. Dave Woollatt was approached to initiate this, and further details will be communicated to the members.

Condolences for Richard Hurlock

Jeremy Harding informed the attendees about the passing of Richard Hurlock.

School Register for Ahmed Ghazzal

The club was requested to send the school register to Ahmed Ghazzal. The Secretary will oversee this task.

Magazines on the Website

The need to upload the more recent magazines (last 20 years) onto the Old Honitonians website was discussed. Efforts will be made to obtain copies from Mr Blooman/Alec Crawford for this purpose.

Bigger Summer Event at Rousdon

The consideration of organising a larger summer event at Rousdon via Martin Boulden (July) was discussed. Members are encouraged to provide input and suggestions for the event.

London Event in November

Feedback suggested keeping the London event in November for the AGM and party. The RAC Club was proposed as the venue, pending any alternative suggestions. The President will liaise with JET Clark for further coordination.

OH Video

David Woollatt introduced a video compilation of OH interviews from the last year. The aim going forward is to gather more and produce a library as an aural history project of Allhallows. 

AGM Accounts

Please see below for a copy of the full OH Accounts that were presented at the AGM

Closing Remarks

The President thanked everyone for their active participation and contributions to the AGM. The meeting was adjourned at 6.30pm.

To download the minutes and OH accounts, please click here.

Wow! What a fantastic turnout it was for our OH AGM and Drinks Part at the RAC Club in Pall Mall on Thursday evening. The energy was buzzing as we delved into discussions about the exciting future of our club and shared lovely moments during the first-ever screening of the OH Film, a video documenting members' stories and memories of Allhallows. 

There was also a chance to reflect on all the OHs we had sadly lost in the last 12 months. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a special evening. Thanks must also go to OH John Clark who helped secure this event at the wonderful RAC Club and Lucy Forte for the AGM Photographs. Here are some of the photographs.

There will be a document of minutes from the AGM meeting published on our website soon, highlighting decisions made and the general direction of the OH Club in the next year.

by George Hayter

AT ALLHALLOWS  I spent not far short of one-tenth of the working week in worship. 

    If you were at school around the 1960s, you probably spent a similar proportion of your time in the chapel. See if you agree. 

    This is how I worked it out. Morning chapel (including hymn practice on Saturday mornings) lasted about 20 minutes per day, in other words, two hours each week. For most of my time (1965-1970) pupils also had to attend a service lasting about 45 minutes twice each Sunday. That bumps up the total time in chapel per week to 3.5 hours. That equates to about nine per cent of the average working week. 

    If you agree with that figure of 3.5, you can go on to multiply it by 36 (the number of weeks we were at school each year) and then multiply that by the number of years you were there. That gives you your total hours spent in worship. I was at Allhallows for five years, adding up to 567 hours. 

Headmaster 

Lots of people didn’t see much in the chapel but my house, Venning, was allotted the front few rows of pews in the lefthand half. Younger pupils sat at the front of each house and so in my first year I was in the very front row, an arm’s length from Rev Leech and not much further from Mr Hewan. 

    Suppressing giggles was almost the only source of enjoyment, along with the wildly enthusiastic singing of just a handful of hymns. The whole school raised the roof on those few popular numbers. You might remember the rip-roaring one that went: “Feed us now and evermore [pause] evermore!” 

Strike 

But during psalms, most of the congregation stood in silence, as if taking industrial action. Few liked the boring psalms and juniors soon learned to follow the example of the bigger boys, folding their arms and leaving their psalters unopened. 

New boys all had to audition for the choir. I was a tone-deaf atheist too shy to be upfront wearing something like a dress, so I needed to fail my audition. When music master Alan Thomas pressed a note on his organ I deliberately croaked. Whatever organ note Mr Thomas tried, I missed it by a mile, croaked, ran out of breath, and pretended to choke. 

    Since 1962, the Beatles and Stones had been wearing their hair ever longer and most boys wanted to follow the fashion. The headmaster had other ideas and told any boy with hair over his ears that he must visit the peripatetic barber on his next visit. Before each service, Mr Hewan stood outside the door, casting an eye over the coiffure of each boy entering the chapel. 

    My mate Peter Callender was the envy of many. He had the longest hair in the school. He used to hook it behind his ears, plastering it with saliva so it stayed there when he walked past the headmaster. 

    Allhallows rock bands performed in chapel services occasionally. I remember laughing at the novelty of drums set up between the choir stalls and seeing classmates toting electric guitars next to the lectern. Few didn’t smile at the part of the otherwise staid service when drums thundered into the opening bars of the rocking Small Faces chart-topper All or Nothing. 

Fear 

Assistant chaplain Rev Michael Drew came from a working-class parish in London’s East End. He had a liberal approach and when he arrived at the school in 1966 he introduced occasional house chapel services, devised and conducted by pupils themselves. My friend Simon Anstey and I volunteered to do one, taking the places at the front of the chapel usually occupied by the chaplain and the headmaster. We were both mischievous rebels. We persuaded our colleague Richard Banfield to interrupt our prayer for the school’s wellbeing by shouting from within the congregation: “What about the workers?” 

    Banfield’s heckling was followed by a tape recording of comedian Peter Sellers saying in a posh voice like our housemaster’s: “Yes, what about the workers indeed?” There was more nonsense and at the end of the service, we accelerated towards the exit. Then we broke into a run, fearful that we would be expelled for ridiculing religion and insulting the school. But no one took offence! 

Homeless 

After my 567 hours in it, I have a soft spot for the chapel. My affection includes the carved wood screen which stood behind the altar. That reredos is lying neglected in a disused church on the edge of Honiton. Searches and pleas to find the intricate woodwork a permanent home have so far failed. Local churches, the museum and the secondary school in Honiton have all been tried. Got any ideas?