It is with regret and sadness that the Club announces that it has recently received notice of the deaths of the following OHs:

 

Robin Llewellyn Grey, Andrew William Dales, Rodney Stanley Powell and Cecil Roy Williams 

 

Andrew William Dales (C 1957- 61) was born on 2nd October, 1943 and died in January, 2020. He became a House Prefect in 1960 and was Head of House and a School Prefect in 1961. A member of the XX Club, Sports Club and Natural History Society. He was awarded his 1st XV Colours in 1960-61.  He was the brother of Stephen Dales (C 1954 - 58).

 

Robin Llewellyn Grey (St 1955 - 58) was born on 21st October, 1940. He became a House Prefect in 1957 and was a member of the XX Club and Debating Society. He won his 1st XV Colours in 1957, his 2nd XI Hockey Colours in 1957 and his 1st XI Cricket Cololurs in 1957-58, the Prentice Cup in 1957 and was Captain of Cricket in 1958. He also received his Miniature Shooting Range Colours in 1958. After leaving school Robin went to RNC Dartmouth and joined the Navy. After about 10 years service he took the law conversion course and qualified as a solicitor and worked in a firm in Ealing, subsequently becoming its sole partner. On retirement he returned to his origins in Scotland to establish a small holiday centre near Oban. About 10 years ago he sold the business and retired to Wiltshire, returning to London last year. In recent times he did voluntary work with the Coast Guard and was a loyal supporter of the Club, providing invaluable pro bono legal assistance to the then Club President, Andy Moore, when the school ran into financial difficulties in 1993/94, and subsequently serving as OH Club Treasurer for many years until he retired in 2018.

 

Rodney Stanley Powell OBE (St 1962 - 1966) was born on 21st November, 1948. Head of Stanton in 1965 and a School Prefect in 1966. He was a member of XX Club and the Tennis Club. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen's New Years Honours list for services to the charity for the aid of the visually impaired. Rodney died in the early hours of the 25th September following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

 

Cecil Roy Williams (B 1947-50) was born on 26th October, 1933 and came to the school on an Exhibition. He was the winner of the Harding Cup in 1949 and won his 2nd XI Cricket colours in 1950. He obtained his School Certificate in 1950. He was a local farmer and Master of the Axe Vale Hunt. Roy died on 23rd September.

 

The Club would like to extend its condolences to the family and friends of Andrew, Robin, Rodney and Roy.

It is with a great deal of regret that the Club's Committee has come to the decision that as a result of the continuing COVID 19 pandemic and the current restrictions and guidelines on social distancing, it will no longer be possible to hold the Club's AGM at the Hare and Hounds, Sidbury on Saturday, 31st October nor hold this year's Memorial Service at St. Paul, Honiton in the afternoon, as had been previously planned.

 

The decision to cancel both of these important events has not been taken without a great deal of thought but in light of the current situation and after consultation with both the proprietors of the Hare and Hounds and the church office of St. Paul, the Club Committee are of the view that in the interests of everyone's  safety and well being, cancellation was the only option.

 

Having come to this decision the Club Committee are nevertheless of the view that the sacrifice of those OHs who gave their lives in the service of their country should not go unacknowledged and there will therefore be a special page produced on this web site in October in their memory and also in recognition of those OHs who have died during the course of this year.

 

As for the AGM, both the President and Secretary will produce their own reports on the activities and events of the past 12 months and the Treasurer will produce the Club Accounts for 2019/20. These reports will be put on the web site in October and OHs will be given the opportunity to email in any questions. Both questions and the replies will be be uploaded for all OHs to review.

 

Neither solution of course satisfactorily replaces the actual holding of either event, but the Committee hope that in the current circumstances the membership will accept these as a suitable alternative. 

It is with regret that the Club announces the death of Michael John Richard Sewell Clarke (HM House 1950 Sh.51-54) on 11th August, 2020.

 

Michael came to Allhallows from the Downs School, Bristol, the eldest son of the late Major and Mrs J W Clarke. In his final year at Allhallows he was Head Commoner of Shallow.

 

After leaving school Michael did National Service with the Devon & Dorset Regiment, mostly in Celle, Germany. Following the Army he went to Agricultural College in Northamptonshire and then entered the world of farming. Together with his father, Michael established the Harlestone herd of Pedigree Landrace pigs together with an important egg production flock.

 

Later is his career, Michael became Grounds Manager for Northampton School for Boys and at the same time groundsman for Overstone Park Cricket Club.  In 2018 to mark 50 years at OPCC the club renamed the ground 'The Michael Clarke Oval'.

 

An extremely well respected man, Michael will be sadly missed by his remaining brothers and the Club extends its condolences to his family.

 

Michael's cremation took place on 1st September and was followed by a small gathering at Overstone Park Cricket Club.

The latest Aunt Agatha's are now available to view at

www.oldhonitonians.com/aunt-agatha/

 

To tell Aunt Agatha what you have been doing click on the 'Contact Us' link, send an email to OHClub@thebirminghams.com or write to Aunt Agatha OH, at 27 Cambridge Cottages, Kew Green, Richmond Surrey, TW9 3AY

It is with deep regret that the Club announces the recent tragic death of Giles Clifford Thomas (S.85-90) on the harshly arid Brukkaros Mountain in Namibia on 15th March, 2020.

 

Giles had just sailed from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town via Tristan da Cunha with friends and with some of those friends was spending the last few days of a great adventure exploring South and South West Africa. On the mountain Giles briefly (it was only planned to be brief for he had little water and they held the reserve) separated from his companions but then, in intensifying heat and for several critical hours, he was unable to rejoin them due to being cut off, surrounded probably, by a troop of baboons. Only when the baboons returned to their own water source in the evening was Giles able to get away.  Overnight he walked to within 100 metres of the main track leading to Berseba and to within 300 metres of where the party had camped on 13/14th March, but it was too late and he died of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

 

Small of stature but fit, agile and with a big heart, Giles left Allhallows as a School Prefect, Head of Shallow and Captain of the 2nd XV. His career involved project management with Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole Councils but essentially his interests were outdoor activity. Known as "Gentleman Giles" to work colleagues, he founded and ran a club for those who enjoyed challenging pursuits. His sailing for Allhallows led on to him qualifying as a Yachtmaster Offshore and to his subsequent crossing of the South Atlantic.

 

Above all, Giles was a thoroughly decent, kind and considerate man. Numerous letters bear witness to these characteristics and mention his readiness to help others. His devotion to his two children, Lucy (20) and Andrew (18) was total. He leaves a grieving family and is a great loss to the Club. The Club extends its sincerest condolences to Giles family and friends at this time.

We are pleased to be able to inform you that a new date has been set for the London Drinks Party, which was postponed from September 2020 due to Covid-19.  It will now take place on the evening of Friday 21^st May 2021 on board HQS Wellington on the Thames Embankment.

Family and friends of OHs are welcome to join us for a great OH reunion celebration after this year’s cancellations and social distancing. 

We are delighted that Helen McGinn OH will be entertaining us with a talk immediately before the party, in lieu of the AGM which will be held later in the year.  Helen is author of The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club, an award-winning wine blog, and a best-selling wine book and guide. She is a drinks writer for the Daily Mail’s Femail magazine and appears regularly on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning.

Details of the evening and a ticket application form will be published on this website early in 2021.  Please contact Myf Adams – myfadams@gmail.com or 01963 210717 – for any further information.

Regretfully due to the continuing COVID 19 restrictions MacMillan Cancer Support have made the decision to cancel the Jurassic Coast 26 mile hike that was due to be held on 5th September.

 

The OH Team, The Humble Pointers consisting of Myf Adams, John Ball, John Campbell Clause, Nigel Clist and Peter Sloan,  (after weeks of intensive training!) will instead be donning their walking boots and taking part in the hike which will now take place on Saturday, 4th September, 2021. Details of how to sponsor/support the Humble Pointers will be given nearer to the date of next year's walk.

Following the cancellation of the West Country lunch this year due to COVID 19, the Club is pleased to announce that next year's lunch will be held at the Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth on 11th September 2021 and will be preceded by the Club's AGM.  OHs are asked to put this date in their diary now. Full details will follow in due course.

With the recent decision, as a result of the COVID 19 restrictions, to move this year's AGM to 31st October, 2020 (prior to the Allhallows Day Memorial Service at St. Paul's Church, Honiton),  a new date has  been set for the Club's London Drinks Party which will now take place on Friday, 21st May, 2021 on board HQS Wellington.

 

Further details will follow in due course, but all OHs are urged to get this date in their diary now. It promises to be a most enjoyable evening.

After many years of service to the Club, Honorary Life Vice President Giles Blomfield (C.53-57) former President of the Club (77-79), and previous Editor of the OH Magazine, recently made the decision that it was time for him to stand down as one of the longest serving members on the Club's Committee.

 

Giles, loyally supported by his wife Gru, has been a valued member of the Club in many roles and has done much to ensure that the Club remains vibrant and active particularly in the years since the closure of the school.

 

As a small token of thanks and appreciation Committee member, Myf Adams, on behalf of the Club, called on them recently (observing, of course, social distancing rules!)  and presented them with a bouquet of flowers and fine bottle of red wine.

 

Both Giles and Gru have promised to try and continue to attend as many future OH events as they can and we shall certainly be very pleased to welcome them.