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.

OHs will, of course, be well aware of the seriousness of the current situation with regard to the spread of the COVID 19 virus. The Club's Committee has been monitoring developments and, in line with Government guidance and common sense, it sadly had to make the decision to cancel the West Country Lunch scheduled to be held at the Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth on Saturday, 16th May, 2020.

 

OHs who had reserved places for this event were informed of the cancellation and have been be refunded in full. If you have not yet received your refund then please email David Richardson (davidrichardson652@gmail.com)

 

The Club's Committee recently met via Zoom and in light of the continuing situation and uncertainty has decided, with regret, that the Drinks Party that was scheduled to take place again on HQS Wellington in London on 10th September, 2020 should be postponed until Spring 2021.  As for the Club's AGM, this will now take place on 31st October, 2020 at the Hare and Hounds, Putts Corner, Sidbury prior to the lunch that precedes the Allhallows Day Memorial Service.

 

With the Wellington event being moved to Spring 2021, the West Country Lunch will be moved to July or September 2021 prior to which the Club will hold its AGM for 2021 .  These decisions are being kept under constant review and OHs are advised to  check this page regularly for updates and for a final decision on the actual dates for both the Drinks Party and the West Country Lunch being held in 2021.

 

At the present time, the Allhallows Day Memorial Service scheduled for 31st October, 2020 remains in the diary with no cancellation anticipated.

 

Regretfully many of the Club's golfing fixtures have already had to be cancelled. For an update on the current position regarding fixtures planned for later in the year members should email John Pagliero (johnpagliero@googlemail.com.)

It is with great sadness that the Club announces the death of Graham Jones (G.B. Jones) who died peacefully in his sleep on 6th May, 2020.

 

Graham, his wife, Mary, and young family came to Allhallows in 1966. He had taught at Sir William Borlase's School in Marlow, worked briefly in industry and read Mathematics at Cambridge. He was appointed Head of Mathematics by Gethyn Hewan.  OHs will remember that he was an enthusiastic exponent of the new school mathematics and established S.M.P. in the curriculum.

 

In 1971 he became Housemaster of Baker and very early on earned the respect of the boys in his house and their parents for the high standard he expected and the tireless efforts he made for Baker boys to use their talents and opportunities to the full.

 

A fine medium-pace bowler Graham was a natural games player and was master-in-charge of cricket throughout his time at Allhallows.  He was an equally enthusiastic coach of hockey and referee of junior rugger and, as one of the few members of staff with real military experience in Korea, he gave invaluable service as an officer in the C.C.F. in training, at camps and on field days.

 

Graham and Mary also contributed to the Rousdon community as a whole. Together they participated in parish affairs, Mary serving as a Parish Councillor, and supported fetes, village suppers and flower shows just as much as they did chapel services, special lectures, concerts, plays and festive occasions at the school.

 

Graham retired from the school in 1992 but he and Mary did not move far, buying a property in Combpyne where they lived until just a few years ago when they moved to Colyton.

 

The Club sends its condolences to Mary and the family.

It is with sadness that the Club reports the death of Jim Bennett (Baker 1944-48) on 9th April, 2020. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. The funeral took place on 23rd April.

 

Born in Australia in December 1931 Jim travelled to England by ship as a small boy. His family settled in Falmouth. Jim was 12 when he came to Allhallows where he spent the remaining years of the war. He spent many a cold night at the top of the East Tower on air raid watch. He left Allhallows at the age of 16 and joined Lloyds Bank, working his way up through the ranks.

 

Jim was a very enthusiastic sailor  and was a member of the Axe Yacht Club. There is a full tribute to him on the Axe Yacht Club website https://www.axeyachtclub.co.uk/club/jim-bennett-1931-2020

 

The Club extends its sincere condolences to his wife Anne, family and friends.