The Old Bordenian Association

Despite a lower than normal attendance of 75, Old Boys of all ages again enjoyed a convivial evening. Graham Barnes, our MC, asked us to remember those Old Boys who we had lost during the year – John Watson, John Johnstone, John Lifton, Bob Jenkins, Len Grice, John Weekes and Terry Veal – the latter two having contributed 80 years of teaching between them at the school. Various apologies were heard as well as a welcome to those who had travelled a great distance – John Miles from Australia, John Faulkner from California and indeed some from the Isle of Sheppey. (It transpired that Phil Nye was also over from Hong Kong and Nigel Balm from Australia). Graham praised the web site and especially thanked Ryan Jarrett and Dave Palmer for all the work that they had put in. He also thanked the organisers of the Dinner – Alan Snelling, Mike Pack and Peter Lusted.

Having feasted on roast beef, apple pie and cheese and biscuits Chris Laming, our new vice president, made a presentation to Rick Harris for all his hard work as Membership Secretary, a post from which he had now retired.

Our guest speaker, Robert Dammers, then spoke of the influences on his life from before Borden through to his current role at Shell. His Dutch parents had introduced him to the world of music (his mother) and the world of Shell (his father). He went to Tunstall school which was fed by many a “Shell” child and then joined Borden in form 1X, a new class due to the growing school intake. He had taken part in many musical productions, many in conjunction with Highsted, and had recently visited Frank Nichols, a former English master at Borden who was now 92. Having joined Shell in their agri-chemical research at Sittingbourne, he moved to Amsterdam and Aberdeen with them before being nominally based in London for the last 10 years. In concluding he asked everyone to raise their glasses to Borden for the important influences it had made on all our lives.

In response Harold Vafeas, our President, said that Sittingbourne had benefited from the presence of Shell which had brought a mix of people to the town as well as many with a university education. In school life it continued to be difficult to convince 15 and 16 year olds that an academic education was important, but the 2009 “A” level results showed Borden 7th out of 39 for average points gained. There was now the green shoots of a music/drama revival in the school, an annual panto and the Battle of the Bands event where he felt there were too many bands now taking part. The Old Boys Association was an important part of the school community and invited 6th formers had especially been grateful for the privilege of attending the Memorial Service in September. He was grateful for the donation of funds from the Old Boys and mentioned the examples of the new play area, the library and the 6th form common room to which they had contributed. With the recent introduction of seating contemporaries of the speaker on the top table he had the opportunity to meet more Old Boys, and was pleased to also see a former Head and three governors of the school present.

Thanks as always are due to Tim, our caretaker, for all his hard work, Barry Gilbert for his help in the morning, Cliff Cork for organising the bar and Graham Barnes for being our MC. Photos of the evening can be seen on the site.

Next year’s Dinner is on 14 May 2011 – make a note and spread the word!

Alan Snelling, Mike Pack and Peter Lusted

At the Dinner were:-

Harold Vafeas, President

Robert Dammers, Guest Speaker

Phil Bromwich, Nick Verrall, School Governors

1940ʼs - Bob Doucy, John Bishop, Brian Tyler, Denis Jarrett, Ken Heaver, Ray Hill, Derek Munson, Graham Barnes, Ken Sears, Stanley Evans, Frank Cassell, Peter Bedelle

1950ʼs - Andrew Edney, Alan Hill, Barry Gilbert, John Faulkner, Brian Pope, Will Cassell, Ian Hazell, Terry Saunders, Ivor Jones, Neil Hancock

1960ʼs - Rick Harris, Ken West, Clive Eglinton, Peter Taylor, Dave Carey, Alan Snelling, Martyn Calder, John Miles, Steve Goodhew, Greg Pope, Barry Roberts, Mike Pack, Peter Lusted

1970ʼs – David Highton, Cliff Cork, Lee Harding, Keith Shea, Andy Bushell, Dave Palmer, Dave Spicer, Bob Field, Steve Crick, Robert Kemsley, Nigel Dickson, Chris Laming, Nigel Balm, Ken Beach, Phil Nye, Stuart Gay, Paul Bedelle, Stephen Bedelle, Greg Barry, Peter Vujacovic, Terry Whitehead, Nick Lee, Andrew Newman,

1980ʼs – Trevor Ottoway, Duncan Reed, Chris Terry, Tim Chandler

1990ʼs – Richard Parkin, Peter Parkin

2000ʼs – John Friday, Anthony Eldridge, Matthew Freeman, Sam Barnes, Paul Hayler