The Old Bordenian Association

OLD BORDENIAN DINNER 16 May 2009

This year saw the Dinner moved to May as a trial run. Showing a full understanding of modern examination techniques by offering a multi choice (well two!) answer, Graham Barnes, our MC for the evening, asked by a show of hands from the gathered throng their preferred dinner date. May was the undisputed favourite. This was because:-

1. nobody understood the question,
2. Old Boys who preferred March had boycotted the meal,
3. there was a danger that the Dinner would take place on both dates,
4. everyone was keen for Graham to sit down.

Graham firstly said how sad he was that John Macrae could not be with us and asked everyone to send their best wishes on the “Get well” card. Thanks were given to various people for their activities on the Committee – Rick Harris for all his work as Membership secretary, a role from which he was retiring (again!). Volunteers to take over were asked to attend a demanding interview process after the dinner. Mention was also made of Dave Palmer and Ryan Jarrett for bringing the web site to life, and Alan Snelling and Peter Lusted for organising the Dinner.

Harold Vafeas, our President, then reminded everyone of the changes to the Maroon – it would in future be an ever evolving magazine on the internet. This was necessary not only due to costs but was also the way forward to reach more Old Boys. He made special mention of our former maroon Editors, three of whom were with us that evening – Denis Jarrett, Chris Laming and Graham Barnes. In a slight change from tradition he asked Bill Usher to introduce the guest speaker, his nephew.

Roger Usher said how good it was to see some of his old mates at the dinner who were with him on the top table. He felt the school had both changed and yet remained unchanged. He had come to the school after the 11+ from Milton – this was an unusual and dangerous progression. He always ensured for his own safety that he removed his school cap when in Milton. He enjoyed sport at school and showed he learnt the art of delegation early by just passing the ball to Dave Parsons when playing football. He avoided hockey as he would otherwise have lost all street credibility in Milton.

With many amusing stories he recounted his life after BGS. He thanked Terry Veal and John Macrae for coaching him through Maths and Physics “A” level, from which he moved onto Physics at university, concentrating on cosmology. He found he was not suited to academia where you learn more and more about less and less. He joined Whitehall during the cold war where training courses concentrated on the need to avoid blond Russian females. He spent 15 years in the Civil Service as a private secretary and confirmed the accuracy of “Yes Minister”.

He then joined Cooper Lybrand where he worked with another Old Boy, Peter Allen, before moving on in 2001 to the Adams Institute (International) as MD. The institute works with developing countries especially on financial aspects. Democracy means different things in different countries and often although elections are free tribal majorities dictate results. Roger is now Chairman at the Institute. Finally in time honoured tradition he toasted the OBA.

Old Boys present were (alphabetically):-

Tony Akehurst, Peter Allen, Neville Amos, P J Baker, Roger Barber, Graham Barnes, Robert Barnes, Sam Barnes, Ian Baron, Terry Barry, Greg Barry, Peter Bedelle, Paul Bedelle, John Bishop, Michael Briant, Phillip Bromwich, Roy Brunsden, Phil Bryant, Andy Bushell, Martyn Calder, David Carey, Frank Cassell, Shaun Caveney, Tony Clayton, James Cole, Cliff Cork, Peter Cotton, Jim Cox, Steve Crick, Robert Dammers, Bob Doucy, Alexander Earl, Andrew Edney, Keith Fairbrass, David Feaver, Bob Field, Giles Ford, Tim Ford, Matthew Freeman, John Friday, Barry Gilbert, Ian Goddard, John Godfrey, Neil Hancock, Nick Hannon, Lee Harding, Paul Hayler, Ian Hazell, Ken Heaver, Ray H ill, Alan Hill, Dave Holmes, Alexander Holton, Crispin Humm, Denis Jarrett, Stewart Jarrett, Ivor Jones, Rob Kemsley, Francis Knox, Chris Laming, Peter Lusted, Richard Mills, Marion Minhall, Ruth Minhall, Andrew Newman, Mike Pack, William Paine, Dave Palmer, Charlie Parkinson, Dave Parsons, Greg Pope, Will Pretty, Barry Roberts, Sean Roche, Terry Saunders, Ken Sears, Keith Shea, Bryan Short, Alan Snelling, Dave Spicer, Marc Stewart, Dave Sutton, Michael Symons, Peter Taylor, Brian Tyler, Bill Usher, Roger Usher, Harold Vafeas, Terry Veal, John Watson, Bill Wellard, Andy White, Terry Whitehead, Les Wilding, Tony Young.

We still have a great void during the 1980’s (none present) and 1990’s (2 present), and what a shame that our successful Hockey Club is noticeably absent. For those wanting to know who ate all the pies, a Pie chart is shown below:

Next year’s Dinner has been fixed for 15 May 2010

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