Message from the President

Henry Cave (SH 1980–1984)

The OFA is 100 years old! Our long lens of history runs through the last pandemic, just before the OFA started, to the last two years in which many Old Fettesians will have suffered personally or have been affected by the loss or suffering of others. Taken into context our inability to host Commem in 2020 and 2021, or the Centenary Dinner, or many of the in-person events seems to be only a slight inconvenience in a long history of achievements.

Being President of the OFA for the last two years has been a pleasure and privilege with so much proceeding despite these Covid times. I am happy to report that OFs have managed to gather in the UK and across the globe as you will read from page 44. Those who missed their Commem weekends due to the pandemic were invited back to Fettes for a special black-tie dinner in March, and the College opened its doors for the Fettes Festival in May and a well-attended Summer Reunion Evening in a marquee provided by the OFA. Commem 2022 will proceed as planned and the London Carol Service is firmly fixed in the diary (14th December 2022).

Appropriately given the technology-led change to working practices, the Fettes Community Portal could not have been better timed. This has given us a fantastic ability to connect with OFs around the world including those locked down in their homes. We reached the 2,000 member mark in April. If you have yet to join, I recommend that you sign up at fettescommunity.org. Since the last newsletter we have hosted a number of digital events including our AGM in October. Details of forthcoming online events can be found in the regular Fettes Community Portal updates.

It is often said by Old Fettesians that they specifically recall the poignant annual service of Remembrance - the silence of the gravel at 11am splintered by the crack of heels as the wreaths are marched to the War Memorial, the outcry from the bugle, then the sympathy of the pipes. Due to the pandemic in the first year of my presidency the OFA did not lay a wreath in person at Remembrance. This year however I did attend the Remembrance ceremony at the College. I also participated in a particularly moving service of dedication for the new plaques on the War Memorial which coincided with the centenary of this Fettes landmark. For those who have yet to see this, the link is here bit.ly/3zFKqCi. You can read more about this on pages 28 and 29.

I have been very lucky to have been involved with the OFA at a time when the organisation has so many talented members. I am especially grateful to the OFA Executive committee. (Richard Llewellyn (Mo 1987–1992), Cordelia Pilz (née Harrison) (Ar 1982–1984) and Carla Bannatyne (Inv-CE 2005–2013)) for all their work and to the wider OFA Committee and the Regional Representatives based across the United Kingdom and throughout the world. I would like to give special thanks to our wonderful OF Coordinator, Vivienne Clark (Staff 2020–present), to whom I am very grateful, and to Karen Jones (née Houston) (Ar 1989–1991, Staff 2012–present), Fettes Community Engagement Manager. Together they link the OFA to the College and OFs to each other every day, in a way that makes our voluntary organisation professional in outlook whilst creating opportunities for us all to connect and stay connected.

With less than three months until my successor Richard Llewellyn (Mo 1987–1992) embarks on his presidency I have been reflecting on my own experience of the school over the last five years compared to my first five in the early 1980s. Popular music was better then, no question. Life today at Fettes is good (perhaps the best it has been). Students are happy, quietly confident, and interesting. Although the physical infrastructure may have changed (improved!) much of the underlying greatness of Fettes remains unchanged. There remains a strong sense of belonging to your House; a close bond of friendship between peers and intense loyalty to sports teams – in both school and house matches. Pride in academic work still shines out (perhaps on further reflection a greater change for some of my own peers), as does the simple enjoyment of singing together in Chapel. The biggest positive changes I have witnessed on my own Fettesian journey are the friendliness of the staff today, the quality of the food, the relaxed out of hours dress code and, perhaps most importantly and enduring, the sense of kindness and of homeliness.

I think that the OFA is doing exceptionally well for a centurion – a real Captain Tom spirit; but we have plans to do better yet. If you would like to become more involved in the work of the Old Fettesian Association to keep us all connected or if you would like to lead an interest group, club or region please do get in touch with us by emailing ofa@fettes.com. Your commitment is as much or as little as you can manage but comes with the certainty of thanks from us all.

Finally, I wish to offer thanks to the Head, Helen Harrison (Staff 1996–present), for her phenomenal leadership of our magnificent school. Floreas Fettesia yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you.

Henry Cave, President of the OFA President.OFA@fettes.com