33 Old Peterite Club

The Old Peterite Club Officers and District Hon. Secretaries

1988/1989 President: E. M. H. Ranson, The Old Bakery, Grimdleton, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4QT.

Past Presidents: J. A. Hanson, T. J. Lewis, C. W. Thompson, P. S. Atkinson, F. N. Newdick, R. F. Harding, D. T Rumfitt, J. T Harding, J. A. Denison

Vice Presidents: The Head Master, K. G. Chilman, D. G. Cummin, Brig. C.C. Fairweather, Sir John Rodgers, Bt. Hon. Secretary: R. D. Harding, Hall Cottage, Foremarke, Milton, Nr. Repton, Derbyshire DE6 6EJ Hon. Treasurer: S. M. Burn, 30, The Cranbrooks, Wheldrake, York Y04 6AZ District Hon. Secretaries: London: C. J. Quickfall, "Hollyside", 151, Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5JP West Riding: C. E. Gilman, Cherry Tree Cottage, High Street, Clifford, Nr. Wetherby, West Yorkshire North West: Dr. G. E. L. Graham, J. P., "Croft End", 297, Wigan Lane, Wigan, Greater Manchester WN1 2QY North East: D. L. Brown, "Ashcroft", Ashcroft Road, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3 8PD East Riding: P. S. Atkinson, The Exchange, Driffield, E. Yorkshire Y025 7LJ York: S. M. Burn, 30, The Cranbrooks, Wheldrake, York Y04 6AZ

General Committee 1988/1989

D. P. Atkinson, V. M. Black, P. M. Darley, C. Frank, C. E. Gilman, Dr. G. E. L. Graham, D. W. Grice, F. B. S. Harnby, G. M. Jobling, R. W. Oliver, J. C. M. Rayson, P. M. Shepherd, D. N. Simmons, G. D. Smith, E. G. Thompson.

The Old Peterite Club 97th Annual General Meeting was held at the School on Saturday 2nd July and was attended by 32 members.

C. W. Thompson, Deputising for the Hon. Treasurer, presented the audited accounts for the year ended 31st December 1987, which showed the accumulated fund for the running expenses of £10,112.

R. D. Harding was re-elected Hon. Secretary and S. M. Burn was elected Hon. Treasurer in succession to J. G. Humble.

The new rules were formally adopted following some small amendments and 3 trustees were elected namely, D. L. Brown, J. T. Harding and J. E. Moore.

C. E. Gilman was elected to the General Committee and D. P. Atkinson, C. Frank, D. W. Grice and J. C. M. Rayson were re-elected for a further term of three years.

E. M. H. Ranson was elected President of the The Club in succession to J. A. Denison. The immediate Past President, J. T. Harding, paid tribute to J. A. Denison in his two years of office which had been more demanding than usual.

The retiring President thanked The District Hon. Secretaries for running successful dinners and also thanked the Hon. Secretary for all the support he had given.

The following regional dinners were announced: Tyneside: Friday, 30th September 1988 at The Stakis Hotel, Newcastle Airport, Woolsington. Organiser: Richard Pickersgill Tel: Home (0632) 2843770. Office (0632) 2611841 London: Friday 4th November 1988 at The Great Western Royal Hotel, Paddington W2. Tel: 01-723-8064. 7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Organiser: Colin Quickfall. Tel Home: (0892) 32270. Office: (0892) 33733. West Riding: Mid November (venue to be arranged). Organiser: (please contact) Chris Gilman Tel: Boston Spa 842989 North East: Friday 28th April 1989 at the Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, Co. Durham. Organiser: David Brown Tel Home: Darlington 465543. Office: Darlington 467791 East Riding: Friday 26th May 1989 at the Bell Hotel, Driffield, 7.15 for 7.45 p.m. Organiser: Peter Atkinson Tel Office: (0377) 43151 York: The Annual Dinner at St. Peter's - Saturday 1st July 1989.

It was with great pleasure that the Meeting elected Mr. J. V. Mitchell to Honorary Life Membership of the Old Peterite Club in recognition of his service to the School.

The Great Western Royal Hotel, Paddington, London W2 Friday, 6th November 1987

David ADAMSON Will ADLER Peter BAKER Chris BEAUMONT Martin BLACK Victor BLACK R. Maxwell BOOTH Nigel BRINDLEY R. Anthony BRINDLEY Alan Cranshaw BROWN Rupert D. E. BROWN Kenneth CHILMAN

Bob COLLIER John COSSINS David CUMMIN John DENISON Katharine DENISON Allan DODDS John DOOK Peter DRURY Simon FENWICK Doug FLEMING Robin FIELD Peter GARBETT Bill GIBSON Alan GOMERSALL Earlam GRAHAM Nicholas GRAHAM James HANSON Richard D. HARDING John Trevor HARDING Robert F. HARDING Kenneth HARPER James HARMSON School Rise School School Queen's Temple Rise Rise Manor Rise Grove St. Olave's St. Peter's

Master ^

(

Rise & Dronfield Queen's

1953-1963 1972-1977 1945-1950 1949-1959 1965-1975 1936-1942 1943-1949 1970-1975 1940-1946 1938-1942 1975-1980 1907-1911 1911-1916 1919-1923 1924-1965 1963-1968 1959-1964 Master & Headmaster (ret'd) Temple Queen's Master Manor Temple Dronfield Queen's Grove Manor Manor Grove School School School Rise Hon. Secretary School Master Temple Queen's 1938-1942 1978-1980 1950-1964 1937-1946 1978-1983 1970-1975 1957-1967 1949-1958 1942-1946 1950-1957 1951-1959 1932-1937 1966-1976 1918-1921 1960-1966 1933-1938 1938-1974 1939-1944 1969-1974 John HAYES Kevin HICK J. M. HOLT Ian HUNTER Christopher D. KING F. David LAVENDER Tony MILLER John MITCHELL Fiona McCRIMMON Christopher MONRO Carl PATTISON Robin PITTMAN Andrew Harford POWELL Colin QUICKFALL Bob RALEY David RAYNER Michael RANSON John RAYSON Andrew ROBSON David RUMFITT Tony SHORT Neil SIMMONS Kenneth F. SIMPSON Arthur SMALLMAN Christopher SMITH Chris SMITH Peter SPEIGHT Jonathan STONE Robert A. STRATTON David TATE Eric THOMPSON David TURNBULL Christopher WATSON

Grove School School Temple School Grove School Temple Manor Rise School & Manor Headmaster Dronfield Grove Rise Grove Rise Rise Temple Temple Rise School School Rise Queen's Manor Manor Dronfield School/Manor Rise Manor Manor Rise Helena WESTCOTTWEAVER Dronfield Douglas WILLIAMSON Paul WITHERS Queen's Rise 1957-1962 1948-1958 1948-1953 1951-1961 1947-1951 1950-1960 1974-1980 1967-1972 1985-1987 1969-1974 1939-1945

1964-1969 1947-1957 1963-1969 1948-1958 1953-1960 1942-1947 1953-1961 1930-1939 1933-1941 1949-1953 1928-1930 1924-1927 1969-1974 1962-1967 1939-1946 1972-1977 1935-1943 1941-1947 1939-1949 1957-1960 1971-1976 1982-1984 1976-1981 1969-1974

In conclusion, the organisers are greateful for the support they received and the club is indebted to Colin Quickfall and Bob Stratton who filled the gap left so suddenly by the tragic death of Keith RatclifTon July 3rd 1987. Hon. Secretary

It was noticed that members of the O.P. Club who were present, including the chairman, wore the O.P. ribbon either as a tie or as a rosette, and many O.P.'s possibly moved by envy, before the close of the evening tendered their names as subscribers, and, mark it defaulters, paid their subscriptions to the O.P. Club.

The company broke up about half past ten o'clock, after a very enthusiastic meeting.

The Hon. Sec. wishes to thank, on his behalf, many O.P.'s who, though unable to attend, expressed their good wishes for the success of the dinner and their intention to be present on a future occasion, and to add that he will be glad to receive the names and addresses of any O.P.'s resident in or near London who have not received invitations for the past dinner, or any who are about to settle there. The number of letters received by him renders it impossible to answer them all separately.

Great Western Royal Hotel, Paddington Friday, 4th November (7pm for 7.30pm)

The Hon. Secretary wishes to echo his predecessor's sentiments written in the last paragraph 100 years ago. And as Keith Ratcliff used to say...."Only the most exceptional excuses will be accepted and I've heard most of them!" (Our target this year is One Hundred to match the age of the dinner).

Answers to the Centenary Quiz Competition

1. Rev. G. T. Handford

2. Rev. H. M. Stephenson

3. G. L. Davis

4. Rev. A. Raine

5. F. J. Wiseman

6. F. Mitchell

7. Professor S. N. Parkinson

8. 10th November 1948

9.

Brig. C. C. Fairweather 10. S. G. S. Pawle 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Hockey & Cricket K. G. Chilman F. Pick Sir Philip Morris Rt. Rev. H. H. Williams S. K. Kazerooni J. E. A. Brown (orienteering) M. F. Gargan R. D. Harding 1994

The following is reproduced from "The Peterite" of October 1888 Vol. IX No. 77

The Old Peterite Dinner

Under the auspices of the O.P. Club this dinner was held in London, on the 28th June, at the Holborn Restaurant, with the Rev. Canon Elwyn in the chair, supported by the present Headmaster and H. J. Newbery (late of the Bengal Civil Service) as vice presidents. It may be noticed that since 1874 the O.P. dinner, which used to form one of the chief attractions in York for former members, has been discontinued, and great credit is due to the Committee, whose names we published in a recent number, for their courage in throwing themselves into the gap and consenting to act. Places were laid at the tables for upwards of forty guests, and although a combination of unfortunate circumstances prevented many who had promised to attend from being present, there was a sufficiently large muster of O.P.'s to justify the intention which was announced during the evening of repeating the experiment next year. Among other O.P.'s we noticed veterans like T. L. Chadwick, Chas. Haigh, the Rev. W Jackson, P. B. Lambert, J. Lumb, W. A. Meek, Professor Reinold, W. H. Sutcliffe, E. Walker, C. W. Watson, and W. W Whytehead, and all generations from 1855 downwards were well represented.

After dinner the Chairman, in a few well chosen words, proposed the health of Her Majesty, with a graceful tribute to the memory of the late Emperor of Germany, whom he had had the honour of meeting during the Jubilee festivities of last year; and then passed onto the toast of the evening—St. Peter's School past and present. It would be difficult for an outsider to believe that our former headmaster is now more closely connected with the Charterhouse than with St. Peter's, so intense appears to be the interest still taken by him in our school, and every sentence uttered by him contained some allusion which shewed not only the memory of former days, but also the keen appreciation of everything done in recent years at St. Peter's—its games, its successes at the Universities and elsewhere, and even, shall we confess, its reverses. The Rev. G. T. Handford responded on behalf of present St. Peter's, and while acknowledging the responsibility involved in succeeding to the place of such a polished scholar as his predecessor, promised his best endeavours to place the school in the position which it ought to occupy not only in point of numbers, but also of successfully preparing its members to take part in the struggle of life. Sketching lightly the present position of the school, he touched more strongly on the importance of complying with modern demands in the work done, and urged the necessity of giving a more prominent place to modern languages and science. In conclusion, he spoke of the now approaching theatricals at St. Peter's, and the pleasure that he would feel in seeing as many old boys present as possible. A. J. Newbery, on behalf of the Old Peterites, regretted the stern fate which had just snatched the last speaker from us (Mr. Handford had left to catch the train for York), and expressed the pleasure which O.P.'s felt in meeting him. He then passed on to his own experiences at the school some thirty-six years ago, and his pleasure in revisiting it, when he returned home from India on furlough in 1872, in order to be present at the O.P. dinner held in York, a dinner which a most venerable Archdeacon was present for the first and last time in his experience. (This was explained to be a mistake, for although the reverend gentleman alluded to had on one occasion been induced to withdraw from his retirement and be present at an O.P. dinner, it was before 1872, and since then he has always successfully dissimulated his love for his connection with the school.) The speaker then feelingly dwelt on the difficulties experienced by an old Anglo-Indian coming home to enjoy the sweets of an Old Peterite dinner for the second time, and his disappointment when he found that there was no dinner to be had, while in the absence of any scions of his name at the school there was nothing for him to take an interest in except the sight of his own name, carved a generation ago, on the Sixth Form desk.

Professor Reinold followed, and proposed th health of the Chairman, thanking him for his kindness in presiding. Although he had not had the pleasure of being at the school under Canon Elwyn, yet his connection with it had never ceased, and he had had many opportunities of observing the genial kindness shewn by him to all old boys, and the constant respect with which he was regarded by them. Mr. E. Walker seconded the toast, which was enthusiastically drunk with the usual musical honours. Canon Elwyn, in returning thanks, referred to the

distinguished careers of many of the O.P.'s present, and the affection with which he always regarded them. Amongst others he referred especially to Mr. A. Pollard and the good work that he had done while headmaster at the High School, Oxford. Evidence of this was furnished by the flattering testimonials received from all the prominent members of the University, from the master of Balliol downwards, and equally by the selection at Liverpool lately of Mr. Pollard from a crowd of distinguished candidates for a valuable appointment, although the final choice had not yet been made. The author, too (Mr. Hugh Moss), of several well-known plays was amongst us, and it would not be forgotten that, while he received his training at St. Peter's, the school owed to his care and ability the foundation of the annual theatricals which are now looked forward to so anxiously by all who have once attended them. The names of Ainslie, Barber, Chadwick, and Griffith were familiar ones at St. Peter's, and would be missed at a representative gathering of Old Peteritesj and in the number of distinguished lawyers present there was one at least (Mr. Y. Anderson) who gave good promise of soon attaining one of the most prominent positions in his profession. Men of science like Mr. W. North and Professor Reinold were sitting peaceably by the side of athletes like Messrs. Eyre, Mallinson, Jackson, and Ainslie, and so long as St. Peter's continued to turn out men like these, so long would it justify the pride felt in it by old boys.

The Chairman afterwards proposed the health of the Hon. Sec, who had been the means of bringing us together; and the latter, in acknowledging the toast, urged the necessity of forming at once a working committee to make arrangements for the dinner of next year. He also spoke of the Old Peterite Club an the advantages of belonging to it, and expressed his willingness to receive subscriptions during the evening. After paying for the dinner there would be a balance in hand of 13s 6d., which, by permission, he would keep as the nucleus of a fund for next year's preliminary expenses.

The last proposition was agreed to, and on the motion of Canon Elwyn a subscription was at once started and successfully floated to reimburse the O.P. Club for the expense incurred in printing, invitations, &c.

The Old Peterite Club North East Dinner

The Dinner was held at the Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, Co. Durham, on Friday, 29th April 1988, which 26 attended. The President, John Denison, proposed the health of the School, and the Headmaster responded. David Brown, the organiser, is still offering a special wine award to the first lady O.P. to attend this dinner, which next year will be held at the same venue on Friday 28th April 1989. Please contact D. L. Brown, "Ashcroft", Ashcroft Road, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3 8PD if you are not on his mailing list. Those present:

The President (J. A. Denison) 1938-1942 The Head Master (R. N. Pittman) The Immediate Past President (J. T. Harding) 1933-1938 The Hon. Secretary (R. D. Harding) 1960-1966 D. J. Bell 1952-1955 D. L. Brown 1954-1961 J. F. Brown 1960-1966 J. Cooper R. M. Deas 1931-1936 C. C. Fairweather 1919-1922 W. Graham 1943-1948 J. R. B. Harding 1965-1970 R. F. Harding 1938-1974 J. B. Hart G. M. Jobling 1961-1966 R. L. Jobling 1954-1958 R. Pickersgill 1961-1966 W. E. Potts 1956-1960 J. C. M. Rayson 1942-1947 D. T. Rumfitt 1934-1939 D. N. Simmons 1949-1953 J. S. M. Thomas 1972-1976 J. H. Twizzell 1971-1976 R. M. Walker J. Watson 1963-1966 D. G. M. Young 1955-1959

The Old Peterite Club East Riding Dinner The 29th East Riding Dinner was held at The Bell Hotel, Driffield on Friday 27th May, 1988, which 60 attended. The toast of "The School" was proposed by the President, John Denison, to which the Head Master replied. Colin Frank presided and Peter Atkinson did an excellent job once again in arranging another most successful and enjoyable evening. The 30th Dinner will be held at the same venue next year on Friday, 26th May 1989. Those present:

The President (J. A. Denison) The Head Master (R. N. Pittman) The Immediate Past President (J. T. Harding) The Hon. Secretary (R. D. Harding) C M . Atkinson D. P. Atkinson J. S. Atkinson P. S. Atkinson B. Allan D. Browne C. Burdass J. E. Burdass J. V. Burdass M. C. Burdass P. Burdass R. Burdass S. P. Burdass T. J. Burdass D. Coles D. G. Cummin C. C. Dee M. C. M. Dee R. Dee C. Frank J. A. Frank J. Farnsworth T. Fenton W. D. Gilliat C E. Gilman F. Gooder P. Gooder H. A. L. Golightly R. C Hopkinson M. R. Hornby S. M. Jordan D. P. Johnston D. Kirby I. Leadham S. P. Longthorp C Martinson P. B. Megginson S. Megginson A. J. Nichols A. T. Nichols A. Penty R. Pick J. C M. Rayson P. J. Stephen G. M. Shuttleworth P. M. Shepherd P. W. Shepherd C Swires C. W. Thompson A. Thornton E. G. Thompson R. Tindall N. Tomlinson D.Ward P. K. Whittaker