3 minute read
Chairman’s 2021 Report Jeremy Fletcher G’72
from The Blue Paper 2021
by Worth School
Chairman’s 2021 Report
This is yet another fantastic issue of our muchloved magazine which I know so many people enjoy reading every year. Thank you to all those who have contributed and who continue to demonstrate what a talented network of people we are.
Over recent years, the Society has worked much more closely with the School; I know how much the Head Master values the way the Society brings the school of today into partnership with the school of yesterday, be it by hosting events or reinforcing links between alumni, staff and pupils. From this year, the Society has benefitted from further support and resource by operating as a department within the School, which has allowed for more creative working together and closer planning for future alumni events. It is clear that we now enjoy a key example of this in the joint investment in our new networking platform www.worthconnecting.org.uk the success of which I am particularly pleased with.
Worth Connecting has replaced the Society’s old website and now has over 1,000 alumni registered who can network with each other directly, update their contact details, find latest news, promote their businesses and jobs vacant, and offer and receive careers mentoring. There are some great reads, with focus on the lives and work of OWs through the regular ‘Alumni in the News’ features. It is a very useful and user-friendly resource, the effectiveness of which was demonstrated by the speed with which Mary Lou was able to gather some 90 pages of alumni signatures and messages for a birthday card for the 90th birthday of Fr Kevin Taggart, the 2nd Head Master of Worth and key supporter of all alumni since the senior school was founded. I encourage anybody who hasn’t yet done so to take a look at this networking platform and register.
2021 did not turn out to be the post-Covid comeback year we had all anticipated and it was unfortunate that many of our live events – which are, after all, the lifeblood of our Society – had to be postponed for yet another year. I do however hope to see many of you at a special ‘Welcome Back’ Dinner at the Cavalry & Guards Club in May, and at many of our other favourite gatherings.
What we were able to achieve this year were some great outside sporting events, including the inaugural 5-a-side Football Tournament which went ahead in June with great success despite the challenges of extended social distancing restrictions. I’m delighted to see that our sporting clubs are continuing to expand and develop with fixtures now planned against other alumni associations, and OW teams playing in London leagues and in national tournaments.
The Worth Society Committee continues to meet once a term – having moved, like so many others, to a virtual format for some meetings – and is thriving. This year we have welcomed some new young members who are keen to help us organise some different and more varied events as we move out of the pandemic.
We were delighted when our long-term committee member, Fr Mark Barrett, was elected as the 7th Abbot of Worth Abbey in June. Abbot Mark has served and supported the School and its alumni over decades, as teacher, housemaster and governor and is keen to continue to support the life of the Society and to encourage OWs to come back to the Abbey more regularly, either for a Mass or a retreat. We send him our very best wishes for the coming 8 years and are here to support him in any way we can.
And finally, a big thank you to Mary Lou who continues to work her magic in the engine room of the Society, now in the heart of the School.
