BACK TO NEWSLETTER 2005 CONTENTS
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 12:57 pm
Subject: OC Dinner
Dear Nick
Disappointing response so far to my letter unless people have been writing to
you and booking places for the dinner.
As you know I had a phone call from Rodney Sweetnam and it sounded as though he
was definitely coming and I hope he has by now sent you his cheque. He gave me
an address for Andrew Horsburgh, who is also a retired surgeon, and I wrote to
him the other day encouraging him to come. I hope he takes up the offer. I found
my old OC register and see that Horsburgh left in 1944, but so what?!
I have heard from four others, sadly all negative, but being positive this
leaves twenty-four still to hear from.
Those I have heard from are: Donald Cameron Brown - I gather that he has also
written to you direct. His letter was interesting- like most of us, he found
that many of the names on the list did not mean a lot after 60 years. He does
remember Luboff and Koster, and has had contact in recent years with Keith Hall
and Adrian Turner - apparently the latter has recently had a serious accident
which leaves him walking with a frame.
Donald says that he is possibly the only boy to leave Clayesmore after failing
Higher Cert twice, and in light of this says that it is gratifying that he can
now admit to an MA (Cantab), although he rarely uses it unless to impress
Important People! He says that having entered a monastery expecting to see
little of the world he has probably become one of the more travelled of OCs. His
work has taken him to the Far West, visiting monasteries in New Mexico, Colombia
and elsewhere, and also to the Far East visiting Tibetan monasteries in India.
I have also heard from Gerald Ryan who can't come to the dinner because the date
clashes with a regular holiday at a timeshare in Madeira. He tells me that he
has also written direct to you.
Another letter is from David Peck who regrets that he will not be coming - he
just doesn’t remember any of the names on the list, but wishes us well for the
evening.
Finally I have a letter from Tony Webster, who lives in Sheffield and can't come
to the dinner, but he has very kindly sent me a most generous cheque! He feels
that his original life subscription must have long been absorbed. I am writing
to Tony to thank him for his gift and am passing the cheque to Karen. Perhaps
the committee should think of some specific object or project to which this
donation could be given and then we should write to Webster and tell him what we
are proposing to do with it.
With best wishes - I'll keep in touch.
David
From: Tim Crabtree
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 8:05 am
Subject: RE: A last chance
Nick (or who ever is masterminding the dinner!)
I am sorry I shall not be with you this year, family commitments and there is
not a single person from my year going. I know someone has to set the ball
rolling but it’s not me this year. Maybe a 1966 – 72 group can be encouraged for
next year.
Hope all is well with you. Life is pretty hectic here with Sarah, our eldest, at
Kings College London studying music. Robert our seventeen year old is in his
first year in the 6th at Radley and our youngest, Helena is at Rye St Antony in
Oxford. She is mad keen to be a ballet dancer so we are in and out to Oxford 4
evenings a week!
My Stationery and Office Equipment business in High Wycombe, Abbotts Office
Solutions, is doing well although all business gets tougher by the year.
Still singing with Thame Chamber Choir – we are about to make a CD.
I keep in touch with Richard Wisdom, Ian Crabbe, John Scrase and of course my
brother Bruce. Bruce’s son Cameron is now a chorister in the cathedral at Bury
St Edmunds, where they live and really enjoying it. [Following the Crabtree
tradition]
Best wishes for 2005
Tim Crabtree (68-72)
From: Richard Harvey
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2005 7:46 pm
Subject: Re: OC Dinner
Thanks for the invite.
Must unfortunately decline.
May I plead: Left 66 years ago. Got nothing respectable to wear. My
contemporaries are either dead or like me, too geriatric to make the trip. Am
vegan, so would not be able to eat much of the nosh, however warming the drink
might be.
The only time I dined at Simpson’s was on my honeymoon in 1946.
Hope the dinner goes well for all.
Note to N. Zelle: My Old Bryanstonian friend is still marvelling at your
initiative in diverting the blame for anti social behaviour at Tarrant Hinton.
Richard (Harvey) (34-39)
From: Russell Harding
Date: Friday, February 4, 2005 8:56 am
Subject: Re: New directory - Simpson's - L&F
I think the small tables are a good idea as you can get to talk a lot easier
especially if it's a round table. I felt the main course this year was not up to
standard. The lamb was rather fatty and came with no mint sauce making it rather
bland. I asked for some sauce and it very quickly arrived, shame it wasn't on
all the tables. Next year could I suggest we resort back to the beef or steak
and kidney pie etc? As always lovely to see everyone thanks to the committee for
another enjoyable evening.
Russell Harding (63-67)