Lancastrian-2015-WEB

OLD LANCASTRIAN CLUB
As reported in the last issue of The
Lancastrian, the OL Club celebrated its
centenary during the year culminating
in the annual dinner on Founders’ Day.
The evening, which was less formal than
usual, took place in the Lancaster Town
Hall. The centenary president Brian
Ashton gave an entertaining account
of some highlights of his career and
a presentation was made to Andrew
Wilson in recognition of his role as
MC at the dinners for many years. A
significant number of past-presidents
and their partners attended as guests
of the Club and a formal photograph
was taken to mark this unique occasion.
The strength of the Club lies with the
branches and the work carried out by
the secretaries in organising the annual
dinners. In September a gathering
of forty-four OLs met in New York
(including twenty-two from the USA)
in an extremely enjoyable weekend
organised by Kevin Roberts. An event
organised by Richard Batterley in
Sydney took place this year. Closer
to home, one hundred OLs and their
partners attended an informal lunch
at the Lancaster Brewery in January.
Preceded by a rugby match and with
a hot pot meal provided by David
Dunderdale (Newfields Catering), this
event is now firmly on the OL calendar.
The Club was pleased to receive a large
number of theology books bequeathed
by the widow of Richard Helmn (1968-
75) and which were given to the RS
Department at school.
The New Year’s Honours list brought
news that Professor Peter Ratcliffe,
Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine
at Oxford, had been awarded a
knighthood. Sir Peter has a research
interest in the mechanisms by which
cells sense and signal low oxygen levels.
The Club continues to support the
students at school and this year has
helped to sponsor the senior and junior
cricket team tours in Barbados and
has contributed towards the purchase
of a 3D printer for the Design and
Technology department.
Jack Turton has been a superb alumni
officer this year and I would like to
thank him and Jenny Cornell in the
Development Office for their continued
support and advice.
Peter V Dyer,
Secretary,
OL Club (OL 1968-75)
ALUMNI RELATIONS
Returning to LRGS to spend a year as Alumni Officer in the
Development Office has been a great experience. I must
firstly thank Jenny and Rose for their advice and support
over the year, which I have thoroughly enjoyed!
Like all before me, the return as a member of staff showed
‘the other side’ to the School, and the weekly 5-a-side
football quickly snapped me out of addressing former
teachers as “Sir”. By the time I started, the free school meals
were merely stories of better times; however the sixth form
centre canteen provided a more than adequate replacement
service (still Kate and Steph for the more recent OL vintages).
During my first seven years at School, I was lucky enough
to experience the support that the OL Club gives the
School first hand through three school tours. South Africa
and Namibia with rugby, then Barbados on cricket tour
and then Hong Kong, Japan and Australia in my final year
were certainly highlights in my school career. However, it
soon became very apparent that this help was much more
widespread, and the quality of events and the strength of
the OL network really were something special. The number
of old boys who give something back to the School in so
many ways really cannot be appreciated enough and I
would like to thank all who continue to make this School
and OL Club what it is today.
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