OSAmag87_library

NO 87 / JULY 2018
The Old Stationer
Number 87 - July 2018
Special tribute issue remembering
Geraint Pritchard 1942-2018

Which way home? Geraint and Liam.

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
The Old Stationer
Number 87- JULY 2018
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION
LIST OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2018/2019
President
Peter Winter
5 Oakways, Warrington, WA4 5HD
07795 450863
: prcwinter1@btinternet.com
Vice-President
Peter R Thomas
107 Jackdaw Close, Stevenage,
Herts. SG2 9DB ✆ 01438 722870
: peterthomas57@yahoo.co.uk
Past President
Peter Bothwick
52 Hither Green Lane, Abbey Park,
Redditch, Worcs. B98 9BW
✆ 01527 62059
: pedrotres@hotmail.co.uk
Honorary Secretary
Tim Westbrook
7 Goodyers Avenue, Radlett,
Herts. WD7 8AY ✆ 0845 8724001
: tim@timwestbrook.co.uk
Honorary Treasurer
Michael F Hasler
8 The Glebe, Weston Turville,
Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 5ST
✆ 01296 614352
: mikehasler.oldstationers@gmail.com
Membership Secretary
Roger Engledow
118 Hertswood Court,
Hillside Gardens, Barnet, EN5 4AU
07817 111642
: osamembers@gmail.com
Acting Editor
Tim Westbrook
Details as above
OSA website: www.oldstationers.co.uk
Web Site Enquiries
Andreas H Christou
22 Woodgrange Avenue, Bush Hill
Park, Enfield EN1 1EW
07722 117481
: andreashchristou@yahoo.com
Honorary Archivist
David D Turner
63 Brookmans Avenue, Brookmans
Park, Herts. AL9 7QG
✆ 01707 656414
: d.turner12@sky.com
Ordinary Members
Roger Melling
43 Holyrood Road, New Barnet,
Herts. EN5 1DQ
✆ 020 8449 2283
: melling@globalspirit.net
Tony C Hemmings
5 The Mount, Cheshunt,
Herts. EN7 6RF
092 638535
: hemmingsac@hotmail.com
David J Sheath Ksg
12a Bolton Crescent, Windsor,
Berks. SL4 3JQ
✆ 01753 855021
: davidsheath@hotmail.co.uk
Co-opted Member
Peter A Sandell
11 Maplecroft Lane, Nazeing, Essex,
EN9 2NR ✆ 092 892766
: peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk
Honorary Auditors
Chris Langford, Dave Cox
Clubs & Societies
Football Club
Liam Gallagher
38 Hadley Way, Winchmore Hill,
London N21 1AN
07793 220472
: liam@network-stratigraphic.co.uk
Golf Society
Roger Rufey
07780 450369
: rrufey@gmail.com
Apostles Club
Stuart H Behn
l67 Hempstead Road, Watford,
Herts. WD17 3HF
✆ 023 243546
: stuartbehn@hotmail.com
Luncheon Club
Roger Melling
Details as previous column
SC School Lodge no. 7460
Michael D Pinfield
63 Lynton Road, Harrow,
Middx. HA2 9NJ
✆ 020 8422 4699 07956 931174
: secretary7460ugle@gmail.com
Magazine
Publishing Adviser
Tim Westbrook
Details as above
Design & Production Manager
Ian Moore
Homecroft, Princes Gate,
Pembs. SA67 8TG
✆ 01834 831 272
: ian@outhaus.biz - www.outhaus.biz
Printed by Stephens and George
Contents
Regular features
Editorial 4
President’s Address 5
Correspondence 38
Dates
Dates for the Diary 4
Carol Service 4
President’s Day 5
Reunions -
Class of ’54 16
Calls for classes 17
Special features
Annual Dinner 2018 6
Tributes to Geraint Pritchard 18
Membership report 41
Privacy statement 41
Clubs & Societies
OSA Lunch - May 2018 13
Golf Society 13
OSFC Season report 16
Varia
Minutes of the AGM 42
President’s Address 43
Treasurer’s Report 44
Balance sheet 45
Funds summary & General fund 46
Special thanks to Marj, John Leeming
and Liam Gallagher for photos supplied
to illustrate the tribute to Geraint. Ed.
Supplying items for publication
Text: Please supply as Word or typed documents if
possible. Images: Supply as original images or hi-res
(300dpi) digital files in tiff, jpeg or eps format.
Post or email to the Editor, Geraint Pritchard:
see Committee page for address details.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
EDITORIAL
Welcome to issue 87, a special tribute
edition in memory of our long-standing
editor, Geraint Pritchard who died on
the 22nd April after a long battle with
cancer. On the 2nd May 2018 Old
Stationers journeyed to the Barachia
Chapel in Llandegfan, Anglesey to join
his family and friends for the funeral
service and then the burial at St. Tegfan’s
Church Cemetery. Afterwards there
was a reception at Chateau Rhianfa
where we shared personal memories of
Geraint, in particular, his unprecedented
contribution to the Old Stationers’
Association over many years. The
tributes published on pages 18 to 37 include contributions
from family, church, ex-pupils from Stationers’ and St Albans
schools, colleagues and members of the OSA.
The magazine has thrived under
Geraint’s editorship and a large
proportion of content including the
travelogues and correspondence has
been driven by his famous travels around
the UK and further afield, speculatively
calling on ex-pupils to find out about
their lives since leaving the school. This
activity could only have been achieved
by a retired ex-geography teacher with a
penchant for cups of tea and a genuine
interest in other people’s life stories.
Regrettably I am still working full time
and will therefore not be able to replicate
Geraint’s “down your way” content
generation. Instead, I will be dependent on you, the members
to submit your stories, anecdotes, achievements observations
and memories for inclusion in future issues and where
possible, include illustrative photos to help tell your story.
(Text should be in a Word file and images as 300 dpi jpeg file
please).
Our new President, Peter Winter, mentions in his address that
while our subscribing membership remains above 500 thanks
to the success of class reunions, we still need to boost
attendance at our annual events if we are to retain the current
opportunities for fun and fellowship in the years ahead. If you
have any suggestions for changing or adding to our events
program, please let me know your thoughts and they will be
considered by the committee. Details of this year’s events,
President’s Day, the September lunch, the Christmas lunch
and the Carol Service are shown below.
Tim Westbrook
Acting Editor
DATES for the DIARY
Luncheon Meetings
Tuesday 11th September 2018
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square
Wednesday December 5th 2018
Christmas Lunch at Stationers’ Hall
A flyer is enclosed with this issue containing
booking details.
President’s Day
Sunday 26th August 2018
47th Annual cricket match
Botany Bay Cricket Club EN2 8AS
Lunch 12.30pm, Match 2pm.
OSA Carol Service
Sunday 9th December 2018
4pm at Hornsey Parish Church
St Mary with St George,
Cranley Gardens N10 3AH
Carol Service
Just to remind you that the annual carol service will
take place on Sunday 9th December 2018 at Hornsey
Parish Church, St Mary with St George, Cranley
Gardens, N10 3AH at 4pm.
Once again we are very grateful to the Rector of
Hornsey for accommodating us and to the ladies who
provide refreshment afterwards.
As previously advised, as this years’ service will be less
than a month after the centenary of the end of World
War One, we will mark the event with a commemoration
by our memorial window in the side room of the
church. Bishop Stephen Platten will be joining us
having agreed to lead the event which will form part of
the carol service.
Please do support this event if you can.
Peter Sandell
Past President
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
It is a very great honour to be your OSA
President for 2018/19. I am very aware that
those of you who did not overlap with me at
school may know very little of me and for
many of those who did know me at school,
there are just the odd 48 years to fill in! So let
me try and give you a flavour in relatively few
words.....précising at its best!
I was at Stationers’ from 63 to 70. Both of
my brothers had been there before me: David
(1948 to 1955) and Ed (1958 to 1965), so
from a very early age it never occurred to me
I would not go to Stationers’. I have good memories of school,
especially from the 3rd year onwards when I found I was pretty
good at middle distance running and cross country: it was that
foundation of confidence that lifted my whole experience at
Stationers’ and has never left me.
Life has been good to me. I met Gillian at the University of
Birmingham in 1971, her Theology has always been a wonderful
contrast to my Mechanical Engineering. We married in 1975,
producing Anna (35), Jenny (33) and William (29). We now
have three grandsons in Leeds and two granddaughters in SW
France. Our son is reversing the migration trend by living in
Poland and has just bought an apartment in Krakow, so the
family is continuing to spread.
I worked for 30 years in the nuclear industry, with great variety:
PRESIDENT’S DAY
Sunday 26th August 2018
I would like to invite you, your partners, your family and
friends to a special day on Sunday 26th August, when I
will have the pleasure of hosting the traditional Old
Stationers’ President’s Cricket Match in the beautiful
setting of the Botany Bay Cricket Club, East Lodge Lane,
Enfield, Middlesex EN2 8HS. You do not have to like
Cricket for this to be a great bank holiday Sunday with
friends!
I am grateful to Richard Slatford for selecting the
President’s Team to represent the OSA to play a team from
Botany Bay Cricket Club. The match will commence at
2.00pm, finishing at around 7.30pm.
The bar will be open from 11.45am and lunch will be
served at 12.30pm. If you wish to have lunch the cost will
be £25 per head. Please send your cheque to Peter Sandell
(made payable to him) at the earliest opportunity and
certainly no later than 18th August. Peter’s address is 11
Maplecroft Lane, Nazeing, Essex EN9 2NR. If you would
prefer to pay via online banking please email Peter on
peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk whereupon he will provide his
bank account details.
I do hope you will join Gillian and me for this special
occasion.
Kind regards
Peter Winter
President 2018/19
Sellafield Shift Manager, Atomic Energy
Counsellor (British Embassy in Tokyo), VP
Commercial of a multi-national radioactive
waste disposal company in Australia. In 2000
I switched to higher education, enterprise and
innovation: including becoming Pro-Vice-
Chancellor at Loughborough University.
Since graduation I have had a home in the
NW (Warrington for a good chunk of it; 7
years in the Western Lakes, plus Preston and
Manchester). We all had 3 years in Japan
(1992-95) and I resided for most of 1998 and
1999 in Melbourne. In 2010 I ended up working in Southampton
and Liverpool for the Natural Environment Research Council,
with my family home still in Warrington: I took severance from
Southampton in 2013, but decided not to retire immediately, so
worked for another few years at Manchester Metropolitan
University, before retiring in July 2017.
As for the running, I had a serious year of running in my first
year at University (English Cross Country Union Junior Men’s
team title) but more recreational after that. Since 1995 (on return
from Japan) I have been a regular at Old Trafford for my soccer,
but the people around me know (but definitely do not understand)
that I may react oddly when Spurs visit….
Stationers’ certainly launched me brilliantly… it just all goes too
quickly.
The coming year
Much of the coming year, as always, is managed by our very able
OSA Committee. I am looking forward to attending many events
and supporting all that I can of the OSA. There are a number of
events where your participation would be much appreciated: the
obvious ones are the Christmas Lunch (5 December) and the
AGM and Dinner (29 March). This year the annual Carol
Service at Hornsey Parish Church (9 December), where it is 100
years since the end of the Great War, is an important event,
especially so given last year’s service being snowed off. Can I also
commend to you the next lunch at the Imperial (11 September)
and the President’s day at Botany Bay Cricket Club in Enfield (26
August)…it was a great day last year, with a number of spouses
present, great weather and excellent fellowship.
The future
Whilst there is a role for the President in the annual round of
events, I have also set in motion some thinking on how we go
forward as an association. We need to have your input on this: it
is your association and it needs to deliver for you. We currently
have 500 members; about 25% take part from time to time in our
events. Some of our “branches” are struggling on numbers;
cricket, football and even golf have seen reductions in participants.
So the questions we need to address appear to be:
• How do we keep our numbers viable long term?
• What do you want the OSA to look like and do for you?
On the first of these, Peter Sandell and Peter Thomas have made
real in roads in terms of the reunion events that have produced
new members (including me!), but we still need to find a way of
getting into the more recent School intakes and making the
OSA attractive to these groups.
5

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
The second question is really the more fundamental. What
events would members and eligible non-members find attractive?
Some of this is important fine-tuning, e.g. lunch or dinner,
venues, etc. If not enough people turn up at the Imperial
lunches, do we stop them, or perhaps we change the venue and
have more of them? In this way we can have different formats,
some more formal than others and cater for smaller numbers, but
frequently. The real issues are what new events are needed: do
we do more with the Stationers’ Company, either at the Hall or
joining wider Company events (note that only about 10% of
OSA members are also Company members); do we develop
activities where our partners are welcome (possibly a summer
event at the Hall); do we organise trips/visits (e.g. day at the
Races, day at Lords, “behind the scenes visits”, etc.); is there an
appetite for more social events (e.g. countryside ramble, afternoon
tea, garden party, etc.)?
My email address is at the front of the magazine. I would
welcome and appreciate your response, thoughts and ideas on the
way forward: it is your Association.
Peter Winter
ANNUAL DINNER 2018- Stationers’ Hall – Friday 24th March 2017
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Old Stationers’ Association
Master, Clerk, President, gentlemen,
Good evening, and thank you Peter for inviting me to say a few
words about yourself tonight.
Unfortunately as I am sure that you now realise that was a
mistake in providing me with an opportunity for revenge.
Gentlemen let me explain, what you will be unaware of is that
Peter on a number of occasions has spoken for me at similar
events to tonight and to say the least has been somewhat unkind.
On one occasion informing the attendees of my development
into a property magnet which I achieved by means of four
divorces and the subsequent result of being the proud owner of
half a house on each occasion. No wonder women found me
attractive, for one night only of course.
I have known Peter since the 1980s having met through our
connections in the paper trade. Peter worked on the mill
producing side of the business whilst I was the middle-man or
paper merchant buying from the mills and selling it on to
printers, publishers and the like.
But what I would like to briefly talk to you about tonight are
Peter’s interests outside of work.
Music and entertainment have always played a very big part in
Peter’s life and he has taken part in a number of lack of talent
competitions.
But how did it all start?
Well gentlemen, he took part, he performed to the best of his
ability and he won.
I know what you are thinking, how poor was the competition?
Glynis forgave him and did not throw him out.
To top things off in the audience was a tv talent scout.
I am sure that, like me, you remember the Saturday night talent
spotting show New Faces which was hosted amongst others by
Clifford Davis and the record producer Mickie Most.
The talent spotter at Gillingham was from the show and Peter
was invited to take part the year 1976.
He sang, played guitar and did the odd impression which
enabled him to fill his 3 minute slot, a similar period of time he
offorded his long suffering wife in their occasional more
intimate moments.
Sadly the clapometer which if you remember was the machine
Guest speaker, Andy Thompson
which judged the audiences reaction to the contestants
performance, unfortunately did not recognise Peters talent as it
registered extremely low on the Richter Scale. Peter left the then
ATV studios in Birmingham a not-so-creditable last having been
beaten by a dancing horse, a singing parrot and a performing
monkey. But Glynis felt he had done well and partially forgave
him, so defeated yes, but deterred, no. And he continues to talk to
himself today having very successfully failed on the football pitch.
Peter’s desire to entertain remained and for a period of time the
villages and greens of Rainham and Bexley Heath were unluckly
enough to witness a sixty minutes or so performance of his
greatest miss, weakest joke and out of tune guitar. What else
could he do?
After a while he saw the light and started to take a great interest
in what he called his 7 inch growth.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Please let me explain... Much to Glynis’ disappointment Peter’s
seven inch growth referred to his collection of seven inch records
or singles as we call them. His large collection allowed him to
take advantage of the need for mobile disc jockeys and he was
seen spinning discs at many of the local pubs, schools and
community centres that held dances at the time.
This all came to an end when he moved to Redditch where the
family still live and he made the decision to concentrate all his
efforts on his career in paper. Not for long however, as the pull to
get back out in front of the disco lights and witness those young
beautiful lovely girls moving to the hits of the day was just too
great.
Now to be fair, which you probably think that I have not been so
far, after a short period of time he secured a number of residences
and one in particular at the Abbey Park hotel which he held for
15 years.
Some achievement. It was at this time that his love of public
speaking came to the fore, and he has since spoken on many,
many occassions to hundreds of unsuspecting victims.
I must say at this stage that in my opinion he is probably the best
non-professional speaker you will listen to.
As you may well know Peter is a huge football fan and has
followed his beloved Tottenham Hotspur home and away for
many years.
An experience I have enjoyed with him both at White Hart Lane
and St. Andrews, the home of Birmingham City who are my
team, on the odd occasion that we were in the Premiership.
Prior to his spectatorship Peter did try his hand at playing.
Being quite tall and of large stature, I hesitate to say fat, the
obvious position for Peter to play was centre half as they called it
in those days.
Delighted at having been given the chance he unfortunately did
not have the experience he would have wished for ending up on
the wrong end of a five nil scoreline.
The match report afterwards stating that Bothwick’s debut
showed him particularily slow on the turn, however players had to
run a long way to get round his large physique, he did get up well
to low crosses, normal ones being more of a problem but despite
his obvious desire too do well he did display a total lack of ability.
Cruel, but true, and he was never to put on the boots again.
Yet another failure but this did not deter our would-be hero from
continuing to want the lime light.
But his greatest love is his family. Married to Glynis for 40 years
plus... The poor sod... Glynis that is.
They have 2 daughters, Jane and Katie, who in turn have provided
Peter and Glynis with 4 grandchildren, Lllly, Liam, Hari and
Grace.
What a lovely family... But it could have been oh so different. An
incident after their honeymoon nearly changed all that. Peter
being the, strong, dominant, forceful, male that he thinks he is,
decided that he felt it only right and proper to advise Glynis of
what his expectations were of his new wife.
So he produced for Glynis a full list of wifely do’s and don’ts. This
list in effect represented a ‘job description’ for being Peter’s wife.
As every self-respecting husband in the room will recognise, Peter
was too scared to present this list to Glynis, so he therefore
adopted a sensible principle for their marriage, which he often
quotes - "she goes her way and I go hers".
Gentlemen, Peter has been a loyal friend to me, a valuable
supplier to my various companies, and I’m sure he has been an
efficient President for the Old Stationers’ Association.
Gentlemen would you please join me in a toast to The Worshipful
Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, and the Old
Stationers’ Association.
Andy Thompson
Peter Bothwick, Peter Thomas, Mike Pinfield, Nick Steidl and Peter Winter.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
The President with guest speaker Andy Thompson and Dave Hudson
John Gray, Terry Jaggers and Ross Thompson from class of ’62.
Dave Cox, John Stern and Dave Lincoln
Dick Hersey, Don Bewick and John Partridge
Keith Mullender, Mike Weatherley, Peter Clydesdale, Colin Munday
8

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
NIck Steidl
Master of the Company
President, Bishop Stephen, Liverymen, Gentlemen
Thank you for inviting the Clerk and myself to this great
occasion in our ancient Hall. I am sure that, over the decades, you
will have come to know that this Institution has its roots in
Medieval times - so even older than the old Stationers’ School!
But we inherit our history - the important job now is to create
our future.
As I mentioned at Peter Bothwick’s year group lunch, I am
extremely jealous of you guys who seem to have enjoyed your
school life so much that you meet regularly and have lunches
almost every week. I certainly didn’t enjoy my school days. I
wouldn’t say mine was tough but we did have our own coroner
and used to write essays like “What I’m going to be IF I GROW
UP”.
Described recently as a ‘Veteran of the Paper Trade’, obviously
means that I know your President - in fact we have not only
competed with each other for four decades but for an extremely
short period we worked together. I was therefore amused to see
Peter described in the flyer as the ‘OUTGOING’ President - this
description of Peter has to be an understatement! He is a
constant cabaret and one of the most amusing acts in the
industry - you must have had a spectacularly fun year!
Tonight, linking the old to the new, I see you were kind enough
to include David Millar, Executive Director of Leigh Academies’
Trust and Executive Principal of Stationers’ Crown Woods
Academy in tonight’s guest list. It might be early days to try to
make a stronger link between the OSA and this new dynamic
school but I do hope it will become a medium term goal.
You might question how you can help this happen and the
obvious areas include mentoring and governance. With regards
to mentoring, the intention is to expand our cover to the SE
London cluster of Leigh Academies Trust schools - so not just
the Stationers’ Academy. Governance is a longer term project as
we have nearly now fixed the next three years but if you think you
are a suitable candidate and don’t live too far from the school in
Eltham, please register your interest with the Clerk. I know
David Millar also intends to work on setting up an association of
alumni at the Stationers’ Academy and maybe at a later date this
might be an opportunity to unify the old with the new.
I mentioned that the impression I always get is that the OSA
meet regularly for lunch which reminds me of a story.
“A group of Old Stationers, all aged 50, discussed where they
should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would
meet at Hooters, because the staff were young and friendly.
Ten years later, aged 60, the friends once again discussed where
they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would
meet at Hooters, because the waiters and waitresses were young
and efficient, the food and service were good and the wine list
was excellent.
Ten years later, at 70, the friends again discussed where they
should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would
meet at Hooters, because there was plenty of parking, they could
dine in peace and quiet without loud music, and it was good
value for the money.
Another ten years later, now 80, the friends discussed where they
should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would
meet at Hooters, because the restaurant was wheelchair and
walking stick accessible and had a large toilet for the disabled.
And at the fine age of 90, the friends discussed where they
should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would
meet at Hooters, because they had never been there before.”
Gentlemen, thank you again for inviting me to this dinner.
Nick Steidl
Master of the Company
Peter Bothwick
Master, Clerk, Honoured Guests, fellow Old Stationers.
Well I must firstly thank the two previous speakers for their
contributions. With these two plus myself, all three of us being
from the paper industry, we therefore have, in rugby terms, a
paper industry front row – and I know which one is the hooker!
Gentlemen, Andy Thompson is Commercial Director of Taylor
Bloxham Printers in Leicester, and is a customer of mine. I am in
fact a very significant supplier to Andy’s company – it’s a shame
he didn’t remember that tonight! Andy, I must admit that I was
impressed with your powers of research about me – it all adds up
now, my wife told me that there had been some old bloke
hanging about outside the house – but now we know it was you!
Gentlemen, you may have noticed from Andy’s accent that he’s
not from round here – but hopefully you got most of it.
Turning to the Master Nick Steidl – Nick told me beforehand
that his speech was going to be hard-hitting, provocative and
punchy. I don’t know why he changed his mind.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
But Gentlemen, I knew that Nick’s words this evening would be
gracious, because that is his style, a style to which I became
accustomed when, as he has mentioned, I briefly worked with
him back in 2006. Nick, thank you so much for being with us this
evening. I was humbled to hear you refer to me as one of the
most amusing acts in the paper industry. But I am encouraged by
the number of good young speakers coming through –none to be
exact, so I am especially encouraged !
Nick, I wholeheartedly endorse your words about the close
connection between the Old Stationers’ Association and the
Company. And may I please ask you to convey to your Company
colleagues our gratitude for the use of Stationers’ Hall for this
and other functions.
Gentlemen, I had also hoped to add my welcome to David
Millar, Executive Principal of Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy.
Unfortunately, David is unwell and could not join us. So Master,
may I please ask you to remind David of our open offer to give
any advice or guidance that may be necessary whenever the
process to form a Crown Woods former pupils’ Association is
started. For me personally, I was delighted to see the Stationers
name back in a school title in London. Yes, I know it is in South
London, across the Gaza strip, but the Stationers’ name, and our
connection to that name, is surely the most important
consideration. Nick, please inform David that we are here when
he needs us.
And Gentlemen, I must also thank Mike Pinfield for acting as our
MC this evening. Mike, it is good to see you back amongst us.
Gentlemen, as well as my Presidency coming to an end, so also
is my working career, at the end of this month, in fact. I have
completed 49 years in the paper industry, but now it will be time
Toastmaster, Mike Pinfield
Andy Thompson
for other things. I have promised Roger Rufey that I shall be
playing golf with Old Stationers Golf Society, although
considering my ability that is more of a threat than a promise!
As you will have seen in our recent magazine, my year of 1962
held our 55th anniversary reunion last September, here at
Stationers’ Hall. As a by-product of our reunions, we now have a
number of little splinter groups which meet occasionally to have
lunch, play golf, have football stadium tours, and other activities.
And I’m sure that other years have experienced the same.
This might not have been possible without the reunion concept,
and I therefore thank everyone who has been or will be involved
in their year’s reunion process.
Peter enjoying the occasion.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
And remember that the reunion attendance is truly a fertile,
captive audience for new OSA members. We have all done
brilliantly to maintain our membership level at above the 500
mark, but I’m sure there are more that we can introduce.
May I please record my thanks to those of you who have
attended any of the Association’s functions during the last year,
particularly our Spring and Autumn Lunches, and of course our
Christmas Lunch, held here at The Hall. We shall of course
value your continued support for these events during the coming
year.
But back now to Andy Thompson. Like me, Andy has worked in
the paper industry for many years, mainly as a paper merchant.
Indeed, he is known in that sector as the paper merchant’s paper
merchant – which surely is second only to being – popular.
Gentlemen, I can tell you that the name of Andy Thompson is
always mentioned whenever a senior role in the paper merchant
industry becomes available, usually because he’s just been sacked
from one.
As I think I hinted earlier, Andy is from Birmingham, and to his
credit, he does act as a great ambassador and promoter for the
city, which he and I always banter about. He always tells me that
in his opinion Birmingham is better in the Summer – and I
always tell him that in my opinion Birmingham is better in the
rear view mirror.
Andy did have a trial with Birmingham City – something to do
with Council Tax I think. No, I do mean Birmingham City FC.
As well as being a lifelong supporter of Birmingham City
Football Club, Andy is also very well connected inside the club.
Gentlemen, you will have heard of such players as Bob Latchford,
Kenny Burns, Trevor Francis – well so has Andy. But now is the
time that they need you as a supporter Andy, so all the best for
next season.
Gentlemen, I expect that previous Presidents, upon being
elected, have felt as daunted as I was by the challenge of
upholding the good name of the Old Stationers’ Association.
Thanks to the collective work of our Committee, I need not have
worried. Our Committee knows exactly when and how to raise
the game when it needs it, when and how to encourage and beg
for support, when and how to endorse and implement a decision.
At the Annual General Meeting earlier this evening, I am
pleased to say that we have re-elected another strong Committee
for the 12 months ahead, so you can all be assured Gentlemen
that the Association is in good hands going forward.
Fellow Old Stationers, I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as the
Association’s President. Thank you for giving me the honour and
the opportunity, and the best tribute that I can give to the role is
to say that I feel like doing another year!
That of course is not possible, so I shall take this opportunity if
I may to wish Peter Winter every success and full enjoyment as
he takes up the Presidential role very soon.
Fellow Old Stationers, finally may I thank you all for your
support tonight, and throughout my year, and I wish you all
continued good health, success and prosperity in the years ahead.
May I please toast you all – CHEERS – and thank you.
11

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Attendees
Geoff Aanonson 64-67
Hugh Alexander 64-71
Keith Allen 61-68
Gerry Ashton 58-65
John Baldwin 65-72
Stuart Behn 47-53
Stephen Bensley 63-70
Don Bewick 51-56
Marco Bittante 72-79
Geoff Blackmore 65-72
Ian Blackmore 67-74
Peter Bonner 55-62
Peter Bothwick 62-69
Michael Brady 51-57
Adrian Broadbent 78-82
Alan Burgess 63-70
Richard Cassel 61-68
Andreas Christou 80-85
Paul M Clague 73-80
Frank Clapp 63-69
David Clark 63-68
Peter Clydesdale 49-54
David Cox 53-60
Nigel Dant 63-71
Anthony Eade 73-80
Roger Engledow 54-59
Ivor Evans 46-51
Michael Facey 51-57
Andrew Forrow 60-67
Richard Forty 65-72
Bob Fry 65-71
Douglas Fussell 54-59
John Geering 53-60
Michael Geering 55-62
Philip Geering 61-68
John Gray 62-68
Alan Green 53-57
Michael Hasler 53-59
Tony Hemmings 54-59
Bichard Hersey 51-58
Michael Howell 73-80
David Hudson 62-69
Robert Hughes 61-68
Ray Humphreys 54-60
Clive Jackson 63-70
Terry Jaggers 62-69
Peter Jarvis 62-68
Michael Kahn 64-71
David Kaye 53-58
Keith Knight 55-63
Peter Knight 53-58
John Lane 72-80
Martin Lawrence 63-70
Roger Lill 63-65
Dave Lincoln 56-63
Tony Mash 61-68
Roger Melling 54-62
Peter Miller 58-66
Derek Mitchell 61-68
Tony Moffat 54-61
Michael Mote 55-60
Keith Mullender 56-63
Colin Munday 56-63
John Partridge 51-58
Frank Pearce 55-62
Richard Phillippo 54-62
Russell Plumley 56-64
Archie Reeve 58-65
John Rowlands 61-68
Peter Sandell 65-72
Peter Sargent 46-50
Roy Saunders 43-49
Rick Steff 65-71
Neil Steff 67-73
Jon Stern 63-70
Geoff Tapping 53-58
John Taylor 51-56
Peter Thomas 67-73
Ross Thompson 62-67
Michael Ttofi 73-80
David Turner 51-56
Richie Tyley 53-59
Kevin Waller 67-72
Peter Watcham 45-50
Mike Weatherley 54-59
Tim Westbrook 62-69
Terry White 65-71
Andy Wick 54-59
Chris Wilkins 57-63
Chris Williams 71-79
Mark Willison 73-80
Dr Richard Wilson 51-58
Peter Winter 63-70
Chris Woodhams 57-63
GUESTS
The Master
Nick Steidl
The Clerk
William Alden
Guest speaker
Andy Thompson
The Executive Principal
Stationers’ Crown Wood
Academy
David Millar
Toastmaster
Mike Pinfield
12

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OSA Lunch Tuesday 15th May 2018
Thirty seven Old Boys gathered at the Imperial Hotel, Russell
Square, London on a warm Spring day to partake in a hearty
lunch and convivial conversation. After pre-lunch drinks at the
bar, we sat down to tuck into an entrée of Brie and asparagus
cheesecake followed by a generous serving of traditional steak &
kidney pie with an unlimited supply of potatoes – (much to the
relief of our more discerning Old Boys)! For those of us
watching our waistlines, a healthy dessert followed of fresh fruit,
albeit with lashings of fresh cream! This was all washed down
with copious amounts of red Bordeaux and white wines.
After lunch we had an entertaining talk from our Guest Speaker
His Worship, the Mayor of Camden, Richard Cotton, also an
Old Stationer who joined the School in 1963. Richard explained
to us that the Chain of Office he was wearing represented the
district of Holborn in which Russell Square sits and was
Old Stationer, Richard Cotton, Mayor of Camden
Texting for a taxi.
presented by the Duke of Bedford, the land owner for much of
Holborn. He has a second Mayoral Chain for the Borough of
Camden which he wears when he attends functions at the Town
Hall. Richard also produced a copy of his School Report and
provided anecdotes from the comments given by his teachers.
Our President, Peter Winter, then reported on the Committee’s
efforts during the past few months and reminded us of upcoming
events for our diaries. Before lunch, our President called for a
brief pause for us to reflect on the life of Geraint Pritchard and
his outstanding work for the School and OSA.
The afternoon was rounded off with an enthusiastic rendition of
the School Song and engaging conversation before we departed.
A few stalwarts then followed their doctor’s orders “to keep
hydrated in warm weather” and retired to a local hostelry for
further refreshment.
Peter Thomas
Old Stationers’ Golf Society
OSA golf team wins back the cup from Old Tollingtonians
13

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
to sharing a buggy). The compensation for Tony was that along
with Peter Bennett they won the pairs cup with 35 points. Ian
Meyrick & George Jones came in second with 34 points and last
years winners Tim Westbrook and Colin Walker came in third
with 34 points. We all enjoyed the day at Aldenham Golf &
Country Club despite a cool wind and a challenging course.
Sadly we have had some old members retire this year due in most
part to health reasons. We have lost Michael Game, Peter
Clydesdale, Terry Jaggers, Don Munns, and very sadly most
recently Tony Taylor has had to give up playing. We also have
Keith Ranger who is getting ready to play again later this year
following a serious illness from which he is now happily
Individual winner at South Herts, Dave Lincoln
Aldenham Pairs winners, Tony Mash & Peter Bennett
Peter Bennett who came second at South Herts receives his prize.
The 2018 season is now upon us and so far we have had two
meetings which have been most enjoyable. We beat our Old
Tollingtonians friends in April at South herts Golf Club to
retrieve the new cup we lost last year with a resounding points
win from the best seven players from each side. The weather was
not very nice, but unlike last year at least it didn’t rain throughout
the round! Individually we were well represented by Dave
Lincoln who won the best individual score and Peter Bennett
who was second. I know I will be shot for this, but I have lost the
paper with the scores (taken I believe by he opposition captain
presumably to hide their shame!) The general consensus was that
we should play this course again since it was enjoyed by all and
is a new venue for us.
We met again in May and were sadly under supported with only
ten players including two cripples (myself & Tony Mash reduced
Aldenham 2nd placed Pairs, George Jones & Ian Meyrick
14

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
recovering, and Roy Saunders who is also recovering from injury
with an enthusiasm that belittles his age and annoys his doctor.
Hopefully both Keith & Roy will be with us again soon.
I am concerned that we need more members and I reiterate Peter
Bonner’s concern before I took over from him that we need more
members of a younger age to keep the society going in the future.
There are more people out there but we need you the members
to chase them up and encourage them to join us. We had the
absolute minimum of 10 people at our last meeting and if we fall
below that we will have difficulty in getting society bookings.
Finally, I need to remind everyone that we have taken a booking
for a summer weekend on 19th/20th August based on a
confirmed minimum number of 10 players with a promise of
more. At present we are two down due to Tony Taylor & his wife
dropping out and I will not risk losing anymore money than the
deposit already paid by the society if by the end of June we have
not got at least 10 people committed to play. I will shortly be
sending out reminders of this outing and be asking for deposits
to enable me to pay the balance but we would welcome any OS’s
who may not be a member but would love to join old friends for
a weekend’s golf at Donnington Valley. Wives are invited to both
play or just join their husbands for a weekend away where they
can enjoy the area generally while the rest of us play golf.
Our next match is against the Company at Brookmans Park
Golf Club and I hope as many as possible join us for what I’m
sure will be an excellent day’s golf ending hopefully with us
retrieving the cup from last year’s defeat.
Roger Rufey
The Stationers’ Company v
Old Stationers Golfing Society
The annual match between the Company and the Old Boys has
become a regular event and on 20th June 2018 we did it all again
for the ninth year in succession.
It was a glorious day for weather and the parkland course at
Brookmans Park, just north of Potters Bar was in magnificent
condition.
18 players teed off with optimism, and with mixed results 18
players returned to the club house to recount the stories of “if
only” and tales of woe of balls lost in watery graveyards or trees
and bushes.
This competition played in June has usually been blessed with
good weather and its attraction, despite the need to secure a
victory for either team, the quality of golf and camaraderie
between players means that golfers with high handicaps are not
OSGS 2018 fixtures for the diary
Mon 23rd July Potters Bar Cup Comp 2
19th/20th Aug
Donnington Valley Summer Tour
Mon 17th Sept Brickendon Grange Cup Comp 3
Fri 19th Oct Mill Green Three Ball Competition
Roger Rufey and Mike Kerlogue, Brookmans Park
disadvantaged and without question everybody who participated
this year enjoyed their day.
After a late lunch which was truly appreciated by those
competing it was time for prize giving and the news of who was
the winning side. At this point, the author of this report is
somewhat embarrassed and will announce the results without
any comment!!
Winning team – The Company with 196 stableford points and
runners up not far behind -The Old Boys with 190.
Player with highest stableford score – Mike Kerlogue
Runner up, after a count-back – Tony Barker
Nearest the pin on both par 3 holes – Mike Kerlogue
(Needless to say some of my prizes were recycled to more worthy
golfers on the day)
To make these days run well you need an organizer who is
dedicated to work at getting things done, and Roger Rufey
certainly made sure we had a great day. Thank you, Roger.
Finally, thanks to all who took part and hopefully you’ll join us
next year to do it all again, when the Company will endeavour to
retain the splendid silver trophy, which dates back to 1921, when
it was first used by the old school for an inter-house “sixes”
competition.
To all those reading this report – Liverymen or Freemen – who
would like to join us next year, you will be most welcome, if you
only swing the clubs once or twice a year then I am confident you
will enjoy the day out, as it’s ideal for all standards of golfers.
Mike Kerlogue
Liveryman
Contact Roger Rufey if you want to play in any of these matches.
15

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OSFC Season report 2017-2018
Another season has drawn to a close and the guarded optimism....
things can only get better etc, etc... expressed in the mid-season
report unfortunately failed to materialise.
As previously reported the 1st XI started the season promisingly,
then struggled for much of the winter before gaining 3 wins and
two draws in their final 5 games to finish 8th out of 10 in SAL
Senior Division 3. Although, slightly reassuringly, this was 11
points clear of the 9th placed side, Kew Association and the gap
between us and third spot was also only 11 points. Furthermore
two draws, early season and late season, against eventual
Champions, Carshalton showed that we can certainly be
competitive given the right commitment....hopefully things can
only get better etc etc next season!
As explained in the mid-season report, we unfortunately had to
drop our 2nd XI soon after the season started which meant that
we only ran a 1st XI and 3rd XI. The 3rd XI’s early season woes
continued for much of the campaign which saw them sadly
finish bottom of SAL Junior North Division 4, a goal difference
of -80 from 18 games tells its own story. Although credit should
be given to the hard core of five or six players who turned out
regularly despite the weekly struggles.
No doubt over the summer there will be discussions amongst the
Committee and senior players to determine how we proceed
from here. On a positive note it seems likely that one of the
younger, talented and enthusiastic members of the 1st XI, James
Keenan, will take over the captaincy next season and he is likely
to introduce some fresh faces to bolster the squad, which did
show plenty of promise in a number of games, particularly
towards the end of the season.
Although for many years we have been able to call upon an
experienced and capable Committee to administer the Club, our
problem has been for too long now, finding willing, able and
enthusiastic captains to run the sides below the 1st XI, which is in
many ways is an even more important aspect to a successful Club.
However as has been well documented, whilst a few clubs in
AFA/SAL football continue to thrive, many are experiencing the
same trials and tribulations that we are. We must all face up to
the fact that at our level of Saturday afternoon football we are
competing with a number other distractions. Televised Premier
League games on Saturday, less time consuming condensed
football in the form of Power League 5-a-side style competitions,
being just two examples that spring to mind.
Hopefully things can only get better in 2018/19!!
To finish on a more positive note, we will be holding our popular
Annual Ex-Players Re-union Day in early October 2018, please
pass on the word. We will confirm the exact date nearer the time,
so please look out for details of this and other information about
OSFC on our website www.oldstationersfc.co.uk
Ian Meyrick
ian.meyrick@gmail.com
Reunions
CLass of ’54 - THE SEARCH IS ON...
The intake of 1954 have held their annual reunion lunch at The
Cheshire Cheese in Little Essex Street for the last few years, but
it is now due for redevelopment and we have to find a new venue.
Mo and her friendly staff have always given us the top floor of
the pub for our exclusive use and we wish to find a pub which
would give us similar accommodation. Our requirements are:
• A room for our exclusive use
• Free choice from a good menu for each person
• No room charge, deposit or minimum spend.
In this way, we could just book the room and tell our class mates
when it was and there would be no financial commitment other
than each person pays his own bill. A task force of Roger
Engledow, Bob Harris, Roger Melling and me was set up to
search for the new venue. The only way to find an appropriate
venue was to visit some likely candidate pubs that Roger
Engledow had selected to see if they could provide us with what
we wanted. You may think that it was an excuse for a pub crawl
– you would be right.
The Parcel Yard
This was our first stop and is within Kings Cross railway station
so it is easy to get to. It is a grade 1 listed building and has lots
of interesting rooms to explore. It used to be the parcel yard and
associate buildings, but today it is a welcoming Fullers pub
although both the beer and food are a bit pricey. The old Waiting
Room is the main public area, but they have several rooms to
accommodate private parties. The First Class Lounge can take
up to 40 people seated and is where the class of 1967 hold their
reunions. The Station Master’s Office is a bit quirky, overlooks
platforms 0 – 7 (a trainspotters’ paradise) and can seat 30 people.
Both rooms would do, but they wanted a deposit, to provide a
buffet or set meal and a single bill to be settled at the end. Not
what we wanted.
Ye Olde Mitre
Our next stop was the Olde Mitre, another Fullers pub, in Ely
Place EC1N, just off Hatton Garden. It is difficult to find and
we walked past it the first time. The pub was built in 1546 for
the servants of the Bishops of Ely, and is famous for having a
cherry tree that Queen Elizabeth once danced around. The pub
was actually a part of Cambridge (Ely being in Cambridge) and
the publicans used to have to go to Ely for their licences. It has
a gruesome past, being near where William Wallace was hanged,
drawn and quartered at Smithfield, along with martyrs and
16

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
traitors who were also killed nearby. It has a great selection of
beers and CAMRA members get 15% off. However, it was too
small to take our group and only did light snacks at lunchtime.
Time to move on.
The Inn of Court
This is another Fullers pub and is situated in Holborn, EC1N. It
used to be an old bailiff ’s office and now claims to have fantastic
homemade pies (it is an “Ale and Pie House”) and perfectly
conditioned, award-winning ales. It used to be called the Melton
Mowbray and was where the 1954 intake first met on our 50th
Reunion. We had to admit that they did have a good selection of
beers and food and we had lunch there (Figure 1). They had a
small mezzanine area upstairs “The Dock” but it was very noisy
from the bar downstairs. They also had a good sized, separate
room downstairs conveniently near to the Gents for those with
weak bladders. The downside was that they wanted a deposit, a bill
at the end and a minimum spend of £ 1,500. Oops! Time to go.
The Edgar Wallace
This is a curious pub set in the heart of the legal profession in
Essex Street WC2, close to the Cheshire Cheese. It is named
after the prolific crime writer and journalist Edgar Wallace and
has a long shelf full of his books. The walls and ceiling are
covered with old advertising boards for beer and cigarettes, so it
looks like you just went back 50 years. They don’t have music,
betting machines and do not allow laptops to interfere with
people having a chat. Their signature dishes of delicacies such as
the Edgar Wallace Burger and Edgar Wallace All Day Brunch
sounded tempting. They had an upstairs that we could use, but
we could not have it exclusively.
Thus, none of the four pubs we visited could do what we wanted.
So the search continues…
Tony Moffat
CLASS OF ’46
I attended Sationers from 1946-1951. There are just a
few Old Boys from that time. I admit that we are getting
on a bit. I do not know where the pupils from that time
have gone. May be some may join via the publicity. Alan
Cleps
CLASS OF ’51
at The Old Manor, Potters Bar, Monday 29th October at
12.30.
A booking has been arranged for yet another reunion for
the 1951 intake - as above.
Awful news concerning Geraint, who was so helpful
when we had our intitial reunion back in 2011 - in
particular supplying list of the 90 plus who started at the
school all those years ago - as well as much encouragement
- which I’m afraid we just tended to take for granted.
Don Bewick
CLASS OF ’55
The next reunion of the 1955 intake is a lunch on 13
November 2018 this year in Gray’s Inn Hall. Keith
[Knight]
Class of ’68 Reunion
The Parcel Yard, King Cross on 14th September at 7pm
Contact Sean Leonard at:
sean.leonard102@ntlworld.com
or join the Facebook group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603909263240648
More Reviews to follow in next magazine ( Ed)
The Inn of Court Review team. From left to right: Tony Moffat, Roger Melling, Roger Engledow and Bob Harris.
17

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
TRIBUTES TO GERAINT PRITCHARD
For many years I took a neighbour of my
father to Chapel in the small market town
of Morpeth. The lady, Emma, I knew was
born in Llanrwst, Anglesey and moved as
an employee of the Civil Service to London
in the 50s. When a certain Welsh
Presbyterian Minister was made aware of
her arrival in London she was welcomed to
his Chapel, Jewin. Here she met up again
with a friend from her school days and
also became great friends with other
members of this family.
Eighteen years ago on a particular Saturday
I received a call from Emma to tell me that
she wouldn’t require a lift the following
day as she had visitors and in fact was
going to attend an afternoon service at
another chapel, further North in Amble,
which had been reopened following a
refurbishment. The preacher that day
would be Mr. Alan Beith, Lib. Dem
member of Parliament for Berwick, also a
very able Methodist Lay Preacher. I
mentioned to Emma that I may well meet
up with her at Amble.
The following day after returning from the
morning service with my father to his
home I received a telephone call from
Emma inviting me to take a lift with them
to Amble. It turned out this visiting friend
was a Geography teacher who in no way
resembled any teacher I had ever met at
my school.
Following that service in Amble we walked
to the harbour to take photographs of the
Staithes, now in disrepair. I think this was
the beginning of my Geography A Level.
Thankfully I had remembered a reasonable
amount about cloud formation, Fluvial,
Glacial, Rift and Flat-bottomed valleys
and of course the Northumberland/
Geraint and Marj
Durham Coalfield, I thought I was off to a
flying start.
After returning to Morpeth that evening I
enjoyed a cup of tea with this interesting,
challenging visitor then returned to my
home.
The following morning the telephone rang
and I was asked “Is the coffee shop open?”
Geraint arrived with a barrage of questions.
It became obvious that we shared a love of
the great outdoors, challenging walks,
foreign travel and theatre visits. I was
slightly concerned when I was asked what
my standard of typing was like. Little did I
know, that years later, I would have some
input into this renowned magazine.
We corresponded for the next few months
then eventually started meeting up at
weekends for visits around the UK, usually
starting in Yorkshire, not quite a midway
point but a convenient place to leave one
of our cars. As the years went by I continued
to be amazed how Geraint would strike up
conversations with unsuspecting strangers
who would eventually share some link,
whether it be birthplace, education,
employment, travel or tea and coffee shops.
His love of discovery was infectious. He
was the most prolific communicator I have
ever met, but then you all know that and
many have benefitted from his great
interest and fellowship and ability to
network with all who wished to respond.
I would like to thank all Old Stationers
who played such an important role in
Geraint’s rich life, those of you have
managed to visit our home in Harewood
and also who have given me support and
encouragement over recent weeks.
It has been my privilege to be part of
Geraint’s life
Marj
Family tribute
We thought we knew Geraint very well
but what has become apparent in this past
ten days is how much his life has impacted
on all of you here and on so many others
who can’t be here today. We have been
overwhelmed by tributes and compliments
you have paid expressing your own personal
relationships with Geraint ~ to quote a few
of the words you have sent ~ inspirational,
enormous enthusiasm, total dedication,
Geographer par excellence, ability to recall
minute details, larger than life, insatiable
appetite for knowledge, a passion for
people and his joy of discovery. Thanks to
you, we feel we now know him even better.
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
In the following few minutes we would
like to try to illustrate how he became that
captivating person.
Being born in the middle of the second
world war, his parents wisely took him
from Muswell Hill to the relative safety of
the Conway Valley to be with his greatgrandparents,
thus nurturing his great love
of North Wales. On his return to London
he had very happy years at Rhodes Avenue
Primary School until it was necessary for
him to spend time in Barnet General
Hospital, and at Winifred House
Convalescent Home, thus missing a period
of nine months of school. As Geraint has
continued to do with the rest of his life, he
turned this episode around to be a positive
experience. We suspect that this period of
time was the start of his literary career ~
filling his time with countless letters and
asking his parents to bring him more and
more pens, paper and stamps as his supply
was running out. Meanwhile he employed
himself assisting the nurses to produce
perfect hospital corners!
During the school holidays the family
travelled to Anglesey to spend time on his
uncle’s farm ~ an eight hour journey then
by car but never boring to Geraint! He
would stand behind the driver’s
shoulder,(no seat-belts then of course),
watching and checking the route and
learning and remembering road numbers,
developing his intrinsic sat-nav! There
would be a lot of fun and excitement with
the cousins but also he would be learning
about different breeds of cattle and sheep,
hay-making, arable farming, thus, starting
to discover physical Geography. Maybe it
didn’t have that name then but the seeds
were sown!
Throughout his life, his church known as
Jewin, was an integral part of his existence,
attending three times on Sundays, and
forming many friendships which still exist
to this day. There were a number of activities
through the week, including table tennis,
singing, scripture classes and acting ~ his
A young Geraint already out exploring in Muswell Hill.
Geraint with family
debut performance of a very short career!
As a young boy he would also travel with
his grandfather when he was due to preach
in other Welsh chapels across the City ~
from Walthamstow to Ealing, Holloway to
Lewisham ~ so already developing his
knowledge of compass points and bus
numbers ~ never to be forgotten!
Secondary School beckoned and never
then would anybody realise how much the
Stationers’ Company School would be of
such importance to him. The influence of
his years there,the new friends he made,his
own teachers that he remembered so well
(especially the latin teacher!) and
subsequently his teaching colleagues have
all remained a significant part of his life, so
much so that if on a well-planned journey
a Stationer dared to live within a ten-mile
radius of the planned route he would be
unexpectedly encouraged to put on the
kettle and Geraint would be forgivably late
at his destination!
Three years studying Geography and one
year studying Education at Sheffield
University, led Geraint to enjoy meeting
yet another new group of friends many of
whom have remained loyal. Not surprisingly,
living on the edge of Derbyshire, it was
natural for Geraint to begin exploring the
wonders of The Peak District, the hills,
caves and caverns and learning the history
of well-dressings. His enthusiasm for
returning to this beautiful area never waned
and, in fact, Geraint was entertained only
last year, during the well-dressing period,
by a Stationer (an ex-pupil of his) and was
treated to a Bakewell pudding!
During those student days he would hitchhike
home and often help his father (who
owned a Surgical Instrument Company)
with his deliveries around the London area
and sometimes as far away as Norfolk ~
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
hence picking up new knowledge and
skills, including being able to list, name
and compare the quality of surgical
instruments from England (Sheffield of
course), China or Germany. To this day he
could still name the doctors and vets in the
areas he visited.
For the next three years Geraint developed
his teaching skills in St Albans... in
preparation for the ‘call’ to Stationers! The
opportunity was too great to miss! Once
there he totally immersed himself in every
aspect of school life, encouraging learning
within the classroom and, just as
importantly, beyond the classroom. We
still have Old Stationers visiting who
graphically recall those legendary field
trips, some of whom found inspiration for
their future careers because of their
enhanced knowledge and understanding
of geology and geography gained through
the ‘soles of their boots’. A number of these
City children had never experienced the
sights and sounds of the countryside, let
alone be up-close to farm animals, enjoy
the majesty of a mountain or... wash their
frying-pans in a stream. To gain the skills
of orienteering, Geraint introduced the
idea to the students of The Three Peak
Challenge in Yorkshire, the start and end
of which would be recorded in the Pen-yghent
cafe. For those not familiar with this
challenge, it entailed climbing three
mountains totalling 5,200 feet of ascent,
over a distance of 24 miles, within twelve
hours! On completion Geraint was as
proud of their achievements as the students
themselves! We understand these trips to
Derbyshire, Yorkshire and his beloved
North Wales were highlights for children
and staff.
Due to the closure and demolition of
Stationers’ School, Geraint secured a
position at Nower Hill School in the
Borough of Harrow. He attained the
position of Deputy Head and soon found
himself enjoying the new challenges of
management. Subsequently, he found
himself with a budget to be used to build
new facilities to enhance the school and
spent a happy year visiting other schools
up and down the country to learn how he
could maximise the use of his budget by
looking at the best of their facilities.
Geraint’s final teaching post was in the
East end of London at Bethnal Green
Technology College where he embraced
new challenges ~ that of communicating
with students whose first language was not
English. In fact there were thirty-five
different languages used by children in
that school.
Retirement was looming and Geraint
began to look forward to pursuing his
many hobbies and interests. Leading up to
the year 2000 his mobility was decreasing
due to deterioration of his hip-joint and he
thought it was goodbye to those precious
views from high peaks. However, several
years later, following a successful operation,
his McMinn hip took him back up to his
beloved Peaks in Yorkshire to enjoy once
again his cup of tea in the Pen-y-ghent
cafe, and, even more challenging, back to
Snowdon and Crib Goch. A dream or the
challenge he thought he would never do
was becoming a possibility ~ he began to
plan to walk the 268 miles from Edale to
Kirk Yetholm ~ The Pennine Way! And
indeed he did it!
There are so many stories we would like to
share with you but time is restricting us.
Please let us share three more. A German
Prisoner of War, who had been stationed at
Geraint’s uncle’s farm, returned years later
to Wales with some members of his family,
so as to introduce them to the Welsh
family who had looked after him so well.
Geraint and John Leeming with the upper 6th in 1974
20

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Imparting knowledge with a smile.
On hearing this it became another piece of
information to store in Geraint’s already
very-full address book...for the future. In
1973 on his return from the North Cape of
Norway Geraint just ‘happened’ to pass the
small village of Eime, near Hanover, and
found Eric,the ex-prisoner of war. Geraint
announced,“I’m from Anglesey!” A new
lasting friendship was forged with Eric and
his children and grandchildren, involving
many visits to each other’s country.
The second story involves meeting a Head
Salesman of an agricultural machinery
company way up in Scotland, who
discussed with Geraint the various showgrounds
that he visited throughout the
At a parent’s association social in the 70’s
year . Several months later, you can imagine
Geraint’s delight and the salesman’s
surprise at being tracked down at the
Anglesey show!
And finally, during another holiday, in
France, following an evening meal in
Contabre, on hearing a couple speaking
English, Geraint managed to intercept
them with the question, ”Where do you
come from?” After chat and exchanging
information about teashops, an invitation
was given, ”If ever you are passing our way,
do call for a cup of tea”. Another address
went into the diary!! Two years later,
during a holiday based around the
Aberdeen area, our intrepid explorer
somehow navigated his way to a fairly
isolated spot, hidden from the road, along
a track, through some woodland as
darkness was approaching and knocked on
the door to claim that cup of tea. Who
could be more surprised than the
inhabitants! They became good friends
and regular communicators.
Geraint has experienced the joy of the
companionship of many friends and
associates ~ one diary and one address
book has hardly ever been adequate....they
wear out with over-use! He collected
people to communicate with, either by pen
and ink, electronically, by telephone or, his
preferred choice, by face to face contact.
Very few people he met escaped. A school
French penfriend as well as his cousin’s
penfriend from 60 years ago are still in
contact and were visited regularly!
His illness never got in his way. He
journeyed alongside it. He continued with
his writing, his communicating, his
teaching and his beloved Stationers’
magazine! A larger than life personality,
known and loved by many, he will be
greatly missed but what a joy and a
privilege it has been to be part of that life.
Thank you Geraint.
ge
The Reverend
Richard Brunt
First of all, I would like to express the
sincere sympathy we all feel with Marj,
Mair and Bethan and all the family in your
loss of Geraint.
Geraint was ordained as an elder in 1977
and so last year was the 40th year of his
very loyal service as an elder of Jewin
Welsh Presbyterian Church. He served as
both Chairman and Secretary of the elders
and also for a time produced the church’s
newsletter.
He always made a particular effort to
welcome anyone new to Jewin and to keep
in contact with former members and
friends. One of my earliest memories of
Geraint, soon after I started attending
Jewin, is being invited to have fish and
21

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
I last visited Geraint at home in Harewood
just a couple of weeks ago. As always, he
and Marj made me extremely welcome
and after a lovely lunch we spent a few
very happy hours speaking mostly about
Jewin and travelling. In the good tradition
which Geraint taught me, I now have in
my diary notes of excellent itineraries for
Germany and the Netherlands and I am
now particularly determined to visit
Potsdam and Delft having listened to
Geraint’s recommendations. These places
were brought alive to me by him.
Rounding off the day with three kinds of
cake from Betty’s Tea Shop, I set off back
to London very glad to have been in
Geraint’s company; encouraged by his
support; inspired by the way he always
lived life to the full even in the face of his
illness; and strengthened by the sincere
care, encouragement and concern he
always gave to others and the love and care
with which he was constantly surrounded
and upheld from Marj, Mair and Bethan
and all his family and friends.
ge
Geraint,
Our Contemporary
With Head Boy, Robert Duncan and Deputy, Ray Houldsworth, 1982
chips at a restaurant near the church with
him and Gareth Owen, one of our organists
at Jewin, and now also an elder of the
church. Geraint always wanted to make
people feel part of the family of the church.
Geraint worked hard with the elders to
arrange a Service of Thanksgiving to
celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the new
building of Jewin Church in September
2011. The service was truly memorable with
a large congregation of former members and
friends making special efforts and long
journeys to attend. The sermon was
preached by the Rev’d J.E. Wynne Davies,
who has been unfailing in his guidance and
support for the church through the years.
The service was followed by a lecture
delivered by Mr Davies on aspects of the
history of Jewin, tracing events to the
opening of the new building in 1961.
Following the lecture, in collaboration with
the Rev’d J.E. Wynne Davies, Geraint was
responsible for the publication of a book on
the history of Jewin written by Mr Davies in
English for the benefit of the children of the
church and so many members and friends.
Geraint also initiated and arranged another
extremely meaningful service in November
2015 to celebrate the centenary of the
Induction of the Rev’d D.S.Owen, minister
of Jewin from 1915 until 1959, and Geraint’s
much loved and greatly revered grandfather.
Geraint was also chairman of the
Cymdeithas at Jewin for years and practically
every year he gave us an evening on where
he had been and what he had seen. He
would always send postcards to members
and friends of Jewin when he went abroad.
To live in Wales is to be conscious
At dusk of the spilled blood
That went into the making of the wild sky,
Dyeing the immaculate rivers in all their
courses*
Geraint, or Pritch as we knew him, joined
the school from Rhodes Avenue Primary
School, Muswell Hill, in 1954 and
remained until 1962. Everybody knew
who he was but he knew much more about
us than we ever did about him since he was
a very private person. His was a quiet and
disciplined approach to life and he always
seemed to be very aware of everything that
was going on. He seldom, if ever, graced
the detention room and certainly never
missed a merit half. It was clear early on
that he was ‘prefect material’ and in due
course a good prefect he turned out to be.
He relished being Welsh and his Welshspeaking
family of whom he was very
proud. Geraint’s father supplied medical
instruments and Geraint sometimes
accompanied him on his travels and this
may well have stimulated his love of
geography and his journeys at home and
abroad in later life. He had two sisters
whom he rarely talked about but was close
to throughout his life - Mair who became
Head Girl at Hornsey High School and
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
later held very senior posts in the
commercial world and Bethan who became
a primary school teacher. Since ours was a
boys’ school these girls must have given a
good balance to his life and, if he felt that
his sisters were ‘snapping at his heels’, he
definitely did not show it. He spent most
summer holidays, certainly in his early
school years, on his uncle’s farm on
Anglesey where he gained a good general
understanding of agriculture. Geraint also
would speak warmly of his grandfather
saying that he wanted to go to university
and get a degree like him. At his funeral
service we discovered that this grandfather,
the Rev D S Owen** was Minister of
Jewin Chapel in the City of London for 44
years and was greatly respected.
Geraint enjoyed sport. I remember that he
could throw a cricket ball further than most
of us and he served Meredith House well in
all sporting activities. His greatest physical
achievements though were in the water and
he was awarded an Instructor’s Certificate
in Lifesaving in 1958, the Bronze Medallion
for Lifesaving in 1959 and came second in
the Pascoe Lifesaving Competition (senior
boys) in 1961 - Roger Melling was first. In
later life, of course, he played for Old
Stationers’ football teams and got a great
deal of pleasure from this. If memory serves
me correctly he was ‘a good sport’ in
another sense as well since he took the risk
of going on one of Beaky Davis’ school
holidays in France and enjoyed it!
Non-sporting achievements included
coming top of Form 4A in 1958, winning
the C F Clay Memorial Prize for elocution
and a prize for a Civics Essay in 1961.
Geraint’s best subjects were Latin and
Geography which he pursued through to A
levels. His first Latin teacher was Gus
Thomas and this was followed by Johnny
Gore who told us all to forget everything
Gus had taught us since we were to start
again and do it ‘his way’ . He achieved very
high grades in Latin at both O and A level.
Geography though was his passion and
whereas the rest of us were largely
uninspired by Sam Read’s requirement that
we learn by heart the names of all the
countries in South America and their
capitals, Geraint ‘lapped it up’. Another of
Mr Read’s tests was to draw a map of the
City of London which Geraint had no
difficulty in doing taking into account his
love of Geography and his regular
attendance at a City Chapel. He greatly
admired Joe Symons and considered it a
great privilege to have studied under him
and then to work with him later as a fellow
teacher at the school. His third A level was
French but he always felt that he should
have chosen another subject. One of the set
books, in French of course, was the ‘Crime
of Sylvester Bonnard’ by Anatole France - a
strange book which did not appeal to him.
‘Well, what was his crime? It was not
obvious and nobody clarified it’ was a
repeated observation he was still making
fifty years later. It is perhaps just as well that
he pursued Geography and not French at
Sheffield University after he left school
There are two events involving Geraint’s
association with Mr Gore that are perhaps
worth mentioning. He was present when
another lad, early in the A level Latin
course, was asked to translate aloud for the
class a sentence from a passage of Latin
that he should have prepared for
homework. The Latin word for ‘to speak
to each other’ is ‘interloquor’ and the story
involved a man and a woman in adjacent
prison cells having a conversation which
the fumbling boy translated as ‘they had
intercourse through the wall’. The result of
this was immediate and permanent
expulsion from the Latin set! The second
event was that in later life Geraint
maintained telephone contact with Johnny
Gore until the redoubtable Mr Gore
brought his last call to an early end by
asking him whether he had nothing better
to do with his time than chat to an old
man. This assiduity in making and
maintaining contact with people, though,
paid dividends since many of us owe our
membership of the Association to being
tracked down and canvassed by Geraint.
Geraint was a good friend to have and
when his best friend from school, Roger
Scola, who was clever and an excellent
cricketer, was diagnosed in his early
twenties with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Geraint kept in regular contact until
Roger’s death in his late thirties. It is also
interesting that although the general
consensus was that the boy ‘chucked out’ of
the Latin set got what he deserved, Geraint
who was friendly with him, maintained
that this was wrong and ‘would never be
allowed to happen today’. He believed in
rightness and fairness. For example, earlier
in his school career he took it upon himself
to approach Mr Topley, his form master, to
ask whether there would be a school
outing as in other years, only to be told,
quite firmly, that there would not be.
As mentioned Geraint always seemed to
know what was going on and those of us
who took A level History are indebted to
him for checking out our syllabus. For
almost 2 years we had been learning about
Emperor Napoleon the Third of France
but Geraint, although he was not doing
this course himself, discovered that this had
been taken off the syllabus. The consequence
of this was that the ‘Social History of
Victorian England’ had to be ‘crammed in’
at almost the last minute. The outcome was
that at least some of the class passed A
level History and his action certainly saved
all members of this group from turning up
for this paper and finding that none of the
subject areas had been covered.
Geraint’s adult life was very full. He was a
great traveller and as the other articles in
this magazine show he made major and
beneficial contributions as a teacher at
Stationers and St Albans, as a longstanding
OSA Committee Member, and
as the very diligent editor of this magazine.
He ‘played his cards close to his chest’
though and was full of surprises. Everybody
thought he was a confirmed bachelor until,
at a recent President’s Day cricket match,
he arrived with his delightful long term
partner, Marj***, who was such a great
support to him in his last years. His links
with his Chapel were known but nobody
would have predicted their extent or that
he would become an Elder. Nobody would
have thought he would have the moral
courage and strength of mind to stay in his
last teaching post in a tough East London
Comprehensive School where pupils had
told him during his first week that his ‘days
were numbered’. Nor could anybody have
foreseen the amazingly brave and positive
way in which he coped with his final
illness. Yet, the greatest surprise is probably
that this essentially quiet boy grew into a
man who made such a great success of his
life in so many different spheres.
Geraint’s passing is sad but it is entirely
fitting that at his funeral service in
Anglesey his coffin was brought into the
Chapel with Alfie Boe singing ‘Bring him
home’ since Wales was his spiritual home.
It is equally suitable that during the service
the school song was sung by the 18 Old
Stationers**** present, since Stationers’
School was such a large part of his life and,
of course, it is very apt that his coffin left
the Chapel to the music of ‘Streets of
London’ since although he was Welsh he
was a Londoner as well. Well done Geraint.
Rest in Peace.
Richard Phillippo
* Opening lines from ‘Welsh Landscape’ by R
S Thomas (1913-2000), a celebrated Welsh
poet who lived in Anglesey.
** The Reverend David Samuel Owen
arrived at Jewin Chapel in 1915 and served
there for 44 years. The Chapel was bombed in
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
1940 and services were held in the London
Welsh Hall until a new Chapel was completed
shortly after the end of his tenure.
*** Marj Laundon, a retired Macmillan
Nurse. She tells of an occasion last year when
Geraint, in hospital, detected ‘something a bit
Welsh about one of the Registrars. You’ve got
it. Blow the investigation and bring on the
interrogation’. He established that this doctor’s
grandfather had preceded his own at Jewin
and as soon as he got home studied the ancient
Jewin books to see where he fitted in.
**** Old Stationers present at Geraint’s funeral
service were: Ian Blackmore, Tony Eade,
Michael Ttofi, Mike Howell, Tim Westbrook,
Peter Thomas, Peter Sandell, Liam Gallagher,
Richard Jenkins, Peter Jarvis, Mike Hasler,
Peter Winter (President), John Rowlands,
Bob Harris, Geoff Holmes, Roger Engledow,
Roger Melling and Richard Phillippo. Also,
Honorary Stationer, Ian Moore.
ge
IN HIS OWN BACK YARD:
A FIELD TRIP IN NORTH WALES
Geraint Pritchard (GP) was rightly famed
for the field trips that he organised on an
annual basis to the Malham area of North
Yorkshire, giving the opportunity for those
who attended to complete the ‘Three
Peaks’, a 24-mile day walk climbing Peny-ghent,
Whernside and Ingleborough, all
within a target time of twelve hours.
However, in addition to these trips, which
were for A-Level geographers, he also ran
a field trip, less frequently, to North Wales,
where he had spent large parts of his
childhood and for which he retained a
deep love throughout his life. As a scientist
with no room for geography amongst
A-Levels in the three sciences and maths,
I did have the opportunity to attend one of
these Welsh field trips as an O-Level
student of the subject.
The trip took place during the summer
term of the fourth form, and was for a
week. Geraint was the organiser of the trip,
assisted by a junior colleague, but
inexplicably at first, he travelled
independently of us boys, who made our
own way to Euston station to board the
Irish Mail bound for Holyhead, staying on
board all the way to Bangor. The latter
part of the route was outstanding, passing
as it does along the North Welsh coast,
through Conwy Castle and past the
glorious sands of Penmaenmawr and
Llanfairfechan. At Bangor we were met
by Geraint, along with a locally hired
coach and driver. Having loaded our
Sean Leonard, Ian Blackmore, Dave Fuller, Richard Comerford on Geography field trip
luggage (we were not expert packers, being
adorned with a motley collection of
suitcases, holdalls and carrier bags) onto
the coach, we were then walked to our
home for the next week, which was the
Youth Hostel on the outskirts of the town.
Our first exertion was a game of football
on the fields adjoining the hostel, a chance
to blow away the cobwebs of our five-hour
train journey. Then it was back to the
hostel.
Geraint had, in his own inimitable style,
brokered a special arrangement with the
warden of the hostel, with the warden
providing us with massive quantities of
food that we then had to plan meals from,
prepare, cook and eat. We generated our
own rosters of food planners, galley hands,
chefs and washer-uppers, and this was only
one way that we all matured during that
week, which would stand us in good stead
when we went off to university or otherwise
moved out from our homes. It will not
surprise any readers of this to know that
this was exactly what Geraint had intended.
GP didn’t eat with us but seemed to have
a mysterious better offer!
Every moment of every day was planned,
to keep us busy, to stimulate us, and,
perhaps most importantly, to tire us out!
Our first night saw all of us awake most of
the night, singing and fooling around, but
we were too exhausted for a repeat of these
antics on any of the other nights!
My detailed memories are sketchy this
many years on (my trip was in June 1977),
but I can recall the following day trips:
- Nant Ffrancon Valley. This is possibly
the best example in the British Isles, if not
the world, of a typical U-shaped glacial
valley, carved out by the passage of a
glacier. GP, over about ten miles, brought
to life all the classical physical features of a
glacial area, including cwms, arêtes,
pyramidal peaks, lateral and terminal
Walking in North Wales, - A family geology lesson
24

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
moraines, and my own personal favourite,
a roche moutonnée, which is a rock shaped
like a sheep’s rear end, made thus by a
glacier passing over it. I have since
impressed many with my obscure
knowledge!
- Mount Snowdon. We climbed Snowdon
by the notorious Crib Goch ascent, made
famous by those who have used this route
to practice for Everest. Indeed, this route
up the highest point in England or Wales
has recently been voted the UK’s second
favourite walk (Malham, with its cove, tarn
and a Gordale Scar, came third, with
Helvellyn in the Lake District being the
winner, with Striding Edge being its arête
equivalent of Crib Goch; the power of
glacial landscapes!) It was a gloriously
sunny day and we were dehydrated by the
time that we made the summit, but were
all hugely grateful for the homemade
lemonade stall halfway down, intriguingly
run by somebody who knew and recognised
GP!
- Power Stations. We were taken, as part of
the industrial and social geography part of
our learning, to the Trawsfynydd nuclear
power station (now decommissioned) and
the Ffestiniog hydroelectric power station.
The latter was Britain’s first major pumped
storage facility, with upper and lower lakes.
We were given intimate access to the
workings of these amazing structures,
which I found hugely interesting. I have
since subjected my family to power station
tours, but have been unable to match the
enthusiasm imparted by Geraint.
- Llechwedd Slate Caverns. Geraint had
organised a tunnel tour conducted by a
genuine slate miner, and this proved to be
an outstanding trip. We were all convinced
of the virtues of slate roofs and persuaded
never to allow a builder to fit tiles to any
house that we lived in!
- Holyhead port and the railway station in
the middle of Anglesey with the longest
name: Llanfair¬pwllgwyngyll¬gogery¬ch
wyrn¬drobwll¬llan-tysilio¬gogo¬goch (it
means ‘Parish church of St Mary in the
hollow of the White Hazel near the rapid
whirlpool and the parish church of St
Tysilio with a red cave’), shortened to
Llanfair PG.
- The Pritchard Family Farm in Anglesey.
This is where the penny dropped about
where Geraint had been spending his
nights while we were in the youth hostel:
he had been staying on his uncle’s farm,
where he had spent many happy childhood
summers. Ever the comedian, he advised
the less rurally aware schoolboys to use the
‘stepping stones’ to traverse the muddy
fields, bursting into laughter when those
who were unwise enough to take his advice
disappeared knee-deep into cow pats!
All in all it was an amazing trip. We all
made new friends, cemented old
friendships, and learnt a huge amount
about the subject (geography in all its
elements), each other, and ourselves,
including our resilience under physical and
other pressures. It was certainly a week
that I will never forget and I even won first
prize in the London Borough of Haringey
photographic competition for a slide that I
took of a waterfall in the Nant Ffrancon
Valley. I was personally hugely honoured
to have my own field trip folder, with
diagrams, explanations and photos,
‘confiscated’ by Geraint and never returned,
for the purposes of planning future trips.
The field trip to North Wales provided
solid evidence of what an outstanding
teacher Geraint Pritchard was, able to
teach and positively influence his pupils
through his example and humour. I will
certainly carry the knowledge of glaciation
with me for the rest of my days, never
mind the life lessons that were picked up
on the journey through that week.
Mike Howell 1973-80
ge
It was Geraint that got me to join the
OSA. Some years after I had left Stationers’,
he visited my mother’s house looking for
me. My mother told him that I was living
near Cambridge and he subsequently
contacted me suggesting that I join the
OSA. I did so, and renewed our friendship.
Geraint and I were in the same school year
and, although we studied different subjects
in the sixth form, we played “fives” together
during break times. I remember that he
was an admirable school prefect and took
his duties very seriously. We had lost
contact when we left Stationers’ and I did
not know that he had become a geography
master at Stationers’ and then its last
deputy Head.
He became a frequent visitor to Cambridge
and we used to go out to lunch, a different
pub each time. He particularly liked the
Plough in Fen Ditton by the River Cam
where we could sit outside on a bench and
watch the boats motoring by. He only ever
drank Appletize – with ice during the
summer months.
As the editor of The Old Stationer, he was
excellent in encouraging potential
contributors to pick up their pens and
provide some interesting text and
photographs to inform other Old
Stationers of their interests and travels.
Geraint and I together joined the
Stationers’ Company’s Fund Raising
Committee for the new school that the
Company was going to sponsor. It was in
its early days when the particular school
had not yet been chosen. He was a real
source of energy and useful information as
he had intimate knowledge of the workings
of a secondary school.
When I visited him in his new house in
Harewood in February with my wife and
granddaughter, he seemed in good spirits.
However, he was unable to take us to the
nearby Royal Horticultural Society Garden
Harlow Carr, where he had organized
lunch, as Marj’s furniture was being
delivered that day. He instead, suggested
some other attractions around the
Harrogate area for us to take our
granddaughter to visit – his geography
knowledge had not diminished. My
granddaughter particularly remembers his
kindness to her – he gave her many
chocolate biscuits.
I was saddened to hear of his death in
April. We have all lost a good school
chum, colleague, traveler and editor.
Tony Moffat 1954-61
ge
My life was changed entirely by Geraint
Pritchard:
Geraint arrived at St. Albans Grammar
School for Boys in the first year of my ‘O’
Levels and became our geography teacher.
Before him, we had a terrifying geography
teacher; Geraint was a breath of fresh air,
and young (being only ten years older than
us). ‘Graff ’, as he was affectionately named
by us, taught us physical geography with
such a passion it gave me, and many of my
classmates, a love of the subject. When he
gave our class the opportunity to learn
geology as an extra-curriculum subject, we
jumped at the chance. I am sure there
would not be many pupils who would so
willingly give up their lunchtimes and after
school time to study – but Geraint had
that charisma.
I had wanted to study A Level geography,
as well as maths and physics, as I had an
intention to study geophysics at university.
However, the school curriculum meant
that I had to give up geography, for my
combination of maths and physics. Not to
be deterred, I continued with Geraint’s
geology class beyond ‘O’ Level into my
Lower Sixth, progressing to AS Level
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
albeit without taking an exam. Geraint
organised a field course at Ashwell in
Hertfordshire for his students, and that
was the time for geology and physical
geography to come alive for me. I
remember a field trip he organised to the
brickworks near Bedford, looking for
fossils in the clay pits; however, it was a
shock when Geraint asked me point-blank
to give a vote of thanks to the brickworks
manager who had enabled our visit. It was
my first time of ‘pubic speaking’, but it was
apparent Geraint had faith in me (much
more than I had in myself ).
Other than the love of geology he gave me,
his biggest gift to me was helping me fill
my last selection on my UCCA form for
university application. I had selected four
universities, but needed a fifth. I asked
Geraint’s advice; of course, his answer had
to be ‘Sheffield’, as he explained that he
had enjoyed his undergraduate and PGCE
years there – so he persuaded me to add
Sheffield. But my last choice became my
first, and although I attained the grades to
get to all the universities on my list, the
University of Sheffield was where I studied,
both as an undergraduate and later as a
postgraduate researcher. I have lived in
Sheffield ever since, and never regretted
taking Geraint’s advice.
My last conversation with Geraint was at
the end of 2017. I had just completed one
With Tony Moffat
of my ‘bucket-list’ challenges to climb
Mount Stephen in Alberta, Canada, to
explore the ‘Cambrian explosion’ outcrop
on a guided hike by the Burgess Shale
Geoscience Foundation to see first-hand
the discoveries of the first soft-bodied
fossils that changed our views of early
evolution of life on earth. It is apt to bookend
my shared-life experiences with
Geraint, from my first excitement into the
world of geography, geology and fossils,
with my venture to the Burgess Shales.
There are no other teachers that kept in
touch with me, but Geraint’s fondness of
dropping-in on former pupils, members of
staff, friends and acquaintances meant he
was always in my, and I am sure in a vast
number of others’, thoughts; I repaid the
‘dropping-in’ once, by calling in to see him
at his mother’s home in Anglesey. It was
amazing to have been taught by Geraint;
he changed my life and interests for the
better, and I am sure that he also made the
world a better place.
Ralph Braid
Memories of Geraint
I first met Geraint when he became our
form teacher at St. Albans Grammar
School for Boys. I was 14 going on 15 so
he was in his mid-twenties. We met every
morning in Room 10 which was his
Geography classroom and there not only
did he teach us Geography GCSE and A
Level but gave up his own time to coach us
through Geology GCE at lunch times and
in after school sessions. Our friend Dave
Fell probably owes his career in the oil
industry due to Geraint’s innovation.
We of course realised early on that Geraint
did not sound totally Home Counties and
the way he pronounced graph paper, with
a short ‘a’, led to an early nickname of
‘Graff ’ Pritchard. However it was only
when Dave and I went on his School
camping trip to North Wales did we
realize, to our amazement, that not only
could Geraint pronounce the place names
but he could chat to locals in Welsh! He
once even suggested I should take Welsh
as a foreign language but luckily I
succeeded in my French re-sit and despite
3 years of Aberystwyth UCW never got
close despite Geraint’s typical optimism.
The major thing about Geraint from a
pupil’s point of view was he would talk to
you and not down to you, though there
was often a drop of wisdom there as well.
“Slow and steady will still get you there
you know,” a comment directed to Dave
and I as we tried to sprint up Snowdon’s
Watkin Path.
Geraint left St. Albans at the end of our
lower Sixth but the amazing thing was he
stayed in touch. He wanted to hear about
Dick, Dave, Ralph and my Lakeland
camping trip that had a strong emphasis
on Physical Geography and then the next
year, 1971, we screened our pastiche of
‘Easy Rider’ called ‘Woodstock 1¾’ to
Geraint and his parents, who not only
tolerated our Standard 8 film efforts and
home produced musical accompaniment,
but actually gave us a meal.
It was a generosity of spirit that we came
to associate with Geraint and at his funeral,
in sight of Snowdon, Ralph and I realized
we were far from being alone especially in
the way he caught up with people on his
travels around Britain and beyond. He
tracked me down after I had married
Frances and visited us and our young
family on holiday near Dumfries (my
daughter remembers he snored); he caught
up with me at Gordonstoun and
Glenalmond College (yes I followed him
into teaching) and more recently to
Fochabers sleeping in our caravan in the
Gordon Chapel car park when my wife
was the priest there. We met Marj and we
loved it when they visited us in our
retirement at Dunkeld. We too marvelled
at the tales of travel, the interrogation over
routes and stories of churches and chapels.
26

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
It was not only a pleasure to know and be
taught by Geraint but his interest in others
often helped validate one’s existence. He
simply made the world a better place.
James Forshaw
ge
It must be somewhat unusual that my first
ever real contact with Geraint was to write
him a letter to explain why Vince Togher
had not done his geography homework!!!
Vince was of course still a schoolboy but
playing football for the Old Boys. We
needed to get a squad together to play in
the Old Finchleians six a side tournament
which was on a Sunday. Now six a side on
a full size pitch is a very demanding game
and we needed more than the bare six.
Vince was accordingly encouraged, cajoled,
bullied and convinced he should play and
was duly picked up and taken there. We
told him we would probably lose early and
he could get home early to do his
homework. We of course had no such
intention. We played brilliantly throughout
and duly won the tournament and
celebrated late into the evening in the bar.
As time pressed on he became increasingly
concerned and ultimately persuaded us
that we should write a letter to Geraint to
explain why he had been unable to do his
homework. We duly composed the letter
Geraint with the OSA committee after the 2013 AGM.
for him and all signed it as the squad. I
think he got off with a mild rebuke.
Hopefully Geraint was showing his
commitment to the OSFC. Our winning
squad that day was Steve Presland, Geoff
Blackmore, Ian Blackmore, Ian Meyrick,
Ray Draper, Vince Togher and myself.
David Hudson
ge
Geraint Pritchard was one of those select
people who were, in effect, lifetime
Stationers, boy and man. Like his illustrious
colleague, Herman Symons, Geraint was a
student at the Stationers’ Company’s
School who, in due course, found his way
back to that Institution’s hallowed and
smoke-filled staff room.
I first encountered Geraint when he joined
the Geography Department in the 1970s,
and it became clear at an early stage that
not only was he going to maintain the
traditions and standards of the Department,
but he had plenty to offer to the School as
a whole, in both administrative and social
contexts. I was Examinations Secretary at
the time, a time when the school
examinations system was expanding and
increasing in complexity, and soon Geraint
joined me as a member of the examinations
‘team’. His attention to detail was
invaluable in the meticulous checking of
the complex interacting web of personal
and syllabus data that had to be compiled
for each candidate. This was in the days
before computerisation, and Geraint
constructed impressive pencil-and-paper
spreadsheets on A1 graph paper for display
in the staff room to aid and cross-check
the process.
Geraint and I shared stewardship of the
A-level sixth forms for some years - he as
Form Teacher of the Arts Sixth while I
was with the Science students. As a teacher
of geography and geology Geraint bridged
the arts-science split in some ways, and
members of both would be found on the
many field trips that were parts of those
courses. I joined Geraint on two of those
trips to Malham in the early 1980s, the
second of which saw me as emergency
minibus driver after Geraint had severely
injured his foot in a footballing incident a
few days before: yes – he was as enthusiastic
on the sports field as he was in the
classroom. Undaunted, Geraint managed
and directed the visit on crutches with
plastered foot, and found ways of getting
around the North Yorkshire countryside
with few apparent limitations.
Outside school Geraint was a keen
explorer, and spent chunks of his holiday
time travelling around the world,
experiencing different aspects of physical
and human geography which made him a
27

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
better-informed teacher than most. He
made a particular point of researching the
destinations of former friends, colleagues
and students, and would arrange to meet
with them on his travels at home and
abroad – especially if a cup of tea and a
piece of cake were on offer! I joined
Geraint on a couple of those trips – one to
Ireland and one to Switzerland – which
helped me to understand the driving forces
that helped to make him a rounded and
informed human being.
Geraint and I also organised a couple of
school trips to the Netherlands during the
Easter holidays, where we took in tulip
cultivation, Dutch flower auctions, cheesemaking,
traditional Dutch life on the
polders, Delft pottery, aspects of coast and
country, and the wonderful ‘Evoluon’
flying-saucer shaped interactive science
exhibition at Eindhoven. Oh, and a few
convivial evenings, too! And tea and cake.
In school Geraint’s contributions extended
beyond the classroom and the office,
helping to organise and participate in visits
of dignitaries, staff social events, activities
of the Parents’ Association, and much
more. His career at Stationers’ naturally
moved onward and upward, leading to his
appointment as Deputy Head for a short
period before the closure of the School in
1983.
The next phase in Geraint’s career took
him to Nower Hill High School in Pinner,
where he had the roles of Deputy Head
and Director of Finances, and teacher of
Geography, until he took early retirement
in the mid-1990s. His interest in his ‘old
school’ nevertheless remained undimmed,
and he was able to maintain active
involvement through the Old Stationers’
Association – and, of course through his
many travels, cups of tea and pieces of
cake! After moving away from London he
frequently re-appeared on OSA social and
sporting occasions, and would team up
with former colleagues and students for
social gatherings when possible. His work
as editor of The Old Stationer kept him
very much involved with happenings and
people, past and present, and the magazine
reached new heights of informed quality
and breadth during his tenure.
Following diagnosis of his illness a couple
of years ago Geraint found himself in
excellent NHS hands in Leeds, and the
treatment and support he received allowed
him to maintain his lifestyle and interests
almost to the end. I last met him for a most
enjoyable restaurant meal and reminiscencesession
in Harrogate last August, and he
Sharing the "Loving Cup" with William Alden, The Clerk at the annual dinner.
was exactly the same Geraint as I had
always known. We planned for another
get-together in the London area this
spring, but I think he knew that it would
probably not come to pass.
Geraint was a man who combined the
approach of traditional schoolmaster with
the best of the ‘modernising’ ideas, while
sensibly rejecting some of the predictably
short-lived extreme proposals that
appeared from on high occasionally. His
students received a comprehensive
awareness and understanding of his
subjects and an appreciation of the moral
values of education which will have stayed
with them through their adult lives. He
was a rare individual, and I am sure that his
approach to work and philosophy of life
are still being encouraged by the many
who were fortunate enough to share part
of their formative school years with him.
John Leeming
ge
Memories of
Geraint Pritchard
As our geography teacher Geraint had an
obsession, if that’s the correct way of
describing this, with us knowing how to
spell ‘Mississippi’. We would be regularly
cajoled by Geraint with a gleam in his eye,
into reciting as a class ‘M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I’
at a rapid cadence. To this day whenever I
hear mention of it, I am transported back
to his class.
Some of my very fondest memories of
Geraint are from a geography trip to
North Wales (in December 1978 I believe).
We journeyed through heavy rain and
arrived at a youth hostel in Bangor after
dark. The next morning, we were greeted
by the stunning view of a snow-covered
Snowdonia from our dormitory. However,
the weather posed Geraint with a problem,
as we had been promised a trek up
Snowdon at some stage that week. In the
meantime, he took us to his cousins’ farm
on Anglesey, and even his parents (it may
have been grandparents as my memory
fails me on this point) for tea, making us
feel so welcome. With time running out,
he decided that we should walk up the
mountain following the railway line.
Setting off at first light we spent four
hours following the line in a whiteout. On
route, Geraint pointed out various sites
people had been killed ascending the
mountain, keeping us keen to stick firmly
to the path. We arrived at the top having
seen no one en route but were surprised to
find about thirty other people there. Like
us they had a short window of time to
arrive at the summit, having had to start
the accent at first light and having to be
back at the base before dark. As we were
about to set off on the walk down, the
cloud dropped and we were bathed in
bright golden light. The peaks of the other
snow-covered mountains piercing the
cloud base and gleaming in the sunlight;
we could have been on the top of Everest.
To this day it is one of the most beautiful
and striking things I have ever seen,
probably magnified by the sensory
deprivation of the whiteout.
Geraint’s lasting legacy for me was to
giving me a love and curiosity about the
world around us and of course never
forgetting how to spell Mississippi. I went
on to read for a degree in Geography.
Chris Williams 1971-79
28

ge
I believe that I am right in saying that
Geraint left Stationers’ upper sixth in 1962
and returned as a member of staff in the
autumn of 1969. He thus neatly sandwiched
my time at the school in the years 1962-69,
and so I never met him on the premises.
But the long arm of coincidence reached
out when I moved into a flat in East
Finchley and met the Welshman living
two floors above me, who turned out to be
Geraint. At that time he was, I believe,
teaching at Nower Hill High School in
Pinner; and many years later my younger
daughter came under his tutelage there –
more coincidence.
“Still you are Stationers far as you roam”
was Geraint’s watchword. He was tireless
in seeking out Stationers throughout the
country, and indeed the world. In my own
case, he chased me for input to the Old
Stationer on my experiences on secondment
to the IMF in Washington DC, and
tracked me down in person when my job
led me to set up residence in Somerset.
On that occasion we had a memorable
dinner in one of the finer hostelries in
Shepton Mallet. And Geraint persuaded
me to submit my speech on retiring from
the Bank of England to the Old Stationer.
More recently, Geraint and his partner
visited me in my home in Pinner because
they were staying in the locality. By that
time, about a year ago, although in
remission from the cancer that ultimately
killed him, he was realistic about the
outlook but still unquenchably upbeat.
His commitment to the Old Stationers’
Association was second to none, and the
robust good health of the magazine is a
fine tribute to his persistence, commitment
and gift for friendship. Geraint will be
sadly missed and, as long as the OSA
continues to thrive, never forgotten. May
he rest in peace.
Stephen Collins 1962-69
ge
Mister Pritchard taught me geography
from my third year until my ‘O’ level in the
subject in 1984. Stationers’, being a
relatively large school, had many teachers
- most were good, a few less so, but only a
handful could be described as ‘great
teachers’ - in my opinion, Mr Pritchard fell
into this latter category. He possessed that
rare mix of attributes; a passion for his
subject; enthusiasm and a real ambition for
the pupils he taught. He could be strict of
course - he certainly could control even the
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
rowdiest of classes - but I always found
him to be fair. He could also be kind and
patient for those who were struggling to
comprehend the subject he might be
introducing.
In 1984, or thereabouts, I was one of a
number of students who accompanied
him, along with a younger female teacher
called Miss Burrows, to Malham in
Yorkshire on a geography field trip. It was
a great adventure full of lots of memorable
events and hilarious japes. It was here I
first saw Mr P outside of his usual ‘school
persona’, and his energy and vigour were in
full evidence - certainly we struggled to
keep up as he strode across the various
landscapes, pointing out interesting
geographical features.
In 2015, and some thirty years since we
had last spoken, I got a call ‘out of the blue’
from Geraint. He was staying in a small
B&B some 30 miles from me in Devon,
and we arranged to meet up over coffee. It
was a fabulous, if slightly surreal, hour or
so. We talked at length about the injustice
and the closure of the school, and
reminisced about ‘that field trip’. He was
genuinely pleased to see me and delighted
to see that I’d ‘done alright’ for myself.
Sadly, I didn’t get the opportunity to meet
him again - the pressures of work, and
distance, have kept me from OSA events
- but we remained in regular correspondence
via letter and email, and he always found
time to send me postcards from the various
locations to which his travels took him.
Geraint Pritchard was a true Stationer -
extending ‘friendship’ to all those he knew,
as far as he roamed.
Josh Beadon
Caxton House 1979-1984
ge
I first met Geraint in 1961 when we
moved to London from Wales as a family
as my father took up the post of Minister
in the Welsh chapel which he, his parents
and sisters attended. The previous Minister
had been Geraint’s grandfather so we had
a common background. My memories of
Geraint in the early 1960’s are fairly vague
as he was at University and Teacher
Training as I recall, however, when he
came back we met regularly. These
meetings were either at Chapel on a
Sunday, at the Youth Group on a Friday
evening or when he saw the light and
began going to watch Spurs on a Saturday!
Geraint was a mainstay of beginning the
Youth Group and organised the table
tennis team; we would play against other
Chapels in a league across London.
Geraint and his family played a large part
in my going to Stationers. As a Wood
Green boy I was outside the catchment
area but was encouraged to apply not only
to his old school but also to his old house,
Meredith. He also had a younger cousin,
Alun Owen, who was also a Stationer who
some may remember. The rest as they say
is history and I will be forever grateful for
the advice as Stationers played a big and
happy part of my life.
I was going into the Sixth Form when
Geraint joined Stationers as a teacher and
my Form Master which surprisingly didn’t
feel strange at all. Whilst maintaining a
natural authority, Geraint fitted into the
School so easily and, I believe, we boys all
found him easy to get on with.
Following School I moved away from
London and so our meetings were very
rare although I kept up with his travel
news as he maintained close contact with
my parents even when they too moved
back to Wales from London.
Geraint was a very loyal man. Despite the
distance he travelled to Wales to attend my
parents’ funerals. At my mother’s funeral
he met our son, Rhys, who was then
studying geography and particularly
glaciology at Swansea University. Geraint’s
enthusiasm for his subject shone through
in their conversation. He even took the
trouble to write a personal letter to Rhys
suggesting where he should visit to get the
most from his studies. That was a gesture
that I shall never forget.
Geraint was a fine and kind man and we
shall all be poorer for his loss.
Huw Williams 1965-72
ge
Memories of Geraint, For me, go back a
long way to our school days at Stationers.
Although he was a year ahead of me,we
29

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
were in the same House, Meredith, and
would meet up at a number of House
events especially in the 6th Form. Geraint
was a lean, fast, powerful athlete and
contributed greatly to many House
successes particularly in our last year at
Stationers when we won the Cock House
trophy much to the delight of the Major
(Hall) and Joe Symons our Housemasters.
We both took geography at A Level with
Sam Read, and both after University went
onto similar careers in education. It is
remarkable how closely we tracked each
other through our teaching careers. Geraint
became a much loved geography teacher at
Stationers eventually heading up the
Department, whilst I did something
similar at a school in Isleworth. We kept in
touch during those years through our
membership of the Old Stationers’ Football
Club and we played together on many
occasions. I can remember many surging
runs down the wing by Geraint.
When Geraint left Stationers, he went on
to become Deputy Headteacher at Nower
Hill High School in Pinner. I did the same
at St Mark’s Catholic School in Hounslow.
During the 80’s, Nower Hill School
flourished under the twin leadership of
Simon Hensby (former member of staff at
Stationers who became Headteacher
83-99) and Geraint, his deputy. The
School achieved national prominence by
becoming London’s top performing school
at GCSE. I had meanwhile been promoted
to Headteacher at St Mark’s in 1986 and
was keen to also raise the School’s
examination profile. I therefore contacted
Geraint to ask if he would show me
around his School and share with me the
processes behind the School’s examination
success. Clearly he was very proud of his
School and after my visit I went back to St
Mark’s to put into practice much of which
I had learned from Geraint. I have to say it
was a very worthwhile experience and
from then on my school went from
strength to strength. From humble
secondary modern beginnings, last year St
Mark’s was reported by the Sunday Times
as being the 13th top comprehensive in the
country. Thank you Geraint for that so
important input some 30 years ago.
Since both of us retired, Geraint and I
regularly kept in touch. Again, remarkably,
our lives have followed similar paths.
Geraint became President of the OSA
some years ago and then continued as a
valued committee member. I became
President in 2013 and we would meet up
for a meal before committee meetings at
Botany Bay and sort out the worries of the
world particularly when it related to the
OSA. The hurt of the closure of the
School in 1983 and the role of the
Company in the School’s demise, was very
evident in the anger and passion showed in
our meetings. It was no surprise that he
was not over excited about the opening of
the new Stationers’ Crown Woods
Academy in Greenwich and the support
that the Company had given it.
I shall miss Geraint greatly and it was a
great shock to learn of his illness a few
years ago. Despite lengthy spells of
treatment, pain and hospitalisation, he
continued to carry out his editorial duties
remaining positive to the end. As our
esteemed editor, he must have in his time,
sent hundreds of emails and letters,made
umpteen phone calls and travelled
thousands of miles up and down the
country and beyond to meet and get news
of Old Stationers. He was the glue that
bound our Association together and has
contributed so much to it’s strong and
healthy position. Geraint was a unique and
extraordinary person, the like of which we
will never see again. God bless you Geraint
and may you find the peace and rest that
your life on earth truly deserves.
David Sheath 1955- 1962
ge
Having left School in 1968 I did not know
Geraint whilst I was at Stationers’. With
the onset of the internet I became aware of
the Old Stationers’ Association website in
the mid-late 1990s and when one of my
cohort became OSA President in 2002 I
Unveiling the commemorative plaque at Bolt Court.
joined the Association. It was probably at
the first annual dinner which I attended in
March 2002 that I met Geraint for the
first time. I am pretty certain that he
recognised mine as a new face and came
and introduced himself to me. From that
moment on, whenever he saw me at
subsequent dinners, he would come over
and welcome me as if we had known each
other all our lives. We sing of “friendship”
in our School Song but his actions at the
annual dinners demonstrated the true
meaning of the word. He would welcome
me with open arms and a broad smile,
asking how I was and what I had been
doing since we last met. My fond
recollection is that whenever I told him
something of interest he would encourage
me to write a short article about it for the
magazine. Encouraged by Geraint, I duly
did and thus one or two short items
penned by myself have appeared in
previous editions of the magazine over the
years. Geraint was a warm, generous and
friendly person, someone who gave you
encouragement. Although I never knew
him whilst at school I am sure those same
qualities were bestowed by Geraint to all
whose paths he crossed when at Stationers’.
His legacy lives on in the archive of school
magazines which he has edited which I
and, no doubt, countless other Old
Stationers treasure.
Robert Hughes 1961-68
ge
Many years ago I was married and lived in
the middle of Anglesey on the outskirts of
the village of Llangwyllog (village is a
30

generous description). My home was on a
small road used by few. One afternoon we
had a visitor my, then, wife had answered
the door (not least because no-one I knew
ever came calling). The visitor was chatting
away for about 20 minutes before I was
called to say the visitor was here to see me!
It was Geraint doing an opportunity visit.
Why then had he spent all that time
chatting to my wife? Well, it transpires
that as a child, Geraint had known my road
and my in-laws. Indeed, he has driven my
father-in-law’s cattle along that very road.
For one visit, Geraint achieved 2 ‘ticks’.
Tony Little
ge
I often think of my school days and it’s
always with a smile.
I was fortunate to go to an excellent school
with very inspiring teachers.
So it was therefore incredibly sad to hear
of the passing of my favourite…
…Mr Pritchard…I’m in my 50’s and I still
can’t bring myself to calling him by his
Christian name Geraint….fear?..maybe…
respect?... DEFINITELY!
Who was he to me?... Well, let’s see… he
was my form teacher, year head, geography
teacher, house master and football coach!!
He always pushed me and encouraged me
saying really positive things to me and my
parents (who attended every parents’
evening!)
We kept contact over the years mainly by
the odd telephone call and email and he
was always genuinely interested and proud
of what I was doing and had achieved post
Stationers… a truly Gentle Man.
May you rest in eternal peace Geraint…
oops sorry sir…I mean Mr Pritchard!
John Constantinou
ge
Geraint Pritchard - What a man!
I have enjoyed knowing Geraint as
colleague and friend for nearly 50 years.
He had qualities not found in many -
energy to travel to many distant places and
then give details and descriptions of
everything of interest, historical,
geographical or of remote teashops. I am
sure I was not the only one who tried to
persuade him to write about "Teashops of
the British Isles." His memory was
prodigious, not only for places but also for
people he had met in the past, some many
years ago. For this he will be remembered
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
more than his knowledge of teashops.
Geraint was genuinely interested in each
person he spoke to or wrote about. He was
a very good listener.
When he joined the staff at Stationers’
about three years after myself he soon
initiated the Malham ‘Three Peaks’ trip
and invited me to join the group. Not
much was said about the long, uphill walk
until the evening before, so I was lured in
to accompany the climbers. Although it
was most miserable weather I shall always
thank Geraint for giving me the
opportunity to accomplish a challenging
exercise and I keep my badge and certificate
with pride.
He kindly introduced Audrey and myself
to his beloved Anglesey and took us round
the island, stopping for a dip in a lovely,
deserted bay. We went on to experience the
Eisteddford with all its varied presentations
of music and literature.
Geraint had very decided views on most
serious subjects and would air his views
quite strongly - and loudly, but it was
always a pleasure to receive an unannounced
visit and catch up with all the latest news
of Stationers’ men. His "How are you?" in
a broad mixture of Welsh and English
meant getting out the teacups and cakes
for a cheerful chat.
Without doubt, as editor of the Old
Stationers’ Magazine over many years he
not only raised the profile of this
publication, but brought many Old Boys
together reaching across the UK and the
world. He set a high standard for anyone
to follow.
When we first heard of the nature of
Geraint’s illness we wondered ‘How long?’
But he fought his complaint bravely and
this reflects the nature of his strong
personality. Everything he did was a
reflection of his character - do it well and
for the benefit of others. We applaud Marj
and others who cared for him during that
long period. His inner faith was important
to him giving him hope for the future.
John Young
ge
That is just so sad Peter. A perfect editor
who upheld the best traditions of
Stationers’ and, in my opinion, did more
than anyone else to keep the spirit of the
OSA alive.
Reg Eccles
OSA and Worshipful Company
ge
Regrettably I was both too young to have
attended the School with “G.P.” and too
old to have been taught by him on his
return. From all I have heard from more
fortunate O.S., I missed a great deal -
particularly with regard to his famous
geography field trips. Geraint was
nonetheless an important figure in our
lives. In my case, he was a long-standing
and fine friend and fellow Old Stationer
(both through football and our various
roles within the Association); and for my
wife Madeleine, in her secretarial role
during his tenure as Deputy Head at
Nower Hill school in Harrow, after the
closure of Stationers’.
He was a man of enormous enthusiasms;
and after his church, his principal interest
was of course the School and all associated
with it. Innately modest though he was, I
hope he had some small understanding of
just how many of his former pupils and
friends appreciated his great contribution
to their lives over many years both as a
teacher and as editor of The Old Stationer
magazine: the publication which in the
minds of all Old Stationers is the very
personification of “G.P.”.
I was fortunate to serve on the O.S.A.
Committee with Geraint for some years
where his views were mercifully clear and
forthright on all matters under discussion;
and solely in the interests of his fellow
Members (and readers). The Committee
at that time was equally anxious to assist
where possible with the magazine
production and to move it (gradually, for
G.P. was something of a technophobe)
from paper to electronic format to aid
quicker (and cheaper) production by our
then printers. Madeleine’s training as a
medical secretary rendered me the stool
pigeon for “assisting” him in a very minor
sub-editing role before handing her the
herculean task of interpreting our joint but
virtually illegible efforts.
The following very strict agenda was
always adhered to:
1) 17:30: tea
2) 18:00: ceremonial unveiling of G.P.’s “hard
copy”, (often from a plastic carrier bag or bin
liner) onto our dining table;
3) 18:05–23:45 approx: extended conversation,
tea, cake etc for Madeleine and G.P.
while I struggled to sort and sub-edit the
morass of paper;
4) 24:00 approx: G.P.’s departure (following
the last of the tea).
31

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
The dates for these meetings were “set” by
the Committee but considered a mere
guideline by GP and always deferrable for
“just one more” article to be made ready; or
was it just to confound my diary? To be
fair, however, he did on occasion leave
Madeleine with more than one evening to
re-type the whole and produce a disc ready
for the printer’s deadline date!
Geraint’s broad communications skills
across the Association’s membership will
quite simply never be bettered: a fact
which has long been acknowledged (and
worried about)! How he ever found time
to keep in touch with and to visit so many
people simply astounded us all. Like many
we were fortunate recipients of his always
welcome postcards from foreign climes: he
never spared himself effort in encouraging
others to travel as much as he did.
As already mentioned, he was very deeply
committed to his Church, both in Anglesey
and in London, near Barbican. His
enthused tenacity manifested itself in
many ways: football triumphs and tragedies
of yesteryear; his dedication to Stationers’,
(taking the same qualities with him to his
subsequent role at Nower Hill); and more
recently through determination, despite
his illness, to maintain his walking for as
long as possible, preferably in his beloved
Snowdonia. All this has deeply impressed
many people. But it was Geraint’s warmth
and genuine interest in people which made
him such an exceptional man; one whom
we were both proud to have called our
friend, and whom we, in common with
hundreds of others, shall both miss very
much indeed. We extend our sincerest
condolences to Marjorie and his family.
Peter (and Madeleine) Jarvis
ge
Not an article, by any means, but an
anecdote.
This concerns an ‘O’ Level Geology field
trip to Malham which I believe fell in
1964/65. A party of students stayed at the
Youth Hostel in Malham. I recollect that
Geraint was involved but suspect this can
only be so if he were on summer holiday
vacation from University (the years don’t
fit otherwise). Half the group stayed for
the first three days around Malham,
charting the geology up as far as the Tarn,
walking the limestone pavement and
risking life by getting too close to the edge
on repeated occasions. The other half of
the party went on a two day “Yomp”
around the surrounding hills – taking in
Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough.
My Head of House in Meredith on joining
the School, my recollection is that Geraint
was involved, sharing his knowledge of
the terrain and giving great exhortation
and encouragement to me and to others to
get the most out of the experience. It’s a
vivid memory that has lived with me down
the years. I am so thoroughly grateful to
have been able to share the story with my
sons and daughters. They have found
careers as earth scientists and teachers of
Geography – there’s just a little of Geraint
in their interest in the “Wider World” that
Geographers love.
I can also confirm that Geraint was in no
way implicated in my delayed departure on
the “Yomp”, with Reg Davies (also 1960-
1967), which necessitated us catching up
the group by taking a bus to venture pass
Giggleswick Scar while those ahead of us
walked the whole way! Our sketches of
the Scar, based on top-of-the-bus views,
were perfect and scored high marks from
Stan Read.
Recollections from my years as a Member
of the OSA Committee, in frequently
held meetings in Corporation of London
offices thanks to Peter Jarvis, and my year
as President, disclose Geraint’s ever
present Magazine point on the Agenda.
We are talking about the first days of an
OSA website and the crucial question:
“How shall we preserve the Magazine in
the face of this new technology?”. The
answer was always, like with Arsene
Wenger..... “Geraint Knows!!!” Bless the
man – Geraint is a true OSA Legend, a
Giant among the hills and moors of north
Yorkshire.
As Far as he Roamed.
With thanks,
Andy Forrow
OSA Past President and ex-Committee
Member - Meredith House 1960-1967
ge
Anne and I were so sorry to hear of
Geraint’s death. We knew how ill he was
but it was still a great shock that he had
gone so quickly at the end. He was a man
totally wrapped up in the affairs of Old
Stationers and always came to see us and
was interested in all our news whenever he
was visiting family in North Wales which
he did so often.
Our condolences go to his family. We
were away celebrating our 50th anniversary
on a cruise and heard the news on our
return from our next door neighbours who
were life-long friends of his family. It was
good to hear that so many of the OS’s
made the journey to Anglesey and sang the
school song for him.
Norman Rimmer
ge
Geraint will be much missed as his drive
and energy has done much to keep the
Association from fading away. Also there
were occasions, when family affairs brought
him into the Welsh Marches, he would
suddenly appear on our door step but
never had time other than for a quick chat
and a cuppa.
Julian, my younger brother, was at
Stationers with Geraint and since he is not
a member of the association I forwarded
Peter’s mail onto him. In reply he says
“Sorry to hear about Geraint. Although
I’ve not wanted to keep in touch with
anyone from school I note that he passed
away ‘peacefully’. The Geraint I remember
never did anything peacefully”.
Lucien Perring
ge
I was so sad to hear that Geraint had
passed away. He was a great teacher who
gave me a real love for geography. We had
a fantastic field trip to Malham and there’s
not much I don’t know about limestone! It
was great to see him again at a couple of
recent Old Stationers’ Christmas lunches.
He did such wonderful work for the old
boys’ magazine for so many years. He will
be sorely missed”.
Andrew Devon
Hodgson House 1972-79
ge
When I was recovering from a major
cancer operation, my wife and I greatly
appreciated Geraint unexpectedly calling
on us to enquire about my health and to
wish me well. A very kind and thoughtful
act from a real gentleman.
Dick Hersey
ge
I really didn’t know Geraint that well.
However, it was he who unwittingly lit a
fuse deep inside me that was to emerge
many years later as a passion for hill
walking. The means was, of course, via the
famous, Geraint-led Malham field trip
when in the sixth form and, during that
trip, the infamous Yorkshire Three Peaks
Challenge walk which the Masters
encouraged us to go on. I distinctly recall
32

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Richard Forty, Patrick Curwen. Alex Grogan, Bob Fry (squatting), Jim Smith, Geoff Blackmore, Geraint, & Jim Buckland -
geography field trip - hopefully not all traveling in that car!
that this first 3 Peaks experience was close
to horrendous, done in appalling weather
(see inset photo), but it nonetheless must
have left an impression as I re-discovered a
love for this challenge when in my late-
40s. Having now done it multiple times, I
hope that Geraint would have been proud
to know that one of his ‘boys’ got faster as
he (I) got older! Finally, the last and most
fitting words came from my wife who,
when I told her of Geraint’s death, said
“that’s so sad; he was such a nice man.” He
was indeed.
Ian Blackmore 1967-1974
ge
Although I am not a member of the OSA
I am an Old Stationer and when I heard
the sad news of Geraint’s death I felt I’d
like to write something about my meeting
with him nearly a year ago which was the
first time I had seen him since school days.
Sunday 25th June 2017 at a holiday cottage
in Great Longstone near Bakewell
Derbyshire. My wife and I are tucking into
our dinner. There’s a knock at the door.
Who would be visiting, a workman? A
neighbour perhaps? I answer the door.
"Are you Robert Scott?" the caller enquired
in a strong but not local accent. I hesitated,
"Er yes". "Does this mean anything to
you?" he said thrusting an Old Stationers
magazine towards me. "Yes that’s my old
school!" I replied. "Have you got a minute?"
he asked . "Just having my dinner but come
in and have a drink while we finish". "Oh
my wife’s with me, can I just get her from
the car?" he asked politely. "Of course" I
replied.
After hurriedly scoffing down our dinner
we joined our unexpected guests. "How
did you know I was here?" I enquired.
"Nick" he said (Nick Kouppari my long
time friend from school days who lives in
Bakewell), "Did he not tell you?" . "No he
did not!".
After a few moments of discussing my
years at Stationers our visitor quietly stated
"I’m Geraint Pritchard". " No" I exclaimed
quite loudly. "Did you not recognize me?"
he responded somewhat disappointedly.
"Well no, it has been over 40 years", I
explained. "Why did you let me in?" he
asked. "You had that" I said pointing to the
Old Stationers’ magazine as if that was an
indication of total trustworthiness. There
was a truly surreal moment as it sank in
who my visitor was. It was the man
responsible for my expedition up Snowdon
by Crib Goch. A day etched in my memory
forever that I have often recalled to friends
and family.
It was the 1976 school field trip to Bangor
north Wales staying in the Youth Hostel
there. A region with excellent examples of
geographical glacial features.
The day arrived for the ascent of Snowdon.
Geraint had warned us to take several
layers of clothing as although the weather
was glorious at sea level at altitude it would
be cold and windy. We also had our maps,
Silva compass, and new untried walking
boots. We were relieved that crampons and
ropes were not considered necessary.
We were a mixed group with most of us
having no experience of walking any
distance let alone climbing. We set off up
a gradually more challenging scramble. In
addition it was getting hotter, much hotter!
It was the start of the infamous summer of
76. "I knew as we got closer to the sun it
would get hotter" some smart Alec
commented. Eventually we reached the
top of the mountain. Where’s the cafe and
the train station? we enquired. Geraint
pointed to a peak far off in the distance.
"That’s Snowdon" he announced. Had we
climbed the wrong mountain? Were we
going to have to climb all the way down to
climb back up again?. "Oh no" said
Geraint. "We just walk along this ridge
that eventually links up with Snowdon.
Crib Goch, a fine example of an arete".
(arete - an evil pointy ridge formed
between two glaciers). An incredibly
narrow, jagged rocky ridge stretched out in
front of us. A series of mutterings and
profanities could be heard from the
sweltering group.
As we commenced the ‘path’ along the
ridge, many of us crawling on hands and
knees, we looked down the horrendously
steep slope to our left knowing that if we
fell it could well be our end, then as we
33

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
looked to the right of the ridge there was
an even steeper almost sheer drop to a lake
below, certain death beckoned. The
scramble along Crib Goch was slow and
seemingly endless in the burning sun. No
cooling breeze, the only wind being that
exuded by some very nervous 15 year olds,
but needless to say somehow we all made
it with various degrees of shock and
sunburn.
Not that the ascent of Snowdon was the
only memorable moment of my days
learning from Geraint. We visited his
family farm on Anglesey, the hydroelectric
power station at Dinorwig, the nuclear
power station at Trawsfyned etc, etc.
There was also the annual field trip to
Malham, to limestone (CaCO 3 !) country
and the 3 peaks in 1978 but that’s another
story for another day as is any recall of the
Yorks Notts Derby Coalfields.
During our all too brief meeting last year
he was amused that I still knew what a
‘roche moutonnee’ was (a big rock with
scratches on it) after seeing one in the
Nant Ffrancon valley over 40 years ago,
but the fact that things taught stick with
you is a sure sign of a teacher who has
found the right vocation.
Geraint made our geography education
entertaining, meaningful and memorable
which is surely the measure of a truly
remarkable and gifted teacher who made a
difference to so many of us privileged to be
his students.
Tim, do feel free to include this tribute to
Geraint in the next magazine either in full,
in part or not at all as you feel appropriate.
Meeting Geraint and his charming wife
made our holiday in the Peak District truly
memorable. It has been a topic of
conversation for my family ever since as
my brother, John Scott, and father-in-law,
John Powley are also ‘Old Stationers’. It
would have been nice to meet up with
Geraint again but sadly it was not to be.
Best wishes to his family and friends
Robert Scott
ge
I was in my first year at Stationers
(1961/62) when Geraint was in his, I
believe, final year at school. We were in the
same house, Meredith, and so I came
across him at House Assemblies as well as
at the main school Assemblies.
I have a lasting memory of Geraint reading
lessons in the main Assemblies. The
lectern was one donated in memory of a
former pupil who had served in the RAF.
When Geraint read the lesson he would
hold both sides of the lectern and his
passion for the reading would be evident as
the lectern rocked back and forth while he
read. This was an example of Geraint’s
Welshness shining out of him.
The Welsh word “Hwyl” translates as “fun”
in general parlance. However, in a religious
context it has a wider meaning which
cannot really be translated into English. In
this context, its means something along
the lines of “emotionally going into the
spirit" of a reading, sermon or hymn.
Getting to know Geraint in later years
through the OSA, it was evident that he
kept his passion for life and for everything
that he touched. Geraint retained his
“Hwyl” to the last. Happy memories of a
great Old Stationer and an enthusiastic
Welshman.
John Rowlands
ge
We got to Stationers’ on my first day of
school on 9th September 1980 at 7am.
Later, more boys were arriving and before
you know it we were assigned our class
teachers and I was lucky enough to be
under the care of Ms. Jahans in 1J. Basically
she was completely bonkers in many
respects but a great teacher whom I will
never forget.
In class, we were given a rundown of all
the teachers at the school by Nava Jahans
in a very honest fashion. A few reviews
were shocking to be frank but she did
highlight that one positive teacher we will
meet called Mr. Pritchard was very firm
and will work us hard but his Geography
school trips were never to be matched or
forgotten. Unfortunately with the
destabilising talk behind the scenes about
the school’s potential closing, I never got
to have that experience of his teaching or
school trips. To paraphrase Mr. Pritchard,
“It was all the communist republic of
Harringay and Bernie Grant who described
the school as elitist who were to blame for
its destruction. After all the school was an
anathema to them”
During one lesson, we had a very young
female teacher who just could not control
the classroom. She kept threatening us
with calling Mr. Pritchard and no one took
her seriously. Well, she left the room and
when she came back she came in with Mr.
Pritchard and it was as if a whirlwind came
in – the shouts and arm gesticulations put
us all in line and we were sitting to
attention. He had authority and a persona
about him and no one dared question him.
I did recount this story at the last OSA
Annual Dinner to Mr. Pritchard and he
did tell me her name but apologies, I
cannot remember it. He told me he kept in
contact with her and she is doing well so I
am glad to hear it.
The school closed in 1983, I remember
everyone was in the Great Hall on the last
day and it was brimming with school staff
and students and it was hot and stuffy in
there. Some teachers wore degree gowns
and looked unbelievably surreal, the one
that I remember distinctly was Mr. Fitch.
It was a sad day for us, even though at the
time we did not understand the
Geraint & Marj at Malham Tarn

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Enjoying a pre-dinner drink wih our youngest member Andreas Christou
implications of what was to come. This
was another infamous day we discussed
and I sensed his disappointment and
sadness about it. It must have been an
emotional day for him to leave the building
for the last time.
After Stationers’ and living in Harringay, I
always bumped into Stationers’ boys
wherever I went and we all reflected on
how unique a school it was and our old
teachers. One name everyone knew was
Mr. Pritchard and no one said a bad thing
about him.
Fast forward 23 years later, I always talked
about my school life and the love and
affection I had for Stationers’ and the regret
that the school was no more and since
demolished. After getting married and
about to move to our first house, I found
my year book in storage and was left
spellbound by the contents and memories it
brought. The school teachers’ photo on the
steps of the upper building almost brought
tears to my eyes as I remembered all the
teacher’s faces from my past I had not seen
in decades. Teachers like Mary Prior, Mike
Fitch, Nava Jahans and of course Mr.
Pritchard just spoke volumes to me.
I found out about the OSA and finally
submitted a form via letter. Out of the
blue, our house phone rang and when I
picked it up I heard, “Andreas Christou?” I
instantly recognised the voice and was
amazed and also shocked when Mr.
Pritchard introduced himself to me after
all these years. That was a moment I will
never forget but when I look back makes
me smile.
We arranged to meet up as I worked in the
West End and he came to meet me. While
waiting outside the London Palladium, I
saw two faces approach me who were from
my past, albeit slightly aged. It was Mr.
Leeming (thoroughly nice chap) and
Geraint Pritchard. We had lunch and a
great conversation and that was the start of
the new chapter of the school life for me.
Since then I have been extremely fortunate
and proud to be a part of the OSA
committee and have had some wonderful
times at the OSA dinner, lunches and carol
services that I attended.
I was even part of the three member OSA
team for the new fund raising committee
for a new school. As talks were ongoing
with the Stationers’ Company, it was clear
that Mr. Pritchard did not hold a new
school bearing the Stationers’ name in
esteem as I did, no doubt due to his
personal reasons for the demise of our
beloved school. In his view, there will only
ever be one Stationers’ Company’s School.
It was amazing to behold his knowledge of
the school, for example where the memorial
school window (now situated at Hornsey
Parish church) was housed (top left as you
entered the Great Hall from the rear
doors) to previous information I had no
idea about.
I was deeply saddened to hear of his death,
I know he fought so hard against it and we
all were on his side willing him on. To me,
it seems like the end of our Association
has now truly begun with time ticking
away until the last of us is no longer here.
He was Mr. Stationer’ through and through
and his knowledge and love of the school
will never be matched again. He loved to
regale us with stories of his travels and
how he would call Old Stationers out of
the blue and meet up with them wherever
he was.
God bless you sir and may you rest in
peace.
Andreas Christou
ge
Travel, but not just travel per se; it should
be inquisitive travel. On advising which
university to apply to Geraint’s advice was
‘to go away... see somewhere new, meet
new people’.
With this uppermost in my thoughts
today as I speed toward Moscow onboard
the Sapsan (translated as Peregrine Falcon)
Train from St Petersburg I have a wry
smile thinking that as the train has to
follow one route only there would not
have been the necessity to debrief on all
the possible roads between A & B as was
the traditional beginning to our
conversations following a trip away either
for myself & Cath or for Geraint & Marj.
Paying attention to the passing landmarks,
landforms and geographic features - the
rivers, lakes and hills as well as the patterns
of urbanisation are second nature now
thanks to Geraint’s enthusiastic teaching.
An ingrained interest in the world and the
things in it could be due to ‘nature’ or
‘nurture’ - having a good teacher doesn’t
hurt either way and there is no disputing
Geraint was that. He instructed, sure, but
more often informed, encouraged,
explained (in detail!) and took a ‘hands-on’
approach to physical geography. Get out
there and see it, touch it, experience it -
without letting a little rain or mist get in
the way!
Trecking with Liam
35

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
There will be grown men across the
country (indeed globe) who cannot hear
the word Mississippi without instinctively
reciting the rhythmic incantation of M _I_
double S_I_ double S_I_ PeePee_ I.
However, it wasn’t so much in the fluvial
systems of North America, the rainforest
of the Amazon, or the agriculture of the
former Soviet Steppe where his sheer love
of geography was best expressed; that was
reserved for the landforms of the British
Isles. The granite Tors of Devon, the
Mountains of North Wales and a particular
soft spot was reserved for the karst scenery
of the Malham area and the Yorkshire
Dales in general. He has been up and
down all of them and knew every twist and
turn of all the routes in and out of them.
Independently, with groups of staff and,
most memorably with groups of lower 6th
Stationers he got us among it; climbing,
hiking, observing... learning (facts, figures
and life lessons) - not forgetting the chat
(bordering on light interrogation at times)
of everyone met along the way - most
notably on the Three Peaks walk; a 20+
mile circular assault on Pen-Y-Ghent,
Whernside and Ingleborough followed by
a mug of tea at the cafe following the
successful conclusion (my personal best
about 7:45 if memory serves!). We camped
under the shadow of the cove itself at
Malham, ‘occasionally’ washed in the Beck
and cooked (sic!) bacon and sausage in
lukewarm lard - whilst Geraint and other
staff luxuriated in the amenities of the
local B&B.
My interests in the outdoor sciences were
sharpened by such experiences and led to
an application to study geology at the
University of Sheffield, Geraint’s alma
Geraint summitting (sorry Gus!) the Faulhorn in Switzerland in the 1970’s
36

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
mater, in 1981. Unfortunately my A-levels
weren’t up to automatic entry (Chemistry
& Maths proving difficult to pass), but I
found out years later that a personal call
from Geraint to his mentor at college, Ted
Spinner, persuaded the latter to take a punt
on ‘young Gallagher’ and approve
admittance. The rest, as they say, is history;
I met my now wife Cath, graduated, did
further study in London to PhD level and
have carved out a geology career ever since.
Geraint didn’t have to make that call, he
never directly admitted to me that he even
did, and he certainly sought no credit for it.
I appreciate it immensely... even the bit
about meeting Cath!
Geraint was also passionate about the Old
Stationers’ Association and his immense
contribution to that organisation will be
recorded elsewhere, but his period as an
OSFC stalwart in the ‘middle’ XI’s is also
worth recording - a long career patrolling
up and down the Underhill mudflats,
brought to a premature end due to a
broken leg. Those of us not good enough
(and you had to be very good) to make the
cut for Marsden Hubbard’s school 1st XI
had our interest in the game maintained in
the 6th form when Geraint created a 3rd
XI that played a fullish complement of
games and became an entry level for
OSFC membership. The maintenance of
that interest in football and the
development of teamwork and camaraderie
was critical and led more than one of us to
the Club’s one and only (to date) AFA
Senior Cup win in 1989.
Returning to Yorkshire and surrounds
these many years later with Geraint and
Marj was a real joy; not least due to fully
cooked food and hot water available in the
accommodation these days! We climbed
PYG one more time, examined every
minutiae of the swallow holes and dry
valleys as the weather broke on the way
down. We walked to Gordale Scar,
circumnavigated Malham Tarn and the
Ingleton Waterfalls - then sat down, had a
brew, and talked about it all.
Moscow approaches now, I have seen a
mostly flat-lying landscape, occasionally
wooded with scattered farm buildings. We
crossed rivers and ran alongside a number
of lakes, none though identified as an Ox
Bow.
All his working life Geraint was a teacher,
but it is one thing to teach, quite another
to inspire.
Liam Gallagher
Geraint’s final resting place,
St. Tegfan’s Church, Anglesey
37

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
CORRESPONDENCE
Received before Geraint’s passing
I was very interested to read Russell
Plumley’s letter about Messrs Sloggett and
Naylor in issue no. 86. I have a few
recollections of both gentlemen which
might be of interest.
Mr Sloggett was certainly someone who
did not suffer fools (or quite possibly
anyone) gladly. He used to patrol the
woodwork shop and upon spying an error
would call the whole class to a halt and
would then berate the unfortunate
miscreant in front of everyone. He had a
couple of memorable expressions which he
used in situations like this delivered with
quite some volume in his wonderful Welsh
accent. The first was when someone
inadvertently made a mistake using the
marking gauge and finished up with two
lines instead of one - "What do you think
these are boy? Tramlines!" The other was
reserved for when a piece of timber was
ruined beyond rescue - "What do you
think wood grows on boy? Trees!" It was
difficult to keep a straight face when he
came out with things like this but it was
certainly the most sensible course of action.
In retrospect I think he probably preferred
rugby to teaching. He certainly took his
rugby training on to the football pitch. I
have an enduring mental image of him
charging down the middle of the pitch at
Winchmore Hill in one of the School -v-
Masters matches with sixth formers
bouncing off him like nine pins.
Mr Naylor, known as ‘Nick’ for reasons
which I did not understand and still don’t,
was a more kindly man. He taught me
woodwork and technical drawing both of
which I enjoyed very much. Some of us in
the O Level technical drawing class
decided that we would like to take the
subject at A Level, something the school
had never offered before. Mr Naylor took
up our case with enthusiasm and succeeded
in getting the course up and running. He
even went to the trouble of making a dozen
or so slopes on which to rest our drawing
boards. As I said, a kindly man and
someone I, and others, owe a debt of
gratitude to.
Alan Currans
Bishop House 1960-67
PS - does anyone remember seeing the cut
away engine donated to the school by Colin
Chapman founder of Lotus Cars and an old
boy? It was mounted on a trolley and you
could turn the engine over and watch the
operation of the valves, pistons, con rods etc.
Very instructive.
Geraint, I am enjoying this edition of OS.
Can recognize many of the staff pictured
on p 19, and name many of them.
The letter on p 22 from contemporary Roy
Plumley mentions Mr Sloggett. I remember
him mostly in the gym. Used to exhort
us to "get more heighth boy", pronouncing
the final "th" for emphasis. I didn’t realise
he played rugby but he had the build for it.
I made an ashtray like the one pictured but
without the fish motif.
Like Roy I have found DIY skills very
valuable but it was maths, physics and
chemistry that paid most of the bills.
Best wishes
John Carey 1957-64
Rodney Naylor was a school contemporary
of Joe Symons. While his dinghy project
served as a school demonstration activity,
his greater pride and joy was his car, a
luxury few teachers could then afford.
Living on an interwar “garden city” style
semi-private estate meant no garages, so
he housed his car in an adjacent small
complex comprising lockups, a vehicle
repair service, and a few workshops. There
my father ran an upholstery and furniture
repair business, and there every weekend
car owners would chat and tinker with
their cherished vehicles, while I earned a
few coppers cleaning our furniture vans.
As our period furniture repairs sometimes
needed a craftsman’s delicate wood and
metal skills, our teacher was offered the
opportunity to “moonlight” after school,
which arrangement did not protect me
when in year three I committed the
ultimate woodworker’s crime of desperately
securing a reluctant dovetail with a nail;
the class was summoned round to witness
my “dovenail” shame…
The school’s Chemistry teacher, Mr Nash,
and the families of at least 3 Stationers’
pupils also lived on the estate in the 6
years I daily patrolled it delivering papers.
Two O S Hornsey councillors, Capes and
Collerton-Cave, likewise chose to buy
houses in this bijou enclave.
Peter Lack
Dear Geraint,
I have just read the latest issue of the Old
Stationer with interest and noticed the
letter from Peter Limebear and there
being no other Old Stationers in St.
Albans.
I have lived here for 50 years and been a
non active member of the Association
since 1986. There are two others, John and
Michael. Michael was only a Stationer for
a few years however John was a pupil
probably within Peter’s time.
I also enjoyed Russell Plumley’s letter and
agree with him about Messrs Naylor and
Sloggett, I still have the ash tray, similar to
the one in the photograph, mine has a cat
on the inside. It amuses our grandchildren
especially as none of the family smoke.
The staff photograph shows some very
stern looking teachers, discipline was never
a problem. They could also show incredible
kindness as I well knew when my mother
died unexpectedly in my first year. The
level of tolerance, understanding and
compassion they showed was something
that I never forgot and influenced me
when I became a teacher. Incidentally
standing next to Mr Nunn is Mr Baxenden
the 6th form physics teacher. I always had
to try hard in his lessons as he knew my
father.
Looking back I often wonder what the
staff of that time would make of today.
Michael Shaw
Caxton House 1952 - 1959
Dear Geraint
I enjoyed reading the letter in issue 86
from Russell Plumley, a class mate of
mine, in praise of Messrs Naylor and
Sloggett. Sadly for me the legacy of double
periods spent in the woodwork room
under their tutelage has not been nearly so
productive.
For a start being left-handed did not help.
Most, if not all, of the benches were set up
for right handers, which made even the
relatively simple task of planing a piece of
wood a major exercise as the "stop" was at
the "wrong"end. Many’s the time my
efforts either finished up on the floor or on
the adjacent bench.
Being an inveterate chatter-box did not
help either. I well remember having to
38

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
explain to my mother how I failed to
notice that my tie, which should have been
tucked inside my shirt, managed to
position itself between the saw and the
piece of wood I was attempting cut, with a
predictable result.
Like Russell, I managed to complete the
four pieces of work which he mentions in
my four years at the wood face. I have no
idea what happened to the table lamp, nor
for that matter the egg rack, although l do
remember one Maynard, the class
subversive, quizzing Mr Naylor about the
possibility of 3d egg falling through a 4d
hole for which he duly received a detention.
The remains of my coffee table survived
until fairly recently although it spent it’s
latter years propped up in the corner of the
spare room minus one leg. Only the copper
ash tray survives although in somewhat
less than pristine condition. In fact ever
since smoking became frowned upon it
has spent most of the time languishing in
a kitchen drawer.
Yours
Roger Phillpot 1956-1963
The Memorial Window
I had a conversation with Roger Melling
about the redevelopment of the Parish
Church that will involve the movement of
the Memorial window to a new more
prominent position. He thought I was
somehow involved in the negotiations
with the Church that saw the window
move from the School when it was
demolished. I explained that I was only
central to the rededication of the window
in my Presidential year. So the question is
‘How was the decision made to move the
window to the Parish church’? ‘Who acted
for the School/Governors in the
negotiation’? I cannot believe the Local
Authority would know or care as although
they bought the site from the Company I
am aware that some of the more important
contents were removed prior to demolition,
ie: the window in question and the organ.
There could possibly be a request from the
Church for a contribution from the OSA
or Company towards the cost of removing
the window, it’s storage renovation and
re-positioning. Of course, depending on
the terms under which the window was
given, loaned back in the day, but that will
be for the Committee and the Court to
consider. As an architect I offered Roger
my assistance if he thought it useful.
I will send Roger a copy of this email once
I have his email address and perhaps you
should reply to him but would appreciate a
copy.
Regards
Michael Brady
Tim
Despite the sad circumstances it was, as
always, very good to touch base with you
and the rest of the O.S. contingent at dear
Geraint’s funeral. I hope your journey
home went smoothly!
As promised, I am forwarding the contact
details for Mr. John Morris with whom I
fell into conversation on the day finding
that he had known Geraint since their
respective childhoods and like Geraint
plays his part in producing a similar
magazine. It was apparently their habit to
exchange copy whenever a new mag hit
the press and I don’t think I am "overegging"
things to say John was always very
impressed with "our" output (as I
commented: GP’s in truth) and very sorry
that he will no longer be in receipt of copy.
I explained I could not make long-term
commitments on behalf of the OSA but,
given the circumstances, I felt it very
appropriate to offer to consult you on
John’s behalf, requesting that at the very
least we might forward to him copy of the
"G.P. commemorative edition" when it is
produced.
If you agree with me, perhaps you could
39

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
arrange copy to John in due course. His
contact details are:
Mr John Morris, 20, Kent Drive, Barnet,
EN4 OAP. Emails, should you need it, to
his wife Lyn as follows: lyn224morris@
btinternet.com.
In addition I understand that the vicar
presiding at the funeral service, (Richard
Brunt) would similarly greatly appreciate a
copy of the commemorative magazine.
Unfortunately I cannot at present provide
an address for him having (ridiculously)
lost the note I made at the time. If I
manage to locate him I’ll forward his
contact details.
Best regards, as always,
Peter
OFSC had a post-match drinking song
celebrating the club’s SAL ascent through
3 divisions to champions in the 1955-1965
decade; I heard it after a Winchmore Hill
Boxing Day match.
Do any old-timers remember the words? It
began
“We are Old Stationers ‘FC,
A jolly old crowd as you can see…”
Its text in a future magazine would surely
be of nostalgic interest.
Peter Lack
Dear Geraint,
I happened on an article, “The Hog’s Back,
Haringay” in “Back Track” a historical
railways journal. It brings back memories
for me as I travelled by train from Palmers
Green just after railway nationalisation. I
do not know what arrangements you might
have for re-publishing things which have
appeared in other journals but I guess the
article might be of interest to a fair number
of Old Boys. The publisher of “Back Track”
is Pendragon Publishing in York.
Yours sincerely
Nigel Friswell
Dear Nigel, Many thanks for your letter which
I have inherited from Geraint’s inbox. By a
remarkable coincidence, the article was written
by Alex Flemming, an Old Stationer. I contacted
him and he is very happy for us to include it in
the magazine. He has resupplied the text and
pictures and it is scheduled to appear in issue 88
which will be published in January.
Tim Westbrook
Acting Editor
>
Harringay seen from The Hog’s Back
< Back page photo from Issue 86
portrays the 1952-53 Literary and
Debating Society, whose members came
from years 5, 6 and 7.
Surnames are as follows, left to right:
Front row (led by prefectorial triumvirate)
Fricker, Neale, Bodley, Trup, Unerman,
Second row: Lane, Chew, Davies, Lack,
Judge,
Third row: Crapps, Wheeler, Patten, Baxter,
Lawman,
Back row: Smith, Behn, Wickes, Protheroe.
Photographer was Frank Dash.
Peter Lack
40

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
MEMBERSHiP REPoRT
At the beginning of 2018 our membership totalled 501 members.
So far this year 8 Old Stationers have joined and 5 have been
removed; so, our membership numbers 505 at present. Of these
20 do not receive copies of The Old Stationer magazine because
they do not pay the full £15 subscription, or no subscription has
yet been received in 2018 or because we do not have a valid
contact address. If anyone has any information regarding the
whereabouts of Ray Greenway or Bob Peddar please let Roger
Engledow know.
New members who have been approved since magazine 86 was
published are:
Frank Pearce
1955 – 1962 Meredith House
11 Dehar Crescent West Hendon NW9 7BD
Peter Emmerson-Darnell
1966 – 1972 Hodgson House
43 Pickhurst Lane Hayes Kent BR2 7JE
Peter Knight
1953 - 1958
153 Unex Tower 7 Station Street London E15 1LA
geoff Holmes
1959 – 1966 Meredith House
Plantation End, Sinderhope, Hexham,
Northumberland NE47 9SL
Also, since the last magazine the death has been reported of
Dickie Rundle.
Numerous changes of e-mail addresses and some changes of
address have been reported over recent months. Whenever you
change either please let us know so that we can keep in touch
with you effectively.
The database is currently being amended to eliminate all
information which is surplus to our needs. Over the years we
have recorded various pieces of data which have then remain
unused as these do not form part of what is required for us to
meet the purposes of the Association.
As a membership organisation we do not need you to grant
consent for your information to be used to meet our purposes
and it is not necessary for anyone to contact us or complete any
forms. However, if you wish to know what information is held
please contact Roger Engledow (Membership Secretary).
The statement below will be incorporated in a redesigned
application form.
PRivACY STATEMEnT
The Association maintains a database of Members’ details on a
computer, stored offline, in accordance with its legal obligations.
The main purpose is to be able to send The Old Stationer
magazine to members. The database may also be used to inform
members of events organized by the OSA including year
reunions and for the general running of the Association. No
financial data is retained. No information is passed to any other
organization. In addition a list of names is maintained on a
separate computer, also stored offline, in order to ensure that all
members pay their annual subscriptions. Any member who
wishes to review the data held relating to themselves should
request this from the Membership Secretary who will send it to
them, correct any errors and delete any details as requested.
FAnTASY FooTBALL
The 2017-18 season ended with a surprise. Our serial
winner Pat Dunphy was pipped at the post by Terry Wyld
a first time winner.
Top Five
1. Terry Wyld Lumen Delights 1932
2. Pat Dunphy ONandONandON 1903
3. Terry Wyld Oakley’s Wanderers 1856
4. Pat Dunphy Still Trundling 1832
5. Mike Mote Itsafreebie 1830
In our cup competition Ian Mote’s Shanghai Surprise
beat Don Bewick’s Wildhill United in a close final.
We are now all looking forward to next season. Our
entries are done in the Daily Telegraph league and any
Old Stationers or friends can join in. Send me a message
and I will send you the PIN number to join in.
David Hudson
dtchudson@hotmail.com
The old Stationers’ Association
41

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
Minutes of the AGM OF THE Old Stationers’ Association
Stationers’ Hall, Friday 23rd March 2018
Present:
Peter Bothwick (President) in the chair
Tim Westbrook (Hon. Secretary)
Michael Hasler (Hon. Treasurer)
together with 9 other Committee members and 39 ordinary members.
The meeting was called to order at 5.30pm
1. Confirmation of Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 24th March 2017
(Circulated in OSA Magazine issue 85 Summer 2017)
The minutes of the AGM held at Stationers’ Hall on Friday 24th March 2017 were unanimously adopted as a true
record on a vote taken on the proposal of Michael Facey, seconded by Alan Green.2. President’s Address
2. President’s Address See attached report.
3. Hon Treasurers Report See attached report.
Following The Treasurers report to the AGM, Peter Sargent suggested that the OSA lunches should not be managed as
subsidised events and should be priced to cover the projected costs. Peter stated that the contingency fund should be used
to cover future unavoidable increases in magazine costs. Both Mike Hasler and Peter Borthwick replied that the lunches
and annual dinner are planned to break-even but that this is dependant on the numbers attending where there is a
minimum of 40 required for the May and September lunches.
The price for these two lunches has been increased for 2018 to £37 each an increase of £2. The note attached to the
OSA Funds Summary explains the origin of the Contingency Fund and how it is being utilised which was agreed by
both your committee and approved at a previous AGM.
The report and accounts for the year ending 31st December 2017 were approved unanimously on a vote taken on the
proposal of Tim Westbrook, seconded by David Turner.
The accounts have yet to be signed off by the auditors.
4. Election of Officers and Committee
The Chairman invited nominations for the Association’s Officers and Committee for 2017/2018.
The following members were duly proposed, seconded and elected:
Elected Proposer Seconder
President Peter Winter Peter Bothwick Tim Westbrook
Vice-President Peter Thomas Peter Winter Tim Hemmings
Hon Secretary Tim Westbrook Tony Hemmings David Hudson
Hon Treasurer Michael Hasler Roger Melling Alan Green
Hon Membership Secretary Roger Engledow Tim Westbrook Dave Cox
Hon Editor Geraint Pritchard Roger Melling Tim Westbrook
Events Managers Peter Sandell Peter Winter Roger Engledow
Roger Mellingl Peter Winter Roger Engledow
Hon Archivist David Turner Peter Thomas Tony Hemmings
Website Officer Tim Westbrook Peter Thomas Peter Sandell
Ordinary Members
Andreas Christou
Tony Hemmings Peter Bothwick Mike Hasler
Dave Sheath
5. Election of Honorary Auditors
Chris Langford and Dave Cox were unanimously elected Honorary Auditors on a vote taken on the proposal of
Roger Engledow and seconded by Tim Westbrook.
6. Other business
The President highlighted a correction to the date of President’s Day cricket match mentioned in the latest magazine
diary, the correct date is Sunday August 26th.
Michael Facey gave a vote of thanks to the committee for their efforts in managing the affairs of the OSA for the
last year. This was seconded by Alan Green.
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 17.55 pm.
42

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
Good evening fellow Old Stationers and welcome to the Old Stationers’ Association Annual General
Meeting for 2018.
For me, the past year genuinely seems to have whizzed by and I think we can collectively claim that it
has been another successful year for the Association. Not through anything that I have done individually,
I hasten to add, but simply through the fellowship and teamwork that we can boast.
The highlights for me during the year have been many – my year of 1962 held our 55th year reunion here
at Stationers Hall.
A fine attendance on a glorious August afternoon at the President’s Day Cricket Match. Never mind the
result.
The installation of our school display cabinet here in Stationers’ Hall.
The continued development of our updated website.
Good attendances at our Spring and Autumn lunches, plus of course the Christmas lunch, where more
potatoes remains a major objective.
And perhaps most importantly of all, we have maintained our membership numbers above the 500 level.
This despite the sad loss of some members during the year. Yet new members are still emerging, to keep
that total number high, so thanks to you all for encouraging new joiners.
The one major disappointment of the year (so far !) Was the enforced cancellation of the Carol Service
due to the adverse weather which paralysed us all that day.
I shall speak more about some of these events later gentlemen, but for now I would like to pay tribute to
your committee. They all work tirelessly to support, encourage, cajole, pressgang, call it what you wish,
doing what they do for the real good of the association.
Without the committee’s effort and dedication towards the old stationers
association cause, things simply would not happen. Gentlemen of the
committee – I thank you both presidentially and personally.
Fellow old stationers, i have been honoured and delighted to have served as
the association’s president. Thank you for trusting in me to do so, and i
sincerely wish peter winter every success for his coming year.
Peter Bothwick President 2017/18
Honorary Treasurer’s Report
For the year to 31st December 2017
The accounts for the year ended 31st December 2017 have been circulated.
The Income and expenditure account for the year calendar 2017 show a surplus of £1,507 (last year a
surplus of £148).
The main reason for such a large surplus is that the magazine costs are for the July issue only. We have
continued to produce two magazines each year but the “Winter” magazine which used to be issued before
Christmas has gradually slipped further and further into the new year. The last two years it has not
gone out until March. It was therefore considered inappropriate to continue to include the costs for this
issue of the magazine in the 2017 accounts when the costs were not being incurred until 2018. Website
43

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
costs were also higher as we embarked on a new website at a cost to date of £2,040. The annual carol
service had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions on the day and the committee authorised
a donation of £100 to the Hornsey Parish Church. The surplus on ordinary activities amounts to
££1,513 (last year a deficit of £205).
Other activities the Christmas lunch was attended by 97people and the 2017 annual dinner 90people (86
paying+4guests). The 3 lunch clubs during the year produced a deficit of £110 and the annual diner a
surplus of £20. A transfer of £90 has been made from the contingency fund to cover this deficit. As the
deficits are arising at the Imperial Hotel lunches it has been agreed by the committee that we increase
the charge from £35 to £37 for the Imperial and leave the two events at The Stationers Hall as they are
at £48 for the Christmas lunch and the annual dinner at £62. We will keep them under review. Other
activities produced a small deficit of £6(last year a surplus of £353) due entirely to the deficit this year on
lunches and dinner against a surplus last year.
The balance sheet is still in a strong position with a healthy surplus. The legacies that we received in
2015 of £2k have now been used to fund the purchase of a display cabinet £200 and the remainder on
new website.
The magazine costs will increase due to the rise in the cost of paper. It would be preferable if we could
keep the size of future magazines to 48 pages. The subscription to members remains the same for the
current year and barring exceptional circumstances I see no reason to increase it for 2019 as we can
manage a deficit on ordinary activities for a while.
Michael Hasler
Treasurer - 6th March 2017
Discussion at the AGM meeting then took place on the question of running a deficit on lunches and the
annual dinner. Such deficit effectively coming from the general membership. I think that I should
clarify the position. Firstly the contingency reserve arose from past surpluses on the Christmas lunch
and the annual dinner and after due consideration by your committee as to how best to return it to those
members who support these functions it should be used to cover future deficits.
For those of you who have members of the OSA for many years will remember that the lunches (
formerly called The Harold Smith lunch club) were off balance sheet but that the OSA paid for a number
of guests at these functions i.e. The Master and Clerk of The Company to attend one lunch and the
annual dinner. Now that these functions are included in the accounts we would expect to at least show
a deficit equivalent to the cost of 2 lunches and two dinners.
I would like to give my sincere thanks to the Hon. Membership Secretary who has worked tirelessly in
collecting the subscriptions. I would like to thank our President, who has been ever present and
proactive in committee. Also to my fellow committee members for their
support and conservative demands on our funds, and, finally, finally I wish
to thank our two auditors, David Cox who carried out a detailed review of
the accounts and Chris Langford who added an ex-Treasurer’s view to the
process giving me the comfort that the accounts before you are complete
and audited. David and Chris have indicated their willingness to continue
in office.
Michael Hasler
Treasurer
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION
Balance Sheet
As at 31st December 2017
ASSETS
31.12.17 31.12.16
£ £ £ £
Cash at bank on current account 5,816 7,935
Cash on deposit account 12.953 12.951
Total cash at bank 18,769 20,886
Stock of ties & badges (note 2) 930 1,158
Stock of books and programmes (note 3) 230 297
The Carpenter Painting 1,077 1,077
Display Cabinet 200
Debtors 424 109
Less Creditors -5,212 -8,616
-4,788 -8,507
TOTAL ASSETS 16,418 14,911
FINANCED BY:
Memorial Fund (Embleton) 1,721 1,721
Accumulated General Fund 12,283 10,686
Contingencies Reserve (note 4) 2,414 2,504
16,418 14,911
NOTES
1 The OSA also has in its possession a number of items of regalia and cups.
It is not proposed to show these on the face of the accounts, but the value for insurance
purposes is £2,950.
2 Stock of ties and badges
Stock 31.12.16 1,158 522
Purchases 856
1,158 1,378
Less sales at cost 190 186
Less presented to The President 22 22
Less presented to The Master 16 12
Stock 31.12.17 930 1,158
3 Stock of books and programmes
Stock at 31.12.16 297 402
Less cost of sales 67 105
Stock at 31.12.17 230 297
M F Hasler Treasurer
Auditors Report
In our opinion the above Balance sheet and related Statements of Income and Expenditure, Accumulated Fund
and Memorial Fund present a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Old Stationers’ Association as at
31 st December 2017 and of the surplus of income over expenditure for the year.
C Langford, D Cox
45

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
OSA Funds Summary
Year ended 31st December 2017 31.12.17 31.12.16
MEMORIAL FUND (EMBLETON)
£ £
Balance per Accounts 31.12.16 b/fwd 1,721 1,721
Accumulated Surplus on Memorial Fund 1,721 1,721
ACCUMULATED GENERAL FUND
Balance per Accounts 31.12.16 b/fwd 10,686 10,538
Surplus/-Deficit on ordinary activities 1,513 -205
-Deficit/Surplus on other activities -6 353
Transfer from contingencies 90
Accumulated Surplus on ordinary activities 12,283 10,686
CONTINGENCIES RESERVE (note 4)
Balance per accounts 31st December 2016 b/fwd 2,504 2,504
Transfer to General Fund, re Dinner and Lunches -90
Total Contingencies Reserve 2,414 2,504
TOTAL OSA FUNDS AT 31.12.2017 16,418 14,911
Note 4: The contingencies reserve has been created from past provisions for luncheon and annual dinner
costs no longer required. It is to be used to subsidise these events, this year £90, and in future years.
GENERAL FUND
Income & Expenditure Account Year ended 31st December 2017
31.12.17 31.12.16
ORDINARY ACTIVITIES £ £ £ £
Income
Subscriptions 7,452 7,267
Bank interest 1 6
7,453 7,273
Expenditure
Magazine costs (see note below) 3,255 6,871
Stationery, Postage & Web expenses 2,585 447
Carol service 100 160
5,940 7,478
Surplus/-Deficit on Ordinary Activities 1,513 -205
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Tie, scarves and blazer badge sales net-cost/income 31 20
Past President’s badge and tie at cost -22 -22
Baynes book net surplus 75 93
Net -Deficit/Surplus on dinner and lunch club -90 262
-Deficit?Surplus on other activities -6 353
SURPLUS INCOME OVER (EXPENDITURE) FOR YEAR 1,507 148
Note: It was agreed by your committee that as the twice yearly magazine is now being produced in February/March and
July/August that it was no longer appropriate to provide for the cost of the earlier issue in the accounts of the previous year.
46

Digging out a cross from the cabbage patch pitch at Barnet.

Geraint at the foot of Malham Cove