The Owl 2020

The Owl 2020
Former Pupils’ News
programmes, with dozens of leading UK
companies forming partnerships with “Be the
Business”. Currently, an important aim of “Be
the Business” lies in supporting businesses
through the Covid-19 crisis.
Tony Danker has been appointed to the
leadership of the CBI at a critical moment for
UK companies. The Covid-19 pandemic has
plunged the economy into deep recession, with
the UK poised to sever formal links with the
European Union at the end of the Brexit
transition period in December. The CBI,
working alongside the trades unions and
business groups, will have a key role to play in
shaping the government’s economic response
to the crisis and improving the country’s
productivity record.
STEPHEN SMARTT
Stephen Smartt is an astrophysicist who
specialises in stellar evolution, supernovae,
and time domain sky surveys. After leaving
Belfast Royal Academy in 1986, he studied
physics and applied mathematics at Queen’s
University, Belfast and was awarded a PhD in
astrophysics in 1996.
Stephen later worked at the Isaac Newton
group of telescopes and held a fellowship at the
University of Cambridge. He returned to
Belfast in 2004 and established a group
working on stellar evolution, supernovae and
time domain sky surveys. He is credited with
the discovery of stars that explode as
supernovae, measuring their mass, luminosity
and the chemical elements synthesised. He is
Professor of Astrophysics at the School of
Mathematics and Physics at Queen’s
University, Belfast.
Stephen Smartt was awarded the Philip
Leverhulme Prize in 2005, awarded by the
Leverhulme Trust to recognise the
achievement of outstanding researchers whose
work has already attracted international
recognition and whose future career is
exceptionally promising. He is a member of
the Royal Irish Academy and in 2020 was
elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION
The main event in the Association’s calendar
is the Annual Dinner. Last year’s Annual
Dinner was held at the Europa Hotel on 23 rd
November, hosted by the BRA OBA President,
Moore Dickson.
The speakers at the dinner were:
The Principal, Mrs Hilary Woods,
proposed the toast to the Association.
The President responded and proposed
the toast to our guests.
Mr Paul Crute responded.
Mr William Crawley who proposed the
toast to the School.
The occasion provided the opportunity for
what is a unique photograph, of four “Heads”
of the Academy - Mrs Woods and her three
predecessors.
The success of the Dinner was again due to
the organisational skills of the Dinner
Secretary, Iain Knox, and his team, who work
extremely hard each year to ensure this event
runs smoothly.
Sadly, the 2020 Annual Dinner had to be
cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Hopefully we can re-instate this event at the
Europa Hotel in November, 2021.
LONDON DINNER
Following on from the success of previous
London Dinners, more than 50 Former Pupils
attended the seventh annual London Dinner at
the RAF Club, Piccadilly on Friday 13 th March
2020. The president said Grace and after a
delightful meal, invited Michael Haslett to
speak on his memories of school – especially
of captaining the only BRA 1 st XV to win the
Schools Cup outright. Michael stressed that
rugby is a team sport, and he felt very fortunate
to captain that particularly strong team.
Michael then proposed the toast to the School.
The Principal responded on behalf of the
School and the President’s customary closing
remarks left plenty of time for late evening
socialising. Our thanks are due to David
Haslett, Louis Campbell and Iain Knox for
organising this event.
EDINBURGH DINNER
The Edinburgh Dinner which had been
planned for 24 th April 2020 at the New Club on
Princes Street had to be cancelled due to the
Covid 19 lockdown. Our thanks are due to
David Haslett and Louis Campbell for their
organising efforts.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the
Association was scheduled for 7 th April 2020,
but was postponed until later in the year. This
year’s President, Moore Dickson, agreed to
stay in the role in a temporary capacity, until
the AGM takes place.
The following officials, who were elected for
2019/2020, will continue in post until the
AGM takes place.
President
Moore Dickson
Senior Vice President Trevor Sturgess
Junior Vice President Bobby Gray
Hon. Secretary
Philip McKenna
Hon. Treasurer
Nik Simon
Hon. Membership Secretary Michael
McDowell
Dinner Secretary
Iain Knox
Hon. Auditor
Drew Wilkinson
The Committee for 2019/2020 was also
elected. The future of the Association depends
upon Old Boys becoming involved and we
appeal to anyone who has an interest in joining
the Committee to contact the Hon. Secretary or
any member of the Committee.
RUGBY
Congratulations to Iain Henderson on his
appointment as captain of the Ulster XV for the
2020-2021 season. Iain has been an Irish
international since his debut in 2012 against
South Africa, and was selected to tour with the
British and Irish Lions to New Zealand in
2017.
ANNUAL CRICKET MATCH BRA
OBS VS THE BRA 1 ST XI
Unfortunately, the annual cricket match
between an Old Boys’ XI against the School 1 st
XI was cancelled due to Covid19 lockdown.
GOLF SOCIETY
The Golf Society, organised by Ken & Iain
Knox, saw the first outing at Malone Golf Club
cancelled due to the Covid 19 lockdown.
Happily, Captain’s day was played as usual at
Royal Belfast Golf Club on Friday, 11 th ,
September, 2020. There were 35 participants
who enjoyed pleasant weather, good golf, and
dinner afterwards in the main dining room to
enable the extra spacing requirements. The
results this year were:
Picken Cup was played for at Royal
Belfast G.C. Friday 11 th September
2020.
Winner: Iain Knox.
Ferguson Cup – not awarded due to
Covid19.
Photos: (1) Iain Knox driving off first T-box. (2)
Iain Knox presented with the Picken Cup by (his
father) Ken Knox (event organiser).
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