OSAmag88

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 5
A SERVICE FOR GERAINT
On a late Summer’s morning, Old Stationers’, family and friends
gathered at the Jewin Welsh Chapel, near the Barbican, London
to attend a Sunday Chapel Service dedicated to the memory of
Geraint Pritchard. Geraint regularly attended the Presbyterian
chapel, which serves the Welsh community that live in Greater
London and beyond and where his grandfather was once
Minister. The service was conducted in Welsh, by the Reverend
Richard Brunt, and an English translation was also provided.
The service began with a hymn sung by the children from the
Chapel Sunday School after which the Minister spoke to them
of the importance of learning and Geraint’s enthusiasm and
dedication to teaching. Then followed a tribute to the life of
Geraint given by the Secretary of the Chapel, Mrs Llinos Morris
explaining his family roots in Anglesey and their move to
London followed by his teaching career at the School. The
hymns included ‘Make Me A Channel of Your Peace’ and ‘Guide
Me O Thou Great Redeemer’, set to the Welsh tune of Cwm
Rhondda. The Rev. Brunt then read the article from ‘The Old
Stationer’ Magazine written by Geraint’s partner, Marj. The
service was followed by a welcome cup of tea and an opportunity
for family and friends to recall happy memories of Geraint.
A CHALLENGE TO REMEMBER GERAINT
Something that occurred to me when I read the many tributes to
Geraint in the last edition of The Old Stationer was the number
of times that the Yorkshire Dales 3 Peaks Challenge was
mentioned. I enjoy walking (particularly uphill) but this is
something that I have never attempted; but, in memory of such
a fine individual, I think that I am going to have a go.
So I wonder how many other
Old Stationers might feel the
same. Some of you will have
done it once many years ago.
Some may have done it many
times. Some will be like me
and never yet tried it.
If you aren’t aware what the
Challenge is, or have
forgotten, the 3 peaks are
Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside
and Ingleborough. In total
walking a circular route to climb all 3 involves around 5,000 feet
and 24/25 miles. The Challenge is to complete it within 12
hours.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park organize such a challenge at
weekends during British Summer Time. People sign in at the
start and after returning to the same point within 12 hours
receive a certificate. So any of us could try it whenever it suits us.
Geraint died on 22nd April but the first anniversary falls on
Easter Monday. As very few of us live near enough to get there
for a very early start (soon after 6.00 a.m.) and get home again
the same day after a beer (to celebrate) and a meal at least one
overnight stay will be involved (two would make it more
practical). So Easter is unlikely to be a good time to attempt this.
If enough Old Stationers wanted to attempt it together a midweek
fixture might be easier. With 60 to 75 of us we could take
over the HF House in Malham (but that’s beyond my
expectations). However, the organization of such an event would
be formidable. Not just in terms of booking accommodation but
also controlling the walk itself. Apart from trying to find dates
that would suit enough people, maps, people walking at different
paces, making arrangements for those who can’t make it all
sound a more daunting challenge than the walk itself.
When I started to mention my interest in having a go the
question of which charity will I support was raised. It should be
possible to arrange one or two charities (I think Marj was a
MacMillan Nurse) such that we could all try to obtain some
sponsorship for the same charities.
The purpose of this note is to try to find out whether there is any
interest in undertaking this challenge to remember Geraint,
either as a group or individually. If the latter, we could photocopy
all the certificates and send them to Marj together with details
of how much had been collected.
More detail about the Challenge can be found on www.
threepeakschallenge.uk/yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge or
www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
If you think that you might like to participate in some way please
let me know.
Roger Engledow
osamembers@gmail.com
STATiONERS' COMPANY UPDATE
Promotional programme to encourage
membership of the Stationers’ Company
The relationship between the OSA and the Stationers’ Company
has been a long one going back not only to our school days but
also to the very start of the school in 1861. Of course, the history
of the Company goes back much further to its formation as a
printing guild in 1403. Many of its traditions developed even
earlier stemming from the illumination of parchments in the
grounds of the old St. Paul’s Cathedral.
With the closure of our school in 1983, Stationers’ Hall became
our long term home with which we can all identify. I know there
are many who share my view that our Christmas lunches and
Annual Dinners at the Hall are very special occasions. The
majority of our archives are stored at the Hall; one of our school
stained glass windows looks out from the Stock Room (even
though the Latin motto is grammatically incorrect! Gus would
turn over in his grave if he knew); nearby there is a display case
exhibiting OSA memorabilia, and the many paintings and photos
of past headmasters are on show on the staircase to the library.
Today, we have over 40 Freemen, 15 Liverymen and 2 on the
Court of the Company. Members of the Old School play
important roles in the management of the affairs of the Company
and Stephen Platten, currently Under Warden, is destined to be
the first Old Boy to become Master of the Company in two years
time. Some have joined the Company because they had a career
in one of the many sectors of the Communications and Content
Industry. The majority come from other walks of life and have
applied on the grounds of membership of the OSA.
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