Good To Be Back
OA Bulletin - Spring 2007
Stephen Burgess
President, Old Albanian Club
Having returned to the OA Club Committee 18 months ago, new President Stephen Burgess reflects on the progress made in recent years and looks forward to an exciting future for the Old Albanian Club
A tribute to Andy Barnes
I feel that as the new President of the Old Albanian Association I should rightly pay a tribute to the past president Andy Barnes for his three years of hard work. This has been a period in which membership, with the co-operation of the School, has become free to all School leavers and to existing members. This has been funded by the School, which makes an annual grant to the Old Albanian Club. While this makes some aspects of life easier for the Membership Secretary and Treasurer of the Club, there will be more people to keep track of and no payment can mean looser connections. I am sure, however, that this will be a beneficial development both for the Club and the School.
Andy and our Membership Secretary Roger Cook have also worked hard on the OA Connect site and the OA Club’s internet site. We hope to develop these further. Andy has also helped to further connections with younger members, an area in which I would also like to take initiatives. The president of the Old Albanian Club becomes an ex officio governor of the school and in this capacity Andy has done a lot of work on a new project about which I hope to be able to give you further news in due course. He has also initiated the Summer Garden Party, an excellent social event which I aim to continue. In all these activities Andy has worked diligently to ensure their success and I thank him for his sterling efforts.
Back to the Committee
I have only returned to the OA Committee in the last 18 months, but I served on it from time to time from the mid sixties to the early eighties and did a several year stint as secretary to the Ground Sub Committee that ran the club at our previous Beech Bottom home. I was also on the Rugby Club Committee for nearly 15 years, so in being elected to the presidency I feel I am returning home and very proud to be in this office. At 63 I am perhaps one of the older presidents of the club – and certainly so in the last 30 years – but I have maintained connections with many branches of the Old Albanian activities and sports clubs and thus I believe I can provide continuity from Andy’s stint and that of Andrew Mills-Baker who preceded him.
Andrew Mills-Baker
Three years ago Andy Barnes paid tribute to Andrew Mills-Baker’s presidency and the tremendous work he undertook over the development of Woollams and the move to the new club grounds. Andrew has continued making a major contribution as Chairman of the Sports Association which oversees the day to day activities of the club, ground and constituent sports activities. This has required a considerable commitment on his part, which he has unstintingly given.
He has now stepped down as chairman of the Sports Association and has handed over to the new Chairman, Mike Peters (82). Fortunately for us he will continue as a trustee of the Sports Association, and of the 948 Charity as well as a member of the OA Committee. I am personally very grateful for Andrew’s valuable work over many years and hope that he continues to serve on these committees for many more years.
A School Governor
As a governor of the School I was delighted to join two other members of my A Level History set: Ian Jennings, Chairman of the Governors, and Professor John Barber who represents Cambridge University. Two other members of the Governing Board are old rugby colleagues of mine in Andy Barnes and Peter Dredge. It is a strong Governing Board, and a lot of hard work is undertaken by its members.
As President of the Club and as a Governor I am sure I will have frequent business and social interaction with the headmaster, Andrew Grant. I will let you into a secret: both Andrew and I are members of the Verulam Cycling Club, and we frequently gasp at the top of Hertfordshire’s cols and swap notes during elevenses at the inevitable garden centre. We know some of our respective strengths and weaknesses, which get tested over 50 to 60 miles on Sunday mornings.
The Dinner: Friday 6th July 2007, 7.00 for 7.45pm
The last two dinners have been held in the School pavilion due to other events taking place at the Woollams clubhouse. We are grateful to the School for providing their fine facilities, but I am glad that we are returning to the Woollams clubhouse this year. The cost of the dinner includes a drinks reception on the terrace. I am sure we will enjoy a fine evening and an excellent dinner. I believe attendance will be up this year and urge you to contact me a soon as possible. As usual, the dinner will be followed the next day by Founders’ Day with a service in the Abbey and an afternoon of sport at Woollams. For those of you who live away from the area, why not make a weekend of it? Please complete the form included with this Bulletin. By popular demand this year’s dinner will be lounge suit order.
The Garden Party: Sunday 10th June, 1.00pm
The fourth garden party will be held at the Woollams clubhouse with drinks, canapés and a light buffet. Come along and enjoy yourself and see a good game of cricket. A form is provided and the cost is £15 a head, a very reasonable price for a good afternoon out.
Roger Cook
I have mentioned earlier in these notes that I sat on the committee in the early 1980s. I recall that Roger Cook had taken over as Membership Secretary, and I have now returned to the Committee and Roger is still here doing his diligent work. He has a record of over 3,500 OAs and, of course, these records continue to build. Well done Roger, and thank you.
Roy Bacon
I feel I should say a few words about Roy Bacon, who after a long while on the Committee has stood down partly through indifferent health. When I left school in 1962 and joined the Old Albanian Club and Rugby Club, Roy was an active and busy member organising fixtures for the Rugby Club, working on the fete and serving on the Old Albanian Committee. Roy’s commitment covers well over half a century. His advice was always sound and his company excellent. Thanks to you as well, Roy.
948 Charity
This charity was established by the Club some five years ago to provide help for young people in sport in St Albans and District. Money has been provided both to our own sports clubs, to St Albans School and to other schools, clubs and some individuals in the district over the last fouryears. Over £100,000 has been distributed so far and the charity is by far the largest in the area providing sporting grants. I am proud of the work the trustees do and of the benefits the charity can provide in the Club’s name. If you know of a club or sports organisation in the district which could benefit from some help, please feel free to contact the secretary Mrs Julie Dekker at Woollams (telephone 01727 864476) or the chairman of the trustees, Geraint John, on 01727 857682. Finally, I look forward during my presidency to meeting old friends and new acquaintances. The Club is in good health and we have wonderful facilities at Woollams. If you have not visited the new Club I urge you to do so.
The Cricket Club is doing very well and the terrace is a great place to watch a game. The Rugby Club has finished mid-table in a highly competitive division just below the national leagues and the quality of play is excellent. There is a thriving Tennis Club with plans to grow and prosper, and a well-equipped health and fitness centre. The ground is used by the England Women’s Rugby Team as their ‘home’ pitch and Saracens Rugby Club plays its ‘A’ team home fixtures on a Monday evening. This is a tribute to the quality of the facilities, the welcome extended by the staff and, I’d like to feel, some of the tradition flowing through from Old Albanians of the past and continuing into the present.
The Committee can organise events but it is up to you, the members, to take advantage of what is on offer. Get together with friends, come to the Dinner and the Garden Party, and enjoy yourselves.