Publications
The OA Bulletin is published twice per year, and is available to read in PDF format on this site, or in hard copy by post at a cost of £18 for a three year subscription.
The Editor is always keen to hear from OAs of any era with articles, letters, reminiscences or updates of what they have done since leaving School. If you would like to make a contribution please get in touch.
A History of the Old Albanian Club
Roger Cook's fascinating history of the OA Club can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking on the following links: Part 1 and Part 2.
OA Bulletin - Summer 2010
Download the Summer 2010 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking here
OA Bulletin - Autumn 2009
Download the Autumn 2009 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking here
OA Bulletin - Summer 2009
Download the entire Summer 2009 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking on the following links: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
Editorial: Back to the future
As the legendary Colonel Pryke would have been quick to confirm, I am no theoretical physicist and such questions must remain unanswered here. But it does beg the question: what would I see if I went back to my St Albans School of the late sixties and early seventies, armed with the benefit of perfect hindsight? Read More...
Sporting behaviour
In the third of our series of recollections, ‘The Berts’ take a fond look back at sport at the School in the 1950s. Their article covers Rugby, Cross-Country, Football, Hockey, Cricket, Swimming, Tennis and Athletics. Read More...
OA Bulletin - Autumn 2008
Download the entire Autumn 2008 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking on the following links: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
Editorial: Better late than never......
Traditionally, clubs such as ours have relied heavily on the goodwill of a number of unpaid and often unsung members, who give freely of their spare time for the common good. However, the harsh realities of commercial life demand that its facilities are run as a profitmaking concern, and that the School continues to invest heavily in its infrastructure to attract the best pupils and teachers in an increasingly competitive education market. Read More
Recollections of Masters: 1950-1959
Read on if you remember Headmaster W T ‘Stoker Bill’ Marsh, Mr P Avery, Mr D ‘Triangle’ Billingham, Mr C T Bloxham, Mr ‘Bummer’ Brown, Mr O C ‘Ozzy’ Buck, Mr Burton, Mr ‘Doc a Doc’ Coles, Mr ‘Diver’ Davies, Mr ‘Jock’ Faulkner, Mr K ‘Laddie’ Finley, Monsieur ‘Froggie’ Garnier, Mr ‘Happy’ Heather, Mr ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Mr Denis Holman, Mr Peter Hurford, Mr G F Jarry, Dr Keefe, Sgt Major ‘Killer’ Kilpatrick, Mr F S ‘Slab’ Marshall, Mr Miles, Mr Owen, Mr B ‘Barry’ Phillips, Mr G E ‘Percy’ Pryke, Mr ‘Daddy’ Read, Mr J B ‘Jim’ Roberton, Mr ‘Pin-Head Pete’ Sawyer, Mr ‘Scruffy’ Schofield, Mr ‘Rocket’ Stevenson, Mr E W ‘Bob’ Tanner, Mr Tahta, Mr L G Walker, Mr A H ‘Hot Ass’ Warburton, Mr J O W ‘Joey’ Webb, Mr ‘Beery’ Webster, Mr ‘Wet Bath’ Westgarth-Walker, Mr Wheeler, Mr J Willé...... Read More
A selection of articles from the OA Bulletin are listed below - click on the headline to read the entire article.
OA Bulletin - Spring 2008
Click here to download the latest OA Bulletin, published June 2008.
Editorial: Bones of contention
Anyone at the School from the late 60s onwards will have memories of Pen Arthur. My compliments to the writer of the School’s website, who describes it as “a well-equipped Field Studies Centre”. He or she is surely destined for a successful career as an estate agent. The Pen Arthur I recall was, to put it bluntly, a freezing hovel that you wouldn’t keep a goat in. At least there were no mice; they’d packed their Bermuda shorts and departed for more hospitable climes years ago. Our Sixth Form English set visited late one Autumn, and it was so cold that serious consideration was given to a ritual burning of our Shakespeare texts. My abiding memory of this cultural outing was incendiary rather than literary, as one of our number entertained us royally with pyrotechnic displays of igniting his farts with a cigarette lighter. As for the rest of us, we were just grateful for the small bursts of heat. Read more
Memories of Pen Arthur - 40 Years On
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first trips to Pen Arthur, the School’s Field Studies Centre that was once a derelict hill farm in the Brecon Beacons. We reproduce below the recent correspondence between one of the pioneers David Camplin (70) and Head of Lower School Pat Taylor, who is currently responsible for organising trips to this much-loved Centre. Read more
Old Hall Memories
I entered the school in 1961, when of course it was just The Hall. I have several abiding memories: Mr Marsh presiding at school assemblies. He was a bit like Nelson to ‘Daddy’ Read’s Hardy, in that although there was no doubt he was in overall command, he left Mr Read to undertake the mundane duties of running the ship. Marsh always managed to stand throughout assemblies as if he was not really there, or rather was a critical observer who just happened to be sharing the same platform. Read more
A selection of articles from the OA Bulletin are listed below - click on the headline to read the entire article.
OA Bulletin - Autumn 2007
Download the entire Autumn 2007 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking on the following links: Part 1 and Part 2
Editorial: A Chip Off the Old Hall Block
If years were women, some would be the Marilyn Monroes of history – iconic and unforgettable, with an instant and enduring allure. The majority, though, are altogether more matronly, pleasant enough but perhaps lacking the same sex appeal. At first glance, 1908 falls into this latter category, a wholesome girl next-door sort of year that barely warrants a second look. Yet on closer scrutiny, it has unexpected charms and attractions. Read more
Renewal and Reconnection
OA Club President Stephen Burgess (1962) reports on a hectic first nine months in office and looks at some of the challenges facing the School and Old Albanian Club. Read more
From Antigua to Zanzibar - via Catterick
Over the summer, the School's staff and students have been active in three continents and two hemispheres, says Headmaster Andrew Grant - as well as amassing an impressive list of achievements closer to home. Read more
Jubilee Reunion Day for 1957 Starters
Those of us who were lucky enough to be presented with the thin volume starting with the Book Plate of St Albans School (W T Marsh – little black book) and with care or luck can still locate it, will known the date they started at St Albans School. For the class of ‘57, the inscribed date was Thursday 19th September 1957. After 50 years it seemed an excellent excuse to make a real effort to put people back in touch with the School and each other. Read more
A Time for Reminiscence
During the week of 17th September I travelled from Canada, and with many others, had the great good fortune and opportunity to revisit the School on the 50th anniversary of our entering on 19th September 1957. Read more
OA Bulletin - Spring 2007
Download the entire Spring 2007 edition of the OA Bulletin by clicking on the following links: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Editorial: History in the Making
Maybe it’s an age thing. But as I approach my half-century, I find myself taking an increasingly keen interest in my personal history: the people, events and environment that have shaped who I am today. An old friend of mine is an avid amateur genealogist and has been tracing my family tree – or at least my father’s side – during the abundant downtime on the oil rig to which he disappears every other month. Read more
Good To Be Back
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. Read more
A Brief History of Term
A superb production of Beauty and the Beast, record GCSE results, 100 rugby wins in the season and a visit from one of our most famous former pupils, Professor Stephen Hawking. Headmaster Andrew Grant looks back at some of the highlights of the winter and spring terms. Read more
Old Bangers
Explosive revelations from Alan Bridgman (58) as he describes the bomb-making activities of the Secret Society of Berts. “When we arrived as new boys at St Albans School in September 1951, two of us were soon singled out by my form master ‘Joey’ Webb. He insisted for some strange reason that I should be nicknamed ‘Bert’ because my surname began with B. I soon found that he had little imagination because he had also designated another lad in 1C as ‘Bert’ B as well – after the music hall song ‘Burlington Bertie’. The two of us decided to make a merit out of this mockery and formed the Secret Society of Berts with members Bert 1 and Bert 2. Read more