This page will have any news or comments which any Old Dane would like to post.  If you are trying to contact a particular Old Dane then email your request to me and I will post it, alternatively put it up on the message page. 

NEWS AND COMMENTS

4th July 2009 from Bob Hunt

I have already circulated these details to Old Danes on my database

As last year Jim has organised another gathering of Old Danes at the Shepherds Bush Cricket Club premises

Details as below:

Old Danes Gathering

The Old Danes Gathering will take place this year on Friday 31st July at Shepherds Bush CC from 2pm. The address is Bromyard Avenue, East Acton. All Old Danes and friends will be welcome.

Jim Sharp is circulating a list of attendees and apologies on a regular basis. If you are planning to attend please advise him accordingly and he will add you to it.

The Gathering will run on into the evening and so those who are only able to come after work can be accommodated. Wives and partners will be most welcome if this helps your arrangements to attend. It will be a very informal affair and the bar will be open all afternoon. Food will be available from 2pm until well into the evening.

If you haven't been to either of the previous gatherings why not bring a couple of your former classmates to ensure that there will be someone there you  know in case you do not recognise any names on the list of acceptances.

Please reply to Jim at tiksha@btinternet.com

13th October 2008 from Bob Hunt

I have received new email addresses from the following and so have removed names from the non contactable list:

John Briddon, Terry Malka, Ian Lambert, Ivor Shapiro, William Johnson

5th August 2008 from Bob Hunt

I have received the following communication regarding Derek Channing: (1951-58)-

The link is: http://www.detroitnewspapers.com/deathnotices/viewnotice.cfm?id=186530

1st January 2008 from Bob Hunt

I have removed 11 names from this list as I have heard direct from them. They are:

Fred Lemont, Neil Storkey, Tony Rushforth, Ian McCulloch, Alan Senior, David Windeatt, Eric Allen, Harinderpal Nijhar, Iain Travers,John Gray and Kevin Spires.

I will leave the list below for further future responses but will note on the Contact List that in fact these named below are not contactable using the information in my database..

From Bob Hunt

27th June 2007 This is the first list of Old Danes without a contactable email address

They may have died or have just not forwarded a new address or just lost interest in the site but any Old Dane who has any information about the individuals are invited to contact me 

 Geoff Bywaters 1951/57, Brian Hendron 1965/72, John Reynolds 1971/78, Donald Halls 1932/36, David Osborrne 1957/64, Steve Parrish 1965/70, Jeff Byrd 1969/74, John Rust 1968/74, Mark Sellick 1980/85, Ken Williams 1977/82, Terence Gilbert 1957/64, Don Strange 1941/45, Philip Pantelis 1955/61, Melvin Bixley 1952/58, Terry Woods 1952/58, Howard Minors 1947/55, John Oakley 1944/54, John Pask 1949/54, Keith Easton 1946/53, Mark Lewis 1968/75, Jon Palmer 1981/86, David Feiler 1959/66, Terence Nunn 1946/47, Chris Procter 1965/70, Derek Hall 1946/53, Oscar Lumley-Watson 1972/79, Mark Turner 1975/77, Richard Milborne 1936/41, Martin Ward 1980/85, Vincent Harding 1940/45, John Adcock 1960/67, Patrick Brown 1949/56, Martin Muller 1972/79,  Jamie Ferguson 1976/82, Alan Jones 1967/72, Douglas Buckland 1957/68, Gary Flynn 1965/70, Louis Skelton 1973/78, Paul Morrison 1966/73, Edward Holden 1947/53, Alan Frost 1963/68, Chris Williams 1991/98, Dudley Thomson 1954/59, Andy Waite 1972/79, Brian Clark 1946/52, Allan Jenkins 1953/58, Bill Davis 1971/78, Fiona Farrow 1976/81, Allan Radcliffe 1953/57, Bobby Morgan 1950/55, David Pask 1949/54, Colin Martin 1969/76, Bryan Watson 1942/49, Billy Kirkham 1952/57, Bob Proctor 1962/68

The recent test email, 23rd May 2007, bounced back from the following names. In some instances perhaps unable to pass Spam Filters and in 2 instances where the email was a Company address the email was deleted without being read, perhaps Company policy for unofficial emails. However the point of a Contact List for old boys & later girls of the school is to be able to contact them if they have given their name for the purpose. The individual is responsible for giving a valid contactable email addresss

  Glad to receive updated information from them otherwise in due course will remove from Contact List 

Adam Walsh 1974/80, Adrian Lavall 1955/60, Alan Whymark 1969/76, Alan Darvill 1954/59, Alex Minajew 1971/78, Andrew Skelton 1972/77, Andrew Newham 1971/76, Andy Gilbert 1968/75, Barry Sorrell 1962/69, Bill Powell 1946/50, Bob Crossman 1966/73, Brian O'Connor 1953/60, Brian Collins 1959/67, Candice Diamond 1987/92, Cate Langley 1976/63, Chris Day 1962/69, Clive Buckingham 1968/75, Colin Smith 1974/79, David Smallman 1951/58, David Adcock 1966/73, David Jackson 1969/76, David De Vere Webb 1948/54, David Appleton 1971/78, David Muddyman 1969/76, David Call 1953/60, Dennis Burrows 1963/68, Edward Farrant 1946/52, Emma Wilson 19778/85, Fred Maskell 1955/60, Garry Lawrence 1981/88, Gavin Tonkin 1971/76, Geoff Shrank 1944/51, Ian Ward 1969/76,John Stiff 1949/1953, John Rudofsky 1963/70, John Hirst 1953/59,  , Julie Lankshear 1967/73, Karen Sagar 1981/88, Keith Wicks 1953/60, Ken Smalle 1962/69, Ken McAnespie 1966/73, Laurence Nash 1964/71, Les Tomes 1957/76, Les Weeks 1961/68, Malcolm O'Brien 1969/73,Michael Ascherl 1959/64, Michael Stonely 1956/61, Mick Ayres 1963/70, Mike Kay 1954/59, Mike Scanlon 1980/86, Nick Lawrence 1972/78, Nigel Bishop 1962/68, Noel Fisher 1964/72, Peter Clements 1960/67, Peter Proverbs 1972/79, Peter Grinham 1964/69, Peter May 1972/79, Phil Ashworth 1961/68,  Philip Klein 1957/1964, Ron Wanford 1937/43, Ray Elwin 1948/55, Ray Short 1946/53, Rex Barrett 1935/40, Robert Smith 1952/57, Roger Penney 1953/60, Roland Beaumont 1972/77, Simon Morse 1976/83, Steve Finch 1971/78, Steve Masters 1966/73, Steve Allam 1969/74, Steve Butcher 1979/84, Steve Jones 1967/74,  Terry Stoneman 1949/56, Terry South 1949/54,  Terry Freedman 1962/67, Tony Gilbert 1945/52, Trevor Skingle 1969/72, 

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I have received the following information from Ken Sharp regarding a potential large gathering of Old Danes. 

Please reply to Ken Sharp at the address below.

 Bob Hunt 8th May 2007             

Old Danes Gathering

Shepherds Bush CC has agreed to host a gathering of Old Danes on Friday 27 July. This is the Friday of their Cricket Week. It will be an experimental event and could become an annual occasion if it proves popular. The following are some details:

1. It is for all Old Danes not just cricketers.
2. Old Danes of all generations will be welcome.
3. I have only limited contact with Old Danes through Googlies. Please help spread the word through your own contacts.
4. The cricket match starts at 2pm but Old Danes will be welcome throughout the day. It is hoped that Old Danes who have to work that day will be able to join us in the evening. The bar will be open till late.
5. To help us prepare for the event, if you are planning to attend please email me (tiksha@btinternet.com) and give me your dates at the school (e.g. Jim Sharp 1959-66).
6. Shepherds Bush CC is now located in East Acton on the playing field adjacent to its former ground. Access to the new ground is via Bromyard Avenue .

Ken Bromfield has asked me to post this item, Bob Hunt 20th December 2006

Bill Groombridge has asked to post this message 23rd August 2006

From Geoff Cronin.

From Bill Groombridge received 30 March 2006

The following received from Bill Groombridge, regarding the biannual meeting.  Please note change of date is now 23rd March 2006

The following request has been received (14th October 2005) from Richard Carey. Can anyone help?

Posted by Bob Hunt 28th September 2005 

Bill Groombridge has asked me to post the following:

Posted by Bob Hunt Tuesday 21st December 2004

During the summer a BBC production company was in touch with various individuals from St Clement Danes School who were contemporary with Dennis Potter. I have been informed that the following programmes will be screened at the times shown. I am also informed that Dennis Potter's schooldays are not dwelt upon so not to expect too much in that direction.

POTTER AT THE BBC

ARENA

 PAINTING THE CLOUDS –

a portrait of Dennis Potter

Christmas Day   9.40 p.m.

BBC-2

“It’s in the Songs, It’s in the Songs”

2^nd January 2005  10.15

BBC-4

“Potter on TV”

9^th January 2005  10.25

BBC-4

A Lone Star Production for BBC TV

The Ducane Road School 30th November 2004, Message from Bob Hunt

The old St Clement Danes school building in Ducane Road sold to the NHS  ( Hammersmith Hospital), was demolished earlier this year and Burlington Danes School consolidated all their buildings on the former Girls Burlington School site.

 The Burlington Danes school  has now run into some heavy weather with Ofsted . It is with some sadness that I have to report that Margaret Craig the head has resigned and the post for a new "rescue" head is being advertised. The following is a newspaper abstract:-

I would add that the St Clement Danes school at Chorleywood continues to flourish.

A message received from Richard Carey, 15 the September 2004

As part of the 450th Anniversary celebrations of  the Holborn Estate Charity, the Trustees commissioned a history of the charity. This goes further than the Pooley book, is very readable and, as the School is so intertwined with HEC, the reason for the School's move to Chorleywood is detailed.

This book has just been published and is available for purchase at £14.99 + £2.00 post & packing.

It seems to me that a number of Old Danes could be interested in this history. If so, they should send their cheque for £16.99, made out to "St. Clement Danes Holborn Estate Charity" to:

Mrs Jacqueline Turner,
Chief Executive,
St. Clement Danes Holborn Estate Charity,
School House,
Drury Lane,
London WC2B 5SU

Enquiries from overseas should be made by e-mail to jturner@3chars.org.uk to obtain a postage quotation.

Regards,

Richard Carey
School Governor
HEC Trustee

A message from Bob Hunt posted 6th June 2004

I would pleased to hear from any Old Dane who participated in  the D Day landings.  There is a generation of present day pupils of St Clement Danes who would be priviliged to listen to older members of their school who contributed so much to their present well being.  Please contact me if you are able to talk of your experiences of 60 years ago.  

A further message from Bob Hunt

A few Old Danes, including yours truly, are meeting at the Feathers Public House, Warren Street , London, located almost opposite Warren Street Station, at lunchtime on Thursday 17th June 2004.  If you are in the area at that time you would be most welcome.

It has taken a long time. I have attached 'gifs' of the Old Danes exhibition in the St Clement Danes Wing of Burlington Danes School.  As you can see, we collected enough moner to do a splendid job of re-mounting the War Memorial. It has never looked better. The mould of the anchor, kindly donated by the Holborn Estate Charity, sits in the same frame as the memorial. The anchor, the emblem of our school and St Clement himself, symbolises the martyrdom of the great saint, so we have a synergy within the same structure which will provide a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of Old Danes in World War 2. It is all the more relevant to this part of London which was in the thick of the blitz of the war. You should feel proud of what you have achieved in supporting this project. Burlington Danes is deeply grateful. We have set up a focal point for students at the school who will be reminded about the school's rich history. Your names are recorded for posterity in a frame to the left of the memorial.

Minutes of the meeting provided by Brian O'Connor, 11th July 2003

Brian states that these minutes have been circulated to attendees and are accepted as a true record!

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF ST CLEMENT DANES OF’s (OLD FOGIES) ASSOCIATION HELD ON 17^TH JUNE 2003

 Those present: (detailed on attachment) Not included

 Apologies for absence received from Richard Crawshay

Apologies for presence received from Gerald Bunyan

Apologies for the Government of the day received from Frank Field

 Purpose of the meeting:

To dwell nostalgically on the days when all the countries in the school atlas were coloured pink; when girls were not permitted inside the hallowed portals of SCD; when to be gay meant that one was happy; when Crawshay still thought that he could one day bowl for England and when to be a member of the Labour Party meant that politically one was marginally to the left of centre.

 The members assembled in the appointed hostelry at 7.00 p.m., with O’Connor arriving a polite 57 minutes late.

 At this early hour, Bunyan’s outpourings could still be distinguished as something resembling speech.

 After a valiant attempt to prove that 60 year old distended, stretch marked guts could still hold as much beer as lithe 20 year old stomachs, the delegates adjourned to Effie’s Restaurant for the more formal part of the evening.

 Topics discussed:

1.       Tadge Cook and what horrid young men we were

2.       Retirement

3.       Jock Grimes and how to polish the insteps of shoes

4.       Retirement

5.       Gummy Amelot and cricket

6.       Free prescriptions

7.       The undisputed style statement made by wearing a 40 year old “slim-jim” school tie

8.       The advantage of the heating allowance for over 60’s

9.       McGill Clouston’s mortar board

10.  The cost of the evening for poor pensioners

11.  How handsome Crawshay looked dressed as an 18 year old miner

12.  Bus and rail passes for 60 year olds – several of which were produced much to the chagrin of the non-Londoners

13.  Drac’, Ol’ Nic, Chopper and of course Jack Harvey

 The meeting was enlivened by Cleve Vine producing some sepia prints dating back nearly half a century. There was much toothless merriment as delegates endeavoured to match spotty half formed youths with the fine specimens of manhood present

 The evening was rounded off convivially in a local hostelry. A fair summary of events was provided by Gerry Bunyan, whose memorable parting quote was “ squiggshgobbo duggbelshh forrmashququ”

Message dated 26th May received from Richard Carey about Mrs Bilsborough

I have been informed by St. Clement Danes School, Chorleywood, and also directly by Dr. Jim Laxton (OD), that, regrettably Mrs. Margaret Bilsborrow passed away on the 15th March 2003.

This sad news will be of interest to the older members of the Group.

Margaret's husband was John Bilsborrow, who was a teacher at the Grammar School for some time and was the author of the "The Dane - Centenary Number". John died in 1986.

However, Margaret also taught Maths at the School during the War, after which she moved onto Wycombe Abbey.

Of course, she knew Ralph Pooley well - he taught History and wrote the first History of the Grammar School. She kept in touch with other teachers, namely Mr Hill and Albie Barnes (French).

Margaret was 95 and suffered a heart attack in a Nursing Home. Until the end, she remained mentally very bright and would always be pleased to solve a mathematical conundrum!

The contact with her family is Margaret's nephew: Andrew Darnill, 28 Claremont Road, Highgate, London N6 5BY (Tel: 020 8482 7634). 

The School has already written, but I am sure that the family would appreciate something from the Old Danes.

Richard Carey
School Governor and HEC Trustee

The Old Danes project to set up a historical dislpay in the St Clement Danes Wing is going well. I have purchased the cabinet

and have engaged a carpenter to resite the WW2 memorial and replica anchor (which was positioned above the front

 entrance in DuCane Road).  The following have been donated so far:

I have received notes that more items are on the way, including VIth form ties.

 years at the school) in the display.

I have been in touch with Richard Carey to offer any duplicates to the SCD at Chorleywood, with the permission of Donors. I 

know that I speak for many Old Danes in wishing to foster links between the two schools via their shared history.

Thankfully, we have reached the £1000 for the cabinet. We are still accepting cheques to pay for further materials, the  

designer and carpentry work which is in hand. (Burlington Danes Church of England Charitable Trust).

caught the OD's imagination. I am so pleased that Gerald Bunyan's initiative is succeeding and that the Hammersmith school 

will delight in its distinguished history.

A message received from Bill Groombridge which supercedes Mike Cope's earlier message

17th June 2002

A Message received from Keith Tarr-Whelan

3^rd June, 2002

Dear Old Danes,

On a recent visit back to England (I live in Washington, DC) I went up to the new Danes school in Chorleywood and saw that impressive sign that was carved in stone above the main entrance at the old school in DuCane Road.  It has been set in an impressive brick plinth.  I also saw other memorabilia which had been donated by Burlington Danes School which shares the St Clement Danes heritage.  The memories flowed back and so did my desire to preserve as much as possible of our Danes heritage in both schools.

I have followed the debate about school historical artifacts, most of which is reported on the Old Danes web site.  In what I believe to be an extraordinary act of generosity on the part of Burlington Danes, most of these have been donated to Chorleywood.  (see http://freespeace.virgin.net/bob.hunt/news.htm)

I have been in contact with the Burlington Danes.  It is very proud of its historical links with St Clement Danes.  This is demonstrated by the fact that it has named the new building after our old school.  This has prompted me to suggest a special appeal to you about keeping the name and memory of Old Danes alive in the part of London where I grew up and where I, like you, received a crucial part of my education. 

I would like to propose that we establish a fund which will pay for a display cabinet to be placed in the atrium of the new St Clement Danes Wing.  This will be, in perpetuity, the ‘Old Danes corner’. This could be used to exhibit school artifacts and photographs.  We already have collected some, and would like to continue to collect additional “treasures”. I, for instance, apparently have one of the last surviving blazer badges.

The thing that struck me when I went to Chorleywood was how the setting is poles apart from my boyhood in Hammersmith.  It is a wonderful school in a privileged location which is sociologically very far from the inner city environment.  In that sense, it is very different from our boys grammar school.  I feel that an Old Danes appeal can give Burlington Danes a boost in what are very challenging times in inner-London education.

I am kicking off this fundraising effort by contributing $150.  I should be very grateful if you would make a small contribution so that name and heritage can tangibly support a memory where we all had the privilege and opportunity to go to school and whereby Old Danes can mark their presence.  (If any of you out there know of more significant sources of funds, then I know that Burlington Danes needs very significant support to complete essential work needed in the St Clement Danes Wing and in the School sports pavilion).  Unlike the Chorleywood school, it does not have access to the very significant financial support given by the Holborn Estate Charity.

If you wish to contribute by cheque, please make it out to the Burlington Danes Church of England Charitable Trust (Charity # 1076769); to Gerald Bunyan, c/o 14 Skelwith Rd, London W6 9EX.  Gerald is an Old Dane from the 1950’s era.

I owe much of my success in the USA to the opportunities and vision I got at Danes – I want to make sure that commitment lives on, I hope you do too.

Thanks

Keith Tarr-Whelan

 (Tel: 703-527-7988.  Email: keith@tarr-whelanassociates.com)

New Old Danes Site

Set up by Edward Shirley for the 1968 intake and others;  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SCD68

Resolution of tranfer of Artifacts between Burlington Danes and St Clement Danes, Chorleywood

From Ken Bromfield

I have sent this note to Bob Hunt. I hope that he will be able to contact all Old Danes from his extensive list.

As you read through this, will see how Old Danes are still influential in shaping the history of our old school. When I was at SCD in DuCane Road, Loyauté M'Oblige was to me a slightly pompous epithet. I am not so sure now. I have received letters from all over the world which give meaning to our school motto. Some Old Danes have expressed a deep sense of gratitude to SCD, especially those (like me) who came from less advantaged backgrounds.

It was noted that one of the Honours Boards does have names on it post-1976; nevertheless, it was felt most appropriate that all three Honours Boards should be given to Chorleywood, a copy of all the names on them would be made for BD records. It was also suggested that links between the Schools might be strengthened if: 

a) we could issue reciprocal invitations when the memorials are officially unveiled

In 1999, Burlington Girls Grammar School in Wood Lane celebrated 300 years since its foundation in the Parish of St James, London.

 It was Burlington Girls Grammar School which amalgamated with St Clement Danes Boys Grammar School in 1976 to form Burlington Danes Comprehensive School.  I can claim a close association well before the Burlington Dane amalgamation as my wife, Joan (neé Branscombe) was at Burlington School when I was at the Danes and we married in 1960.

Please note link through to homepage for Burlington Danes School.

A new building is being constructed in the grounds of the Burlington Danes and when it is completed the old St Clement Danes school in Ducane Road will be sold for other uses.

A New Old Danes Website

Graham Longbottom (1972-79) has set up a site on Yahoo essentially as a chat site between his contempories at the Danes but anyone can join in.  I have joined and find the exchange of gossip and tips interesting and entertaining.  The address is:  http://groups.yahoo.com

Visit to School 29th July Photographs 

Graham Longbottom has posted over 100 good quality photographs of the visit to the school so I recommend that you have a look at that site for images of the school in Ducane Road.

Welcome to this special afternoon.

Before I begin my Speech I want to pass on the good wishes of a number of OD’s who cannot be here this afternoon. David King (51-57), Graham Bamping (67-75), J A Brazier (37-48), Mr. and Mrs. Phil Gush, Mark Lewis (68-75), Keith Somerville (68-75), Joseph Allen (22-26), John Brigien (30’s-40’s), David Dorman (61-68), John Osbon, and Dr Phil Wilkin (68-75). There are many others who wished to be with us but who we could not fit in this time.

For those of you who don’t know me from the past and whom I have not yet met today I am Nigel Bamping. I was at Ducane Road from 1965 to 72. I followed my father who as a North Kensington boy joined the school in 1937, a year before RJBP, and was evacuated to Oxford with the school in 1939. My brother too was at the school (see above). I was a Governor here at Chorleywood for 9 years and last year I became a Trustees of the school’s parent Charity, the St Clement Danes Holborn Estate Charity which celebrates it’s 450^th Anniversary next year.

Today we commemorate in a unique way a man who influenced at least two generations of Danes. Ralph Pooley, history master, form teacher, House Master of Clement, Head of Junior School, football coach and Chairman of the Common Room. He lived his life through all the elements of his teaching but he was also a very private man. Were he with us today he would be loving it and hating it at the same time. He would love the fact that we were all together but hating being the centre of attention. Ralph was my first and last form master and I knew him well. On the first day at SCD I became ‘Bampers’ and Bampers I have remained ever since.

For better or worse Ralph’s style and approach to teaching belong to a generation that will never return. The snake whip and the slipper that lived in his bottom drawer were used from time to time and he was far too tactile by today’s standards, but political correctness was never one of Ralph’s priorities. Phil Wilkin, a contemporary of by brother wrote to Dr. Valentine in the summer, about him in these words:

Ralph was a good teacher; who can forget the red exercise book containing a whole year’s notes in his small neat handwriting. He expected everyone to try hard and do their best. I brought him t the point of exasperation in my first week at the school through my total inability at soccer. I was envious of those in my year who were mascots for the World Cup opening ceremony and who ran onto the Wembley turf led by Ralph and Don Palmer. He loved his sport, and even in his final years of teaching took part in the annual staff game against the 1^st XI. I remember Alan Nicholls puffing like a steam train refereeing, and the twinkle toed Don Palmer trying to avoid the numerous heavy tackles which Nick seemed not to see-probably because he was not wearing his glasses!

Ralph had ‘style’, certainly not in the sartorial sense but in the sense of being individualistic, with all the freedom of batchelorhood. In the 30’s he was one of the few teachers apart from the Head to have a car and, which greatly impressed my father, a sports car. John Brigien has written to recall being given a lift in the war years up Headington Hill in Oxford in Ralph’s Drop Head Ford.

He grasped the opportunity to spend a year teaching in Australia and Colin Hardwicke (49-56) has written recently to Dr Valentine to recount the fact that he wrote a letter addressing it simply ‘Ralph Pooley, an Englishman teaching History in the region of Sydney’ and it reached him. Ralph told us various stories about his time in Australia and when a young Aussie lady teacher arrived in the school whilst I was in the Sixth Form the usual schoolboy rumours abounded. In an interview in ‘The Dane’ on his arrival in 1938 he mentioned his love of football and an almost fatal fall down a crevasse on the Rhone Glacier.

Ralph was for many years Chairman of the Common Room. He took part in and organised many social events. His representation, with Alby Barnes, of the Weston Brothers double act were renown from the War years through to shortly before his retirement. It was Ralph, in conjunction with Harold Beales, who introduced the presentation of a cartoon drawn by Harold for each retiring member of staff (we can see an example amongst the new permanent display of school memorabilia on the wall of this centre).

Also in the late 50’s Ralph decided to undertake an external M A from King’s College London. He chose the history of the school as his thesis, requiring him to go back to the founding of HEC in 1552. He was able to build on the work his predecessor as Head of History, Bill Hadley who had produced a Brief History of the School some years earlier. Ralph’s detailed research has been a legacy beyond price for those of us seeking to understand and maintain the original wishes of the founders of HEC. The relationship with the first Charity Schools, the Primary School in Drury Lane, the establishing of the Grammar School in Houghton Street, the move in the 1920’s to Hammersmith and then the move here to Chorleywood in the 1970’s. To mark its 450^th Birthday HEC is hoping to commission a history starting where Ralph left off.

Ralph knew that history is not about finding fossils but is about recording and understanding change. In this he had much to teach us. Whilst for most of us here today our school was, and only can be, the school in Ducane Road, we have to accept that much has changed, and that the baton of St Clement Danes has passed to a new place but with many of the same ideals- encouraging talent of all types and helping young people to achieve their best.

When John Bilsborrow edited the Centenary edition of the Dane in 1962 he relied heavily on Ralph’s knowledge of the school’s history. As I thumbed through it recently I found some verses written by the 5^th form entitled "Epigrams on certain structural alterations". In view of today’s events they seemed quite appropriate and although they were of course referring to the ‘new’ science block in Ducane Road they do have a timeless quality about them:

Place.

As much as Ralph loved where he taught for nearly 40 years he gave his wholehearted support to this new school. Until ill health prevented him he never missed Commem. and was an occasional visitor here, including being the special guest at Speech Day. In the spring of 1988 I visited him in Bournemouth to talk to him about the Barbirolli Hall which was about to become a reality. He was enthusiastic about the venture having met Sir John, an old boy from Houghton Street, on his visits to the School. Ralph explained that his finances would not permit major help for the project but that he was thinking about leaving his residuary estate to the school. I encouraged him. A few months later a letter arrived to say that the deed had been done. Ralph did not enjoy good health in his final years and he had to be cared for which was a major drain on his funds. We only learned of his death after the cremation but Peter Conway, the then Headmaster, and I were able to attend the interment of his ashes in the beautifully peaceful churchyard of Canford Magna in Dorset close to his family home. We bade farewell to a warm-hearted and generous man who had influenced the lives of scores of fellow teachers and thousands of pupils of SCD.

It was Ralph’s wish that half of his gift should be used for sport and half for academic purposes. So half went towards the all-weather playing surface in the ‘Peter Conway Sports Centre’, the envy of many schools, and the rest has been used to expand and improve the Nicholson Library here into the splendid learning resource centre we see today. I think Ralph would have approved. I can se now the wry smile and the twinkle in the eye!

There is much more I could say about Ralph and we all have our individual memories to recall today. The events of the revolver at the Hanger Hill Club, and speculation about how he managed to drive home from the Shepherd’s Bush Club are best left, appropriately to history. It is enough I think for us to say simply- Thank you Ralph.

In a moment Mrs Sarah Warrell, who as Ralph’s Second Cousin is his only surviving relative, will unveil the plaque to commemorate today and Ralph’s gift to our school. Before that I want to say a few thankyous to those who have made today possible.

Firstly, to Dr. Valentine, her staff and pupils for making us so welcome and looking after us so well. Josephine has been planning this day for months and I sense that she may be getting her wish fulfilled that this will be the start of a new era for the Old Danes Association. Thank you particularly for our splendid new ties. This leads me on to thank Ken Bromfield who has kept the OD’s torch burning in Ducane Road and through his involvement in Burlington Danes enabled us to pay a last nostalgic visit in July to the old building before it was handed over to Hammersmith Hospital for likely demolition. I am pleased to say that active steps are being taken to preserve some of the stones in the building and other memorabilia and I hope there will be more news on that later in the year. A special thank you to Bob Hunt who had the inspiration, energy, and continued stamina to set up and maintain the OD’s website. It has brought many ‘old’ friends together again and will, I am sure, be a major means of communication for the school and OD’s in the years ahead.

I know many of you here today and many who could not be with us would like to see the O D’s Association a vibrant body again. Can we try to make this an annual event? Can we try to do something special next year to mark the 450th Anniversary of HEC? If you are interested and (more importantly!) could help in organising please contact me via the website or through the school. I look forward to seeing you all and many others in 2002.

Now I will invite Mrs Warrell to unveil the plaque and our party can continue.

Nigel Bamping