Old Ruthinian Association

Old Ruthinian Association - View Speech

Chairman's Report 2015

Speaker:John Sharples
Tags:Chairman, Report, 2015
Year:2015
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Speech:
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 2015

A warm welcome to all Old Ruthinians attending today's AGM.

Your Committee has met on four occasions during the year.

Peter Bennett organised the popular Liverpool Luncheon at the Artist Club in Liverpool on Friday 27th March. This was attended by 30 ORs and the Principal Toby Belfield, who all had an excellent day. I understand that Peter has organised the club lunch for 2016 on Friday 18th March 2016 at the same venue.

The Founders' Day Service was held in St Peter's Church on Saturday May 9 th. Many ORs attended the service, followed by lunch in Big School. This has now become a regular item on the school calendar.

On May 21st The President and Chairman presented ORA shields to approximately 57 leavers

This year's Prize Giving was held on Friday 29th May in a marquee on Big Side. Many ORs attended to listen to this year's distinguished guest, His Honour Ian Trigger address the students.

The Golf Society has had an active year. The season started with the preliminary round of the Grafton Morish Tournament, which was held at Fixby Hall Golf Club, Huddersfield. The Sharples Trophy was again held at Llangollen Golf Club, with this year's winner was Howard Jones. The Welsh Public Schools was played at Llandrindod Wells Golf Club on Friday 2nd October in glorious weather. The winners were Llandovery.

The Association donated 2 benches, which are now on the lawn outside Fifth Porch. The old Honours boards, now hanging in Big School, will be completed with 6 further names of distinguished ORs.

Martyn Rees joined the committee on his return from Australia. He has been instrumental in building the Old Ruthinian website. The site has recently "gone live" and Martyn will be around on the ORA weekend to discuss any ideas members have. Any information and pictures members have please contact Martyn on martyn@rees.st The new domain name for the site is www.ruthinora.co.uk.

The memorial Pavilion was to have been refurbished earlier this year but do to building work starting on the new boarding House has been put back until next year.

This year the Committee decided to have an ORA activity weekend. This will entail games of golf, rugby, soccer and netball followed by early drinks at Wetherspoons and a dinner at Ruthin Castle. We hope this will cater for all needs. Certainly your feedback would be valuable.

My thanks to all committee members, including our very active President, for the work put in throughout the year.

I have been asked by the Principal, Toby Belfield, to pass on his regards to all ORs here this weekend. He also apologises but he has had to travel to Turkey and Azibajan on one of his annual recruitment trips. Already this term he has spent 2 weeks in the Far East.

Last year was extremely active within the School. Part of Gladstone House was refurbished and the private residence by the pavilion 'Kenyon House' was purchased by school and converted into boarding accommodation – this purchase brought the "Horse Box" back into school ownership and will be converted and used for leisure purposes. The house next to Kenyon was also purchased late in June. These two houses now form Kenyon House and accommodate 30 girls.

Planning permission was granted to build a new boarding house between the Horse Box and the old drill hall. This house will be called Trevor House and will accommodate 40 students in single en suite bedrooms. It will be ready to take students in September 2016.

The new academic year, commencing September 2015, saw 310 student on the school roll. A further 4 teachers also started. What is pleasing is that 28 local pupils started in F1 this year. If this is repeated then next September there will be around 350 in school. Already there is a "waiting list" for 2016 and 2017.

Academically last year was excellent with both A level and GCSE results the best ever, with five students receiving offers from Cambridge. All students were offered university placings.

This coming year will be equally successful as we see the new boarding house take shape. financial success will continue with another surplus forecast.

Many thanks to School for their hospitality during the last year and also for providing such delicious food. As always, Cathy Hughes, the Alumini secretary has been very helpful and enthusiastic with OR matters.

One of Ruthin’s famous old boys, Bob Barber, has just celebrated his 80th with the publishing of his autobiography, "The Professional Amateur". It is a very interesting book in which he talks about his life at Ruthin under his then Headmaster Mr J.R.T.Russell- one for the Christmas stocking!

Sadly two of our Past Presidents, Dr Stanley Richardson and Sir Peter Badge, are unable to make the long journey up to Ruthin from Devon this year - we hope to see them back in the Summer.

To all members who regularly support the Association, my thanks, and I look forward to seeing you all during the coming year.

Best wishes
Updated:Saturday 10-06-2023 17:07

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