Attachments

Branch Secretary: Dr John Leake (1950-57)

Email: jal2@hermes.cam.ac.uk

Next dinner:Friday 7th March 2014

See photos from the latest Cambridge Dinner here.

Cambridge 2012 Report

On Friday 24 February OLs from Cambridge and the surrounding area gathered again in the Wordsworth Room in St John’s College for the Annual Dinner.  Following energetic canvassing by Tom Carter, the Alumni Officer, 14 students and 11 “local” members attended, joined by our President, John Lea along with Andrew Jarman, Jenny Cornell and Tom Carter from Lancaster, and the Manchester Secretary, Paul Fitton, bringing the total to 30.  All agreed that we were treated to an excellent meal, accompanied by admirable wines.  The word “Lancashire” appeared twice in the menu and “Yorkshire” was not mentioned, although parkin was.  The Secretary was instructed to pass on our great appreciation to the College catering team.

 After Dinner John Leake reported apologies for absence and thanked those who had contributed to the evening, not least Tom Carter.  With a break from tradition he then coupled the toast to the School with one to the current Headmaster, whose last appearance at the Cambridge Dinner in that rôle this was.  In leading up to the toast he recalled some of the notable achievements of the School whilst Andrew Jarman has been at the helm.  In replying, the Headmaster looked forward with enthusiasm to his return to teaching.   He then brought us up-to-date on news from the School, including the success in the Sir Garfield Sobers cricket tournament in Barbados, and opportunities and challenges presented by the change to academy status, to name but a few.  His audience was delighted to be told that LRGS had great schoolboys who became great old boys.  He concluded by expressing his gratitude for the support that the OL Club gives to the School.  Stuart Brown, Rugby blue and Land Economy student, then proposed the health of the OL Club, and thanked the Club for its much appreciated subsidy of student participation at these events.  In reply John Lea noted that this occasion marked the 51st anniversary of his first Cambridge OLs’ Dinner, to which he had been encouraged to come - at the last minute - by Arthur Huck.  The presence of his former pupil Bob Satchwell reminded him of the on-going Leveson enquiry!  He summarised the plans for celebrating the Club’s centenary, starting with a lunch on Founders’ Day this year, a special dinner in January 2013 and another dinner in July 2013.   Finally informal conversation took over for the rest of the evening.