115th OSA Reunion Dinner – Saturday 4th February 2023

72 Old Shebbearians and guests attended the Annual Reunion Dinner, held once again at the RAF Club in London earlier this month.

The President started proceedings, after the guests had been welcomed, by asking those present to remember those OS pupils and staff who had passed in the last year and who are listed below:

Elizabeth Hocking

Geoffrey Wrayford

Richard Saunders

John W Tatum

David Pugsley

Tim Lillywhite

Shebbear College Staff

Ian Rowbury

Keith Tewkesbury

Tom Danby

Governor

Geoff Giddy

After the meal, President Oliver Sinden welcomed the new head, Charlie Jenkins and went on to say how much he had enjoyed the several opportunities he had had to visit the College in the past year – commenting on the different system of presenting prizes and how, unsurprisingly, the weather had played a part in deciding the venues for the occasions. He emphasised his belief that the long term benefits of his time spent at College were just as much, if not more, social than academic.

The head, Charlie Jenkins then responded, describing some of the difficult situations he faced as Deputy Head – from a flock of sheep loose on Tower Field to the loss of the roof on Pollard House during storm Eunice! However, the refurbishment of both Pollard and Ruddle  is now close to completion and, together with a refurbished all weather pitch and an enhanced digital infrastructure ready for roll-out in September, the site remains safe and compliant for all Shebbearians and, more importantly, the College remains as strong as ever.

The heads of school, Roy Poon and Jack Hancock, then responded most impressively recounting some of their experiences at the College –all of which they seemed to think were character building –and then listed just a few of the sporting and dramatic achievements which have been recorded in the past year before proposing a toast to the College and the OSA.

Pip Mahoney then spoke on behalf of the OSA adding his own amusing anecdotes of his time at the College and emphasising the importance of the extra-curricular as well as the academic life and how Shebbear should be considered highly successful in developing the whole self.

The Dinner ended with the singing of the School song and conversations between Old Shebbearians continued late into the night.