OldFramlinghamian.com

London Supper Report - 31st January 2012

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:26:28 +0000

36 people attended the London Supper, which was held at The Farmers Club, Whitehall Court on Tuesday, 31^st January, 2012. We were delighted that Paul Taylor, The Headmaster, Framlingham College and Mrs Susan Webber, the Senior Deputy Head were able to attend.

The President, Simon Dougherty, spoke about the activities of the Society and recent developments, before inviting Paul Taylor to speak about the College and Brandeston Hall.

Mr Taylor gave an outline of the planning that was in progress to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the College and spoke very positively about the achievements of the College and its pupils. All most interesting and very well received.

The sponsoring member of the Farmers Club is James Ruddock-Broyd and we are very grateful to him for making the Farmers Club available for the Council Meetings and the Supper.

Those present :

Simon Dougherty G 60-67, Paul Taylor, Mrs Susan Webber, Andrew Baker G 59-67, Charles Benson S 45-54, Ed Binder G 00-09, Jim Blythe K48-54, Nigel Burnip S 58-65, David Carr S 67-74, Bill Collard S 55-58, Martin Coomber S 59-64, Peter Coomber S 51-56, Neil Davis G41-50, John Ellerby G 67-75, Chris Essex K69-75, Roger Fayres G 56-61, John Gooderham K 44-53, Keith Handley S 47-53, Peter Howard-Dobson R 65-69, Chris Keeble S 53-59, Barry Lorkin S 54-57, David Mason S 55-59, Ian Marsh S 48-52, Tim Mitchell R 67-77, Richard Overend S 51-57, Simon Percival K 71-77, Mrs Kirsten Percival, Norman Porter K 52-57, John Rankin S 51-56, James Ruddock-Broyd G 46-52, Richard Sayer S 56-61, Brian Smith S 53-56, Clive Smith S 54-58, Douglas Thomson K 53-61, John Wood S 56-61, Andrew Wright R 48-57. ...

Walk in memory of Tony Knight (K63-72) in aid of Motor Neurone Disease

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:47:33 +0000

There is a charity fundraising event taking place on 11 March 2012 in aid of Motor Neurone Disease. This is the 10th anniversary of the passing away of Tony Knight (K63-72). Those OFs who were contemporaries of Tony's will know that he was an extraordinarily talented sportsman (Captain of Rugby, Cricket and Hockey) and it was particularly cruel that he was struck down by Motor Neurone Disease at a relatively young age.

The family are organising a Trek4Tony and would welcome any OFs who would like to get involved or make a donation in memory of Tony. They are aiming to raise £4000. Click here for more details or contact Sue Knight via e-mail at sue.knight8@btinternet.com ...

Queen's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:37:41 +0000

Bill Collard (S55-58) reports that the recently restored Thames sailing barge Cambria (see OF news 9th December 2011) is one of the few vessels selected to form the static Avenue of Sail at the Queen's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the 3rd June 2012. As the last UK registered trading vessel to carry a cargo under sail alone, Cambria holds a unique position in UK maritime history. Also in the manpowered section of the parade is the Dunkirk Little Ship M.V. White Marlin, owned in the 1970s by Bill's late father Geoffrey Collard (S29-31)

Bill also reports that following two successful trial charters last autumn, Cambria will be used by Rotary International though out this years sailing season to promote their 'caring for carers' scheme. Rotary have also contracted to use the topsail space over the next three years for their international logo. ...

Adam Wolley Rows - Helps set new record for Atlantic Rowing

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:43:42 +0000

Former Brandeston Hall student, Adam Wolley (95-2001), has just completed a 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic, raising money for charity, and creating a new world record in the process! They were the youngest four-man crew to ever cross an ocean. Click here to see article in Diss Express. ...

Richard Vaughan-Griffith MC 1945-2012

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:40:15 +0000

It is with much sadness that we learn of the death of distinguished OF Richard Derek Lloyd Vaughan-Griffith MC (K60-64). He had been ill for some time and passed away on Wednesday 4 January 2012. The funeral service took place on Thursday 26 January 2012 at 11.00am, at the Church of St Mary The Virgin, Frensham, Surrey, GU10 3EA.

Richard was the most recent OF to be awarded the Military Cross, which he won in 1967 while serving with the Queen's Own Hussars in Aden. More recently he had owned an international Risk Management consultancy. You can read his distinguished article here. If you want to be reminded about what he looked like as a schoolboy, log-in and take a look at the Gallery (click here for 1960s) where he features as captain of the 1963 Rugby 1st XV, and captain of the 1964 Cricket 1st XI.

Several of Richard's friends live abroad and will not be able to return for the funeral. One of these is John Birt (S 59-63), who emailed Richard Sayer (S 56-61) to say,

"Richard (V-G) and our mutual friend Gubbo (Barry Gubbins) go back to 1964 when they were both on their way into Sandhurst via the “thickies” entrance … as did I, but one class ahead of them!!

Richard and I arrived at Fram at the same time and were the first intake into the new Moreau house. We played lots of sport and did not do a lot of work. Richard ended up captain of Rugby, Cricket & Hockey (I think after your brother). He cycled to Spain with me, Rory Brown and three other Fram boys in the summer holidays of 1963 … great adventure for a bunch of 17 year olds … I took 45 quid with me and still had a fiver when we got back to England!!

After Sandhurst we met up again in HK in ‘74 when we were both soldiers and played in the same hockey team in the HK league. From then on we kept in touch and played the odd game of golf when I was in the UK. I shall miss him".

If you'd like to contribute your own memories of Richard, please click on the "Post a Comment" link below. ...

College History Page Marks Start of 150th Anniversary

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:00 +0000

At the start of the College's celebrations to mark its 150th Anniversary, a much enhanced treatment of various aspects of its history has now been published on the College website (with credits to Mark Robinson & Michael Cook for their research and the words, and to Tom Huggins and Jamie Mayhew for the website presentation). Apart from a section on the school itself, there are sections dealing with Prince Albert, Framlingham College Heads, Presidents of the Corporation, Chairmen of Governors, the first benefactors (work in progress so still to come) and the various Houses, buildings and sports facilities.

To go straight to the History section, click this link to the College History Pages ...

Cambria Restoration Completed

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:46:26 +0000

As the final part of the mammoth 4 year, £1.4 million restoration of the famous Thames sailing barge Cambria comes to an end, project manager Bill Collard (S 1955-57) reports that the Faversham based film maker Mike Maloney has now completed what is being acknowledged as the best sailing barge film every produced. The DVD includes many historic views of barges in their working environment, interviews with shipwrights and sailmakers, while interweaving the full Cambria story together with her triumphant return to barge racing in July 2011.

DVD obtainable from Countrywide Productions at www.cwideprods.co.uk at a price of £15 plus p&p ...

South East Supper Report

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:34:01 +0000

James Ruddock-Broyd, supper organiser, reports: Our third SE Supper was held in the cosy surroundings of the Piltdown Golf Club on the 22nd October 2011, where it had been kindly arranged by Andrew Wright. A sprinkling of other Club Members were present.

Seven OFs were accompanied by their wives, and Tony Watson, who was at school in Devon when Norman Borrett arrived there as a master in 1945, came as a guest. As many as 38 OFs had sent apologies, and wanted to attend next time. Susan Webber, recently appointed Senior Deputy Head of the College, represented the Headmaster, and was accompanied by her husband, Grant.

The twelve OFs attending were:

John Barrett R22-46

Norman Buck R51-55

Nick Chaplin (Hon)

Bill Collard S55-57

Simon Dougherty G60-67

Bruce Henderson S46-50

Roger Marriott S50-55

John Newson S52-60

Norman Porter K51-57

James Ruddock-Broyd G46-52

Bill Wade K48-53

Andrew Wright R48-57

The evening started with a presentation by Susan Webber, who gave details of proposed College developments over the next few years, hopefully to be completed and ready for the 150^th Anniversary in 2015.

A convivial supper followed in the dining room chaired by the President, Simon Dougherty. Afterwards Simon gave an address about current OF events, followed by Andrew Wright who was proud to give us the background of Susan Webber’s career, particularly as Captain of the South African Women’s Hockey team at two Olympics. This was so pertinent to discussion, earlier, of the hockey career of Norman Borrett, and was an important link with the future in this prestigious sport.

James Ruddock-Broyd then presented seven bound volumes of 48 OF Magazines, covering the full period of their publication from 1978 to 2004, for safe keeping in the College Library. This ended an era for James having been officially involved with the magazine in different capacities for the last 23 years. He also presented three volumes of the Constitutional History of England, which was an 1893 prize for Shorthand which he had found in a Richmond antique shop. The set was bound in maroon leather, all bearing the College crest.

James Ruddock-Broyd with Susan Webber, (College Senior Deputy Head). ...

FramSoc Upcoming Events - November 2011

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 07:32:35 +0000

Tuesday 15 November, 2011
FramSoc Presentation:

'The Kronstadt Operation 1919”

19:30

Venue: Headmaster Porter Theatre, Framlingham College

This illustrated talk, by Commander Rodney Agar, focuses on the Royal Navy's coastal motor boats and their action in the Baltic, running spies in and out of Russia for the Secret Service and immobilising the Russian Bolshevic Fleet at Kronstadt. It was here where Captain Augustus Agar VC, DSO, RN, Rodney's uncle and an old boy of Framlingham College, won the Victoria Cross in an action sinking the 7,000 ton Russian Bolshevic Cruiser Oleg with a single torpedo.

Further details: http://www.framcollege.co.uk/framlingham-college/the-college/framsoc/events.php or see Distinguished article http://www.oldframlinghamian.com/staticpages/index.php?page=20070222153840883#VC and listen to Augustus Agar talk about his exploits himself. ...

BBC2 8pm Sunday 23 October - Group Captain Percy Pickard DSO ** DFC (G26-32)

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:35:25 +0100

In early September we were contacted by the BBC in Leeds about a programme they were intending to do on Operation Jericho, the daring raid on Amiens jail during World War 2, led by Group Captain Percy Pickard DSO ** DFC (G26-32). With the help of Adrian Orchard (G72-79), who knows Pickard’s nephew, we were able to provide considerable help to the programme, including the very humbling “in case of death” letter he wrote to Lord Londonderry.

I have just been advised that the programme will be aired this coming Sunday (23 October 2011) at 8pm on BBC2 and here is a link. The programme will be presented by the actor Martin Shaw.

To get fully up to speed on Pickard before the programme, read the full Distinguished piece on him by clicking here. ...