STOURBRIDGE OLD EDWARDIAN CLUB

ED-Words  Newsletter
July 2021

Life has certainly changed over the last months - High Street shops disappearing, on-line shopping expanding, working from home as the norm,  the suspension of entertainment and restrictions on sporting events. The Club has not been exempt from change during this time and the final phase of our refurbishment approaches completion.

The new area created by removing 2 snooker tables has already attracted a new client with Stourbridge Rotary Club confirming a trial of our new space for their meetings. Other clients have been returning as well under strict adherence to Covid guidelines and the future looks bright. As outlined in previous newsletters the Club relies on third party trade to enable commercial survival.

Hopefully, now a return to normality beckons, I’ll be able to meet members in the Club. I’m certainly  looking forward to my President’s evening on Saturday 4th September 2021 where we can enjoy a convivial evening in the Club. Details will be circulated soon.

Following discussions on the latest Government announcements and their viability as it affects operations inside the Club premises, the following details what to expect from July 19th. These are itemised with full intent to keep both customers (members and guests) and our stewards in as safe an environment as is sensible to avoid potential heath issues affecting our operations.

1. Face coverings will be optional (as opposed to mandatory) when entering and moving around the premises.
2. The process of taking forehead temperatures and contact details when entering the Club will be discontinued - until and if the need arises in future.
3. Bar staff will be on hand to take orders for drinks from the bar. Drinks must not be ordered at the bar, and may optionally be delivered to customers at their tables or collected from the bar. Customers will be allowed to approach the bar to collect their drinks only.
4. As a courtesy to customers, bar staff will retain the current plastic sheet covering the bar grille and may also wear face coverings.
5. Customers will be encouraged (as opposed to mandated) to maintain sensible social distancing throughout the Club in line with the current Government statements.
6. Hand gel and cleansing materials will be available throughout the Club for appropriate use by  customers - who in turn should continue to use them to cleanse certain snooker items after use as directed by the stewards.
7. There will be no need for the one-way system currently inside the Club.
8. We will pay attention to the importance of ventilation within the Club so as to limit the spread of any Covid and other viruses.
9. Anyone with symptoms of a cold or flu (which are not part of another known medical condition) should not enter the Club (to avoid spreading diseases which may adversely affect the health of other customers and staff and the ability to keep the Club open).
10. Additional measures will be advised by the stewards, to any groups who may potentially pose a potential health hazard.

OPENING TIMES
From Monday July 19th, opening times will continue as current i.e.
Mondays  to Fridays 11:30 am - 2:30 pm  then 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Saturdays:  11:30 am to 3:30 pm then 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sundays: Closed

The Club will be closed outside of these hours to prevent unsupervised use of the facilities whilst the pandemic prevails.

Following considerable demand. Tim is going to offer some dates for members and guests to enjoy Sunday lunches at the Club. This will take the form of 2 or 3 courses - all with choices.

This is the first time it will be trialled and could continue if demand is sufficient. Please keep a look out for future communications on dates, menus and logistics.

Our full events programme is beginning to  re-emerge and is  visible on our Events Calendar.

"Since my recent appointment as Club Archivist, I have begun the lengthy process of establishing exactly what the Club has within its archive, sorting and cataloguing. Much of the archived material has been kindly donated by members or the families of former members, and, included in these donations are items of School and Club clothing and regalia. With particular regard to these important pieces of vintage clothing, I am especially concerned that they should be conserved and displayed within the Club premises so that members and visitors alike can enjoy the nostalgia of an important Stourbridge institution that can boast over 120 years of history; but more of conservation below.

 Disposal of Duplicate Artefacts - Opportunity for Members

It has come to light that the Club possesses a number of items that are duplicated and the General Committee has decided to offer these duplicate items in return for a recommended donation which will all go towards the conservation and display of our vintage regalia.

The items that the Club has available to members are:-

1.    A quantity of illustrated booklets about the first 50 years of the Club, compiled in 1948. Suggested donation £5 each and are available over the bar.

2.    A number of cut and engraved glass goblets commissioned to celebrate the Club’s move from its former Victoria Street premises to its current location in Drury Lane. The engraving includes the Tudor crest and the year 1973, with the foot engraved with the name of the School. Suggested donation £30 each.

3.    A small quantity of bright metal tankards (half pint) inscribed “S O E C – presented by G.V. Greenwood, President 1934-35”. Suggested donation £20 each.

The booklets can be obtained from the Steward at the Club and the goblets and tankards will be allocated on a “first come first served” basis. If any member  would like to acquire these decorative and historical mementos of the Club, please contact me by email: wrightforhistory@gmail.com or telephone 07710 781169.

4.  There are also a number of past copies of the National Geographic magazine (2007-2017), free to members and these can be collected from the Club".

All 4 items are shown below

The disposal of these duplicate items for their suggested donation figures will only go a small way towards the cost of conservation and display of the Club’s vintage clothing and regalia. The Club has a number of early striped blazers dating from the 1930’s and football shirts of both the School and the Club dating from the late 1920’s. It is intended that as many of these items as possible will be professionally mounted in box frames such as to arrest any further deterioration and displayed within the Club premises. They will not only brighten up the décor, but also remind us of the proud heritage to which we all belong.

The cost of these box frames, together with appropriate lighting as may be deemed necessary, will be significantly in excess of £1,000. I therefore urge members to take the opportunity to acquire these duplicate artefacts and to make a donation of the suggested figure or more. Likewise, if you do not wish to acquire any of these items but are keen to support the Club’s heritage, please consider making a donation towards the cost of conservation and display.

Needless to say, if any member has any items or documentation relating to the history of the School or the Club that they would like to donate to the Club archives, these items will be very gratefully received and carefully retained".

Kenneth Wright,  July 2021

It's always good to hear of successful career paths of those who have attended KEVI Foundations and here is evidence of one who attended KEVI College Stourbridge.

Suzi Nielsen joined the Royal Navy as a Logistics Officer in 2004. After her professional training, she was appointed to HMS CHATHAM as the Deputy Logistics officer (2004), supporting disaster relief operations off the coast of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Tsunami.

She became a New Entry and Initial Sea Training Officer at BRNC Dartmouth (2005) and was subsequently assigned as Executive Assistant  to the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff. She was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 2009. A short appointment as the Executive Assistant to CO Commando Helicopter Force preceded an operational tour as the Information Manager within Joint Force Support (Afghanistan).

She joined HMS PORTLAND as the logistics Officer (2011) taking the ship in and out of an extended refit in Rosyth. Her final SO2 appointment was to the J1/4 staff (2013) within the Permanent HQ supporting the logistic drawdown of operation HERRICK.

Suzi graduated from the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2016 with an MA in Defence Studies (Kings College, London).

Selected for promotion to Commander in the same year, she assumed the role of Group Logistics Commander to Commander Amphibious Task Group responsible for the planned sustainment of the Joint Expeditionary Force and contingent operations.

Suzi was selected to be the final Commandant of the Defence Maritime Logistics School (2018) and was responsible for the successful transition of all Maritime Logistics training to the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration  She was awarded the OBE in 2021 in recognition.

In 2020, she was selected for promotion to Captain and appointed to be the Commanding Officer of HMS RALEIGH. Suzi lives in Devon, is married, and has two grown-up step-children. She is a keen runner and outdoor adventurer.

We hope we may be able to attract Suzi to one of our events at the Club to provide a talk at some future time.

Tim, our steward, approached me knowing that my eldest son, Richard, is in charge of safeguarding and coaching for the Angling Trust.  “What are the chances of getting Malcolm Fazey a day's fly fishing even though he is partially sighted?” asked Tim.  My immediate response was “I'll ask Richard”  The answer was a fly fishing for trout in Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire. This reservoir is the one below the Derwent Reservoir of Dambuster's fame!!

Malcolm's poor eyesight did not prohibit him from having a wonderful time bringing back memories of his time in Africa.  Expert coaches helped him to board the boat, set up his tackle and cast into the water.  We were both assured by the coaches that they knew where the fish were -  I've heard that one before and a couple of hours practising our casts were all we had to show for our efforts until...

Success!!  Malcolm hooked his trout and me, known as fish-less, a roach!!

The photograph, of Malcolm and his catch, is proof of the day.

Roger Hadley  

Addis Page, who attended the previous KEVI Grammar School, was not well and suffering from Parkinson's.  Unfortunately he died recently in Guildford.  Although not a member of SOEC, his father, Jack Page, was a former President of the Club and some members may know him.

Addis attended KEGS in the 50s and left to get a doctorate in computing at Imperial College.

He then worked for IBM for many years. Members may be more acquainted with his sister, Leslie, who with her husband, Freddie, ran the Watercourse Restaurant in Oldswinford.  Also driving to the Club they pass the now delapidated “Page Arms” opposite Waitrose, which was given the family name.