STOURBRIDGE OLD EDWARDIAN CLUB

ED-Words  Newsletter
AUGUST 2023

An excellent Charter Day lunch was recently held in the club which I unfortunately couldn’t attend due to holidays. Thanks to the organisers, attendees and of course Tim and Tracy for an excellent meal.

We took the difficult decision to close the club to allow the completion of the new window in the Edwardian Lounge and the subsequent redecoration of the main areas which was long overdue. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances the window could not be fitted but most of the decorating was undertaken. I am pleased to report that the window is now fitted and makes a welcome addition to the Edwardian Lounge area providing more natural light. Now these works are being completed this hopefully sees the conclusion of the major refurbishment works which were commenced during lockdown and my last term of office. It is hoped that the renovations will see the club prosper with our enhanced facility. I would like to place on record my personal thanks to David Trewin for his determination in ensuring completion of the works. His advice and professional expertise have been invaluable.

As previously mentioned, this is a special year for the club as it celebrates its 125^th Anniversary and 50 years at Drury Lane.

As a break with tradition, I am combining the President’s evening and Annual Dinner into a Gala Celebration Evening on Saturday 7^th October 2023. The evening will combine musical entertainment with contributions from the Club Archivist Kenneth Wright and of course toasts to the Club and our Founder. I am hoping that the club will be full, and we all have an enjoyable evening celebrating the landmark anniversaries. Wives and partners will be very welcome as will guests. More details will follow shortly.

The General Committee is keen to see as many events as possible that club members can enjoy. We are short of resources to plan events and would welcome any volunteers who would be willing to organise events to come forward. You will be given every support from the General Committee. We are keen to see a wider offer for members but need additional expertise from our membership to organise events that will appeal. If you are willing to organise an event, please contact Clive Bowen Davies, Chair of the Social Committee in the first instance.

Thanks again for your continued support for the club.

President Rob

FORTHCOMING EVENTS are visible on our Events Calendar. That section has been updated to clearly identify those occasions that are open to Club Members (including the mussels lunches, and fish and steak evenings). General venue hires (of which there are many) can be accessed by downloading the venue hire list in that section (a spreadsheet which you may ned to scroll through).

Of special note is the  Gala Celebration Evening on Saturday 7^th October. Please hold this date in your diaries for a special night celebrating the Club's 125th Anniversary - with appropriate culinary delights and entertainment.

This is another  reminder that some months ago, we  have responded to the request raised at the AGM last December to make it easier to get in touch with the Committee and have issues addressed.

Please consult the CONTACT section of the website where you will see clear directions of which electronic from to complete under which circumstances to get responses addressed in the fastest and most efficient way. In particular, ensure any issues affecting membership (fees, fobs, applications etc) are addressed by completing the Membership Issues form and they will be sent directly to the personal email box of the Hon. Membership Secretary for prompt response.

Likewise, any issues which you want addressed by the General Committee should be sent via the "Feedback Questions" form. We presume everyone is totally satisfied with everything as we have not had a single response in the last 9 months following the initial AGM request but please feel free to get in touch as described.

We are always deeply sorry to lose our members - and others who will be well known to members - through ill health. In recent weeks we especially remember: 

• Peter Roberts, Fred Mason, Bob Fearn and Graham Watteson.
• Mr. C.J.Bishop - a well known past master of the School / College who taught many of us but who survived to a good age well into his nineties.

Our thoughts are with families and friends.

We think Mr Bishop  was 97 years of age. 

He graduated from Leeds University with a BSc Hons. in Mathematics and before joining KEVI Stourbridge in September 1949, had previously taught at the County School, Camberley. On joining KEVI Stourbridge, he took over the legendary "Wally" Parsons’  Mathematics timetable, Wally having been elevated to the position of Senior Maths Teacher.

In the school year 1949/50 Mr Bishop took on the position of Form Master of Form IIIb.

He went on to be appointed Head of Mathematics in the Autumn Term of 1973 following the retirement of Wally Parsons.

Mr Bishop was appointed Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps assisting Major (WAK) Kitson and Captain ( Check) Rollason and  in 1959 accompanied a party of cadets on a 10 day trip to the B.A.O.R. in Germany. Below is a historic newspaper clip (thanks to David Trewin) who also features in the photo below - as well as member "Jack" Hall. 

A further photo of the trip is also included further below.  Messrs BIshop and Rollason are more visible on that (second row) with David Trewin back left and Jack Hall second from right bottom row.

I would also like to comment on what our archivist, Ken Wright, has come up with. He has procured a copy of the original school Charter which was granted on the 17th June 1552. It is to be displayed in the Club Premises and will be in the original Latin with a translation into English for the benefit of people like me, who wouldn't be able to do such translation! Our thanks go out to Ken for all his hard work.

I am looking forward to the joint event of the Annual Dinner and President's Evening (the Gala Evening) on October 7th. I'm sure it will be a great occasion and will celebrate the 125 year's of the Club's formation and the 50 years since we have met in the present premises.  Our thanks go out to Tim and Tracey in advance for all their contributions." 

Our venue hire bookings continue to grow -  more than 20 for August and September alone. Thanks to the excellent catering facilities provide by our stewards Tim and Tracey, the Club looks forward to welcoming the British Legion Veterans for breakfasts into the future.  Photos from the latter are below. The note of appreciation says it all:

"We have pre booked your venue for the next 15 months ( 5 Breakfasts ). Everyone who attended including 6 new faces really enjoyed the 5* food, the company, the raffle ...and the secluded, exclusive Club made available to them".

Contact Tim or Tracey if you know of any organisations who would gain from booking the Club.