Author Archives: rossjamesparker

Obituary: Tony Jordan

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John Hubbard, convenor of The Chips Club of retired Bournemouth School staff, writes with the sad news that Tony Jordan, another staff member, died in June. We understand that he was coming up to 74, and he had been suffering from Parkinson’s for a number of years.

John says: “I am sure that there will be many members of the OBA that will have the fondest of memories of him and his dynamic presence over his years at the school, and may want to remember him in their own way through your website. He was a wonderfully warm and energetic colleague.”

That is certainly true in my case, as Mr Jordan was an inspiration for me and many of my cohort. I remember particularly his motto, passed to us as we left school for work or university life. It was this:

You have time. But you do not have a lot of time. You have time to do everything you wish for. But you do not have time to waste.

This momento mori has stuck with me, and seems poignant today.

Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting, Tuesday 25 June

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A note from the Membership Secretary, Mr Graham Jones:

There will be an Extraordinary General Meeting of the association committee and members at Bournemouth School on Tuesday 25th June 2024 at 7pm.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the proposed winding up of the Old Bournemouthians Association.

Please indicate if you wish to attend, preferably by email. Minutes of the Committee Meeting are also available by email. Please let me know if you want them.

Further context, also from Graham:

… for the past several years the OB’s has only existed as a dinner society, organising a re-union dinner once a year. With the ageing of the membership and a lack of recent leavers joining the Association, to say nothing of the effects of Covid, the numbers attending the dinner has declined dramatically, though there is the possibility of the school organising such an event in their new catering premises.

The committee has also dwindled in size with only five or six stalwarts attending committee meetings or AGMs. There is the possibility of us merging with the school’s alumni society, but the Association would need to have each member’s individual permission to pass on personal data.

The EGM will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 25 June 2024, at Bournemouth School, East Way, Bournemouth (enter by the left hand door, at the church end).

An update on the Association

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From our Graham Jones, our Membership Secretary:

I have had a few enquiries regarding the annual re-union dinner. Our contract with the Highcliff Hotel finished last year and the committee decided not to renew it. The plan was to hold a less formal dinner at the school in their new building. For those of you who are unaware, the school had a £4 million building project which has delivered a new 6th form study area on the lower floor, a large catering facility (capacity about 360 pupils) on the 2nd floor and a suite of teaching classrooms on the 3rd floor. This is all in preparation for an expansion in the number of pupils entering the school, as the number of pupils in the catchment has increased. The building occupies part of the senior playground and the senior cycle shed area.

The intention was to hold the first dinner in summer/autumn of 2023, but unfortunately the school lost several key personnel in the catering and site management departments during the year. This has meant that the dinner has been pushed back into 2024. At present I have no date for it, but I will be in touch further when there is a firm date.

The dinner is intended to be a more casual affair than previously with less emphasis on speakers and offering an opportunity to view the school buildings for those who have been away for some time.

Gradually the Old Bournemouthians’ Association is going to be coming under the wing of the Bournemouth School Alumni Society, with the OBA website becoming part of the Bournemouth School website. The Alumni Society is not intended to be a fund-raising society as much as one which can offer help to present-day pupils, for example by offering mentoring, both in person and remotely or by offering advice from ex-pats who could assist students who are travelling overseas.

Please remember to update me with any changes of address or email, so that I can keep in touch with you.

You can email Graham here.

Obituary: Gordon Prosser (1932-2023)

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The funeral will take place of Old Bournemouthian Gordon Prosser at Woking Crematorium,
Surrey, on Tuesday, 27 June, at 1200. All are welcome to attend.

Gordon, of Send, Surrey, died aged 91 on Saturday, May 27.

Born in Bournemouth, Gordon attended Bournemouth School from the age of eleven to
nineteen, completing an extra year because his mother had been initially too ill to give
permission for him to stay on in sixth form. During that time, he became Head Prefect.

After completing Royal Marine training during National Service, Gordon pursued a career in
banking. He was a great supporter of the school and attended the annual Old
Bournemouthians’ dinner well into his late 80s.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Margaret (Peggy) and son, Neil. A daughter, Claire,
predeceased him.

Obituary: Douglas R. Sherwood (1941-1948)

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We received the following, from John Demont:

Douglas (“Dougie”) Sherwood, the last of four Old Bournemouthian brothers, died peacefully in December 2022. He was at the school during the war (1941 – 1948) and was one of four Old Boys who went to Sandhurst in 1948. Douglas distinguished himself by becoming a Junior Under Officer. The other three Old Boys were Tom Farmer, Johnny English, and Tony Baxter – probably a  record School entry!

Dougie was a popular character. He played cricket and football for the School at all levels. He was also a very good table tennis player. He retired early from the Army as a Major to further other activities including valuable charity work with his wife Ann.

David Coleman

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We have received the following email from Wayne Lines, an Old Bournemouthian:

A former student of Bournemouth School and close friend of mine (David Coleman) died in Poland on Feb 1st. Dave arranged a reunion about 9 years ago including a tour of the school where about 25 of us from the ‘class of 1972’  were made very welcome.

We have arranged a celebration of his life. Sadly, I’m only in contact with a handful of former classmates but anyone who knew Dave would be most welcome to join us. The details are below.  (The RSVP is to his sister).

Obituary: Ken Maxted

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Mike Webb writes:

I have just had the sad news that Ken Maxted has passed away. Ken taught for many years at the school and was an Assistant Head, Master in charge of the Sixth Form, Head of Romsey House and a member of the Geography Department.

He was a founder member of the staff cricket team and he played for them with distinction for many years. Ken also organised the staff five-a-side for a time. He was a thorough teacher of geography and helped to build the subject into one of the most heavily subscribed in the school at one time.

As an Old Boy of Taunton’s School, Ken must have had divided loyalties when the two schools met of the sports field but Bournemouth School usually won out in his affections. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues at the monthly ‘Chips’ gatherings.

Reg Turner

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We have been contacted by Reginald (“Reg”) Turner, who writes:

Hello from New Zealand. I was a pupil at Bournemouth School from 1952 to 1960. My time at Bournemouth School for Boys, and in the CCF gave me the best education I could ever have or expect. Having gained foreign entry at age 12, with passing the 11 plus exam at that time. I was a young student from a primary school background in the Caribbean Island of Aruba. I was blessed that my parents decided to settle in Bournemouth, and the opportunity to gain entry to this great school of learning.

Now aged 77 and a wealth life adventures, I wish to connect with all my classmates still living from my Bournemouth School years. Please put in your “old boys “network my email with a request to connect with them, after all these years. I regret it has taken me 65 years to contact my school “old boys”. I am now writing my memoirs called “Tales from an Innkeepers Log”.

Reg also provided links to his personal website, and the website of his lodge, on New Zealand’s South Island.

Memories of the Officer Training Corps

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We have recently been contacted by Mr P. John Fish, who was at the school between 1942 and 1948. He is enjoying getting into the school’s history in his retirement, and was particularly interested in our 2016 post of the historical role of the school OTC’s cap badge. Mr Fish has been kind enough to type up some of his memories of the school in his time, with a view that it may interest others. Continue reading →

Jim Green

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We have received the sad news that Life Vice-President Jim Green died on 7 July following a second stroke. Jim was instrumental in the success of the Old Boys 1st XI football team for many years, as well as editing and publishing our twice-yearly newsletter. He was also a school governor for a time and served the school and the Old Bournemouthians for many years.

Should anyone wish to attend, the funeral will be held at 11am on Thursday 27 July at Bournemouth East Cemetery, Gloucester Road. Please note the location is not the Bournemouth Crematorium & Cemetery.