OP SOCIAL EVENTS AND REUNIONS
HONG KONG AND CHINA REUNION
Sheena McNamee ( External Relations Director ) and Wendy Wright ( International Student Co-ordinator and Dolman Housemistress ) hosted a drinks reception for OPs in Hong Kong on behalf of the Old Pocklingtonian Association on Friday 4 December 2015 .
The event took place at the Hong Kong University Alumni Association lounge bar kindly arranged by OP Jasper Poon ( 05-10 ). Jim Lau ( 04-09 ) and Kaiser Cheung ( 08-15 ) along with the OP office helped to spread the word amongst OPs and a good crowd came along on the night including :
Lillian Chan ( 05-07 ), Jimmy Cheung ( 03-08 ), Forrest Cheung ( 05-12 ), Simon Kan ( 04-06 ), Jim Lau ( 04-09 ), Sophia Lin ( 01-08 ), Jasper Poon ( 05-10 ), Brian Tang ( 02-07 ), Maggie Tang ( 02-07 ), Carmen Tang ( 08-10 ), Steph Wong ( 00-07 ), Jonathan Yeung ( 03-06 ), Isaac Tsang ( 91-95 ), Emilie Garvey ( 01-07 ), Kaiser Cheung ( 08-15 ), Adrian Leung ( 13-15 ), Stephen Lee ( 11-14 ), Alan Lee ( 06-11 ), Eric Ho ( 90-95 ), Matthew Truman ( 86-95 ), Lucy Bennett-Baggs ( 03-07 ) and Paul Christopher ( 85-90 ).
Sheena commented : “ It was great to see so many of our former students tonight . I had a wonderful evening catching up with everyone . It ’ s fantastic that there are so many OPs in Hong Kong and around the world .”
TOBAGO REUNION
Phil Gilbank ( 67-74 ), Donald ( 70-72 ) and Brian ( 71-73 ) Stollmeyer , and Tom Mair ( 65-74 ) ( pictured L-R below ) played rugby and cricket together at Pocklington School in the early 1970s .
Tom and Phil rendezvous regularly at Pocklington RUFC , but they had not met up with Brian for some 40 years until a notable reunion in December 2015 , at the Carib International Rugby Sevens in Tobago .
After Pocklington , Brian went back to his native Trinidad where he became a cornerstone of the Trinidad & Tobago national side ’ s pack for several years .
When he stopped playing he became the Trinidad & Tobago RFU President , also represented the islands on the International Rugby Board , and managed a combined West Indies team on a tour of Britain in 2000 .
These days he restricts himself to organising the Carib Rugby Sevens , which drew entries from New Zealand , the USA , Canada , England , South America and islands throughout the Caribbean . The men ’ s tournament was won by London side , Esher , who defeated North East Academy from New York 12-7 in a keenly contested final . The women ’ s competition saw Aptoella Angles from Canada beat USA ’ s Atlantis 19-0 to lift the trophy .
Although the pair have had long and successful careers in business and sport in the Caribbean , both have fond memories of their time at Pocklington and were keen to catch up on news of their contemporaries , and to send their regards to friends , and former teammates and schoolmasters .
Brian also took Tom and Phil and their partners on a VIP tour of Trinidad , which included calling to see Donald and his boatyard ; and dropping in at the Port of Spain Oval , the mecca of West Indies ’ cricket , where one of the main stands is named after Jeffrey Stollmeyer , the brothers ’ late father and former West Indies ’ cricket captain .
Phil commented : “ Brian was a brilliant host , and we shared so many memories with him and Donald about Pocklington all those years ago ; they would be delighted for any contemporary OPs to get in touch , or even better give them a visit . Brian also issues an open invitation for anyone to go to this year ’ s sevens in December , when he is moving the venue from Tobago to Barbados .”
This year the Sevens Tournament will be held on 10-11 December at St Lawrence Gap , Barbados .
Article by Phil Gilbank ( 67-74 )
It was a rugby occasion with a difference , with a beach-side party , where all the teams sang carols and Christmas songs , opening the festivities . Next up was a specially arranged day ’ s goat racing – racing goats , where a ‘ jockey ’ runs alongside the animal . This is the major sport in Tobago , and the event was held in the island ’ s impressive goat racing stadium where the track is surrounded by spectator stands .
The rugby was also a bit different , as Britain ’ s rugby players shivered and splashed on water-logged pitches , the two days of the Tobago Sevens were played out in near 90 degree sun and heat . The tournament ended with another day ’ s beach ‘ cool down ’ with the opposing players swimming together in the sea and partying late into the evening .
Another highlight of the Tobago trip was a boat tour round the island on a catamaran built by elder brother Donald . While Brian went on from Pocklington to enjoy success with West Indies rugby , Donald owns a Trinidad boat yard and is the islands ’ main man in yachting and power boat racing , holding the office of President of the Yacht Services Association of Trinidad & Tobago , in addition to his commercial boat building .
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