WELCOME
The PRESIDENT’S VIEW
Dear OPs,
Welcome to the latest edition of the Old
Pocklingtonian magazine. A publication designed to
keep you up to date with all things OP.
Even a brief glance at these pages will confirm that
we have had yet another busy year of events and
reunions and we have welcomed another 60 or so
new members into the fold – those most recent
school leavers. I attended at school on 27 May to
introduce myself to the, then, current Upper Sixth
formers and to welcome them to the Association.
I have done this for the last four or five years.
Although the faces change, and look younger year
after year, what does not change is the quality of
the people that the school produces. That quality
has not changed from my time and I hazard a guess
that it has not from yours. The overall impressions
that I gain about these young people is of politeness,
confidence, intelligence and self-awareness – some
fantastic traits with which to be stepping into the
world. We have recruited well this year! I look
forward to seeing how they progress in the future.
I hope that we as an association can offer one and
all of them any assistance that they may require, over
and above that provided by parents and tertiary
education. Please consider donating a small amount
of time to the mentor scheme that we have set up. I
promise that it will be time well spent.
We have seen some slight changes to the OP
Committee again this year. Work commitments
have meant that Sophie Guest (03-10) has left
us and after some good years of service; Duncan
Goodyear (80-85) and Caroline Dale (92-02)
also step down.
Duncan has been instrumental in organising the
London events for many years and they have been
some of the best attended and most enjoyable
events that we have hosted. I offer my sincere thanks
to him for being such a stalwart.
Caroline has been invaluable and has worked
tirelessly to place our accounts in as strong a position
as is possible. She has also provided a great amount
of support to me; she will be sadly missed. I hope
that this is not the last that we see of her.
As we are all now well aware, we should not
denigrate people for leaving!
We have some great replacements in Hannah
Farmer (97-04) who joins after moving back
to York. That deals with adding energy. Richard
Skowrenek (99-10) will come in as our London
ambassador. Very few people enjoy a black tie
event more than him, so I am looking forward to
his contribution in that regard. And Eszti Pontone
(née Gyarmati, 95-97) comes in as Treasurer –
with Caroline’s endorsement. That is good enough
for me.
After many years of organising our sporting teams,
Henry Mitchell (91-02) has also stepped aside.
Charlie Lambert (01-08) has done a great job as
understudy and we have had some very competitive
fixtures recently. My thanks to Henry.
The number one rule of alumni groups is
engagement. We are always thinking of new ways
to connect with members. We will be launching
some informal drinks receptions in our more wellpopulated university towns; just a meet and greet
and a great and informal way to meet with old
friends. Our attendance at York Races in May was
well received and the usual dinners at Leeds and
London will take place as before. There has even
been talk of doing a team Tough Mudder – if we
get ten entrants, I promise to don a sweat band and
enter! If you have any ideas for reunions or events,
then please do contact us; even if it is just to get the
contact for your year group; we can be involved as
much or as little as you wish.
I do hope that some of you managed to attend the
Summer Reunion on 3rd July. This is one of the most
enjoyable days in my view. It is child-friendly and a
great opportunity to show your family around the
school and to share some memories with them. I
apologise for not being in attendance personally. I
was at the wedding of an old school friend (Amy
Rook) along with a vast number of OPs. Anyone
who has been to a Rook party will understand why
I was unwilling to miss it!
I look