Category: News

The Rambling Club had a splendid if rather warm walk on Sunday 30 June. The attached photo shows the merry band enjoying a well earned rest.

The Old Askean Association Annual Lunch was held at the RAF club on Thursday 2nd May 2019. Some 50 members and guests enjoyed a splendid meal, an interesting talk from the Federation Principal Mr Alex Williamson about fostering closer liaison between the former pupils associations and the college.

This was an excellent occasion and hopefully next year there will be an even larger attendance.

Menu

Smoked Salmon with brown bread and butter

Roast Sirloin of Beef with Yorkshire pudding, traditional roast potatoes and a selection of vegetables

Apple and blackberry crumble with vanilla custard

Coffee and petits fours

The final Pre-Match Lunch of the season wase held prior to the final match against Sittingbourne on Saturday 6^th April.  It was a good event and we were graced with the presence of the Andy the club president. A great time was had by all and despite losing the XV played with great verve and spirit.

It was with much sadness that earlier today I heard from Rita Comber that Chris had passed away last Saturday, the 2nd February. I understand from his Son, Matt, that his health had deteriorated over the past year. I last saw Chris at the OA’s Advent lunch in November when despite having broken his hip earlier that year, suffering a bout of pneumonia and walking with sticks to aid his arthritic ankles, he was his usual chirpy self.

It is with great sadness that I have to have to tell you of the passing of Neville.  He died early on the morning of Tuesday 8^th January.  Ann and I did visit them just before Christmas, he was frail then and I believe it was his heart that gave out on Tuesday.  He was at home, with wife Barbara and is succeeded by his wife and children Andy and Kathy.

He was a thoroughly good fellow, although he was a little older than me we ended our time at Aske’s in the same form, 6^th Remove.  We were each courting girls from the Girls’ School at the time, we later found out that the girls were cousins, subsequently both couples were married.  Thus, we were close friends over a very long period.  Until a couple of years ago when his health deteriorated he and Barbara were enthusiastic supporters of OAA events, including the Rambling Club, Advent Lunch and City Diners.

He spent some years as an Ordinary Member of the OAA Committee and he was especially helpful in haberdashery matters and played a significant part in the 2006 Blazer Project. Neville was able to attend the reunion last September of those that started school in 1947 or thereabouts, and with Barbara in recent years he has kindly hosted the OARC Annual picnic in the garden of their home at Ashurst, Kent.

I shall miss him and so will many Askean and other friends who  knew him.

I understand it will be a small family funeral and the details will not be circulated.    Dennis Johnson

Are you in this photo? Do you have any memories of this trip? if ye please let me know so that we can include them in future editions of the Old Askean Magazine.

Some 150 plus people crowded in to the North Chapel at Eltham Crematorium on Thursday 6th September 2018 for the funeral of Old Askean Dave Kingston. There were many Old Askean in the congregation who had come to say farewell to a good friend. The service was conducted by fellow Old Askean Deacon Barry Mellish and one of the two eulogies was given by another Old Askean Robert Noble. 

After the service the assembly moved to the Royal Blackheath Golf Club where Dave had been a member. Memories and anecdotes were shared for several hours over a glass or two of beer and plates of food. It was a fitting farewell to a good man.

Some 25 plus members attended the AGM in the lovely setting of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club. Andy Jordan-Smith was elected President for the coming year.

After the meeting the members plus guest enjoyed a very pleasant meal. A more detailed account of the meeting will appear shortly.