The final Pre-Match Lunch of the season wase held prior to the final match against Sittingbourne on Saturday 6th 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.
Keith Spurgeon – Funeral Arrangements
Sad News. Ian Valentine has informed me of the death of Keith Spurgeon. He passed away peacefully at his nursing home on Sunday 3rd March, 15 months after suffering a major stroke. Keith’s funeral details are:
Monday 25th March 2pm at St Lawrence Church, Bidborough, TN3 0UJ
followed by a wake at Tunbridge Wells Tennis Club, Nevill Gate ( off Warwick Park) TN2 5ES
Rugby Club Annual Supper – 17 May at the Rectory Field
This will now take place on Friday 17 May at the Rectory Field. Contact Ian Lunn or Steve Homewood for full details
Pilgrimage to Faversham
Chris Comber RIP
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.
Neville Hodgson RIP reported by Dennis Johnson
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 8th 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, 6th 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
Were you at Hebden Bridge in 1953?
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.
Funeral of Dave Kingston
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.
Thames River Cruise Sunday 22 July 2018
Forty-one landlubbers were aboard the Thames Barge “Lady Daphne”
on Sunday 22 July 2018 on a trip organised by Roger Pawley. It was a splendid day in all senses of the word. The weather was perfect. The on board Guide, Bill, was full of information about what we were passing as the Barge went through Tower Bridge
and past historic Greenwich and the Thames Barrier. We were treated to morning coffee, a two course lunch and tea and cake mid-afternoon, before our return about 5 pm, having left London Bridge Pier around 10.30. For some shipmates the act of boarding and disembarking on a choppy Thames tide was an adventure in itself.
By Dennis Johnson
OAA AGM 5th July 2018
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.
