Category: News archive

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Funeral Arrangements for Dennis Johnson

Please join us at Dennis’ Funeral Service, and afterwards at the Wake (details below) – the Service will be held at Eltham Crematorium – North Chapel on Wednesday 8th October 2025 at 12:30 pm

FAMILY FLOWERS ONLY PLEASE – if you would like to make a donation, we are raising money for The Community Hospice, Greenwich & Bexley – please click here to make a donation 

Funeral Attire:

There is no Dress Code as such, BUT if you have an Old Askean tie, scarf, badge or blazer then please wear it!.

The Wake:

8th October 2025 at 1:30 pm

Blackheath Sports Club / Rectory Field The Rectory Field Charlton Road London For Sat-Nav use Postcode SE7 7EY

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Dennis Johnson RIP

It is my sad duty to tell you that Dennis Johnson, a long standing very active member and a former president died peacfully at his home on Monday 25 August. Our thoughts and prayers go to his beloved wife Ann.

Dennis was a really lovely person. Always courteous, always well mannered, a true gentleman with the best interests of the Association and the Rambling Club at heart. I will miss him as will all who knew him.

May he rest in peace.

Details of his funeral will be published when known.

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Old Askean Annual Lunch 12 June

Around 30 Old Askeans plus guests gathered at the Clarendon Hotel for the Annual Association Lunch. This is the first time that we have used this venue, it proved to be a good one.

Those of us there had a good lunch plus convivial conversation with perhaps a glass or two of wine and a few pints of beer. President Steve Homewood welcomed us all with some well chosen words. As always at these events we were too busy having fun to take many photos. Here are a couple of the tables.

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City Diners is Back !! 28th March 2025 at the Mudlark

WE’RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OLD ASKEAN CITY DINERS advise news of their passing is as accurate as Elvis being found on the Moon!!!! Having not met in 2024, I am pleased to advise we have a new venue and a date for your diary.

We will be dining at The Mudlark, Montague Close, SE1 9DA, by Southwark Cathedral near the river at London Bridge on Friday 28th March 12:00 for 1:00

I now have the menu for our new venue, The Mudlark at London Bridge, for our resurrection lunch! Well, it will be during Lent.

We are dining at

The Mudlark, by Southwark Cathedral at London Bridge

on Friday 28th March, meet in the bar from 12:00 for 1:00

The menu is as below and the price £34 for 2 courses or £42 for 3 courses including wine

Starter Scotch Egg served with brown sauce

Main Steak & Pale Ale Pie with mashed potato & thyme roasted carrots

Dessert Apple & Blackberry Crumble with vanilla custard

Vegetarian or vegan alternatives available. Please contact me for details

To confirm your attendance, please send an e-mail to me at homewood.steve@yahoo.co.uk or give me a call on 07795 445404 advising whether you require 2 or 3 courses. To assist with the administration on the day, it would be appreciated if you would transfer the appropriate funds to our bank account, details below, ensuring you give your name as the reference. You are welcome to invite your classmates who are not members of the Association or your male guests to show them how Old Askeans like to enjoy themselves!

Bank details

Barclays Bank

Account Name: Old Askean Clty Diners

Sort Code: 20-20-62

Account Number: 23060004

Remember to give your name as the reference

The address of The Mudlark is Motague Close, SE1 9DA and is situated just to the west of London Bridge. From the lower main line station, you can take the exit into Tooley Street, where there is easy access via a pedestrian path under London Bridge rather than negotiating the steps down from the bridge

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Old Askean Association Ramble 8th June

OAA ramble starting from London Bridge, the ramble is open to all members of the Association and their friends and partners. For your info we will be  meeting at 2 o’clock at London Bridge Station Upper Concourse by Costa Pronto.

The walk will be around the lesser known parts of the South Bank and be about three miles and last around two hours lead by Geoff. Finish at the George Inn around 4.00.

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ROGER PAWLEY – the Askean connection

Roger was at Haberdasher Aske’s school in Hatcham from 1949 to 1954. I had commenced two years before that so we did not have close association at School – rather like the Clease/Corbett sketch I looked down on them, I looked up to the Prefects.  Roger was not keen on school sports but otherwise was always a participator, a characteristic he carried into adult life. I recall he was active in school Clubs such as the Lit and Deb and the Natural History societies, there were probably others.

It was after leaving school that our paths came together, we were both members of the Old Askean Association Field Club. This club had only started a couple of years earlier, founded by Donald LeJeune and Dermot Poston. They remained our friends throughout their lives.

The Field Club had a variety of activities such as walking, pot-holing, theatre visits and dining. It thrived for a few years but then joined with the Old Askean Rambling Club which had a longer history, being founded in 1889. Roger walked with that Club for the rest of his life, he was Captain from 1989 until 2022 when ill health meant he had to stop.

He and Hazel were stalwarts of the Rambling Club keeping it active in lean times. I had very many walks with him, both locally and long-distance. The highlight is probably our walk from Coast to Coast.  We undertook Wainwright’s walk of around 200 miles from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire.  On a stopover at a farm in Shap we were complimented as being the smartest dressed walkers that the host had seen!  We did it in 4 visits of 4 days.  He was a competent map reader, bolstered by his binoculars which he usually carried to identify birds and animals as well as routes. He was calm in a crisis which made him an excellent companion. Roger had a great interest and knowledge of nature, sharing such knowledge on many Rambles with the OARC.  If the route crossed a ploughed field then Roger was on watch, hoping to find a Roman remain.   After our weekend walks we regularly were treated to tea, coffee, biscuits or cake, all from the boot of Roger and Hazel’s car and served on a table. From around Year 2000 the Club had short breaks of 5 nights at a suitable hotel in a good walking region. In the early days over 30 members were present. Two walks a day were offered and Roger could be relied upon to do them all with appropriate local maps or books.  On the final night the other guests at dinner were treated to a hearty rendition of the School song, “The Sandbin,” Roger having previously sought permission from the Management.

Roger was a gentleman, he cared for those around him and was always ready to assist in any way he could.   He is remembered as sociable and generous in his hospitality. Around Christmas each year after a short walk the ramblers were invited by Roger and Hazel to return to their home “The Captain’s Cabin”.  Members were given a sumptuous cold platter and appropriate beverage.

Roger can be regarded as a model Old Askean. He was a Life Member of the OAA and President in 2005.  He was a member of the Committee a number of times and took responsibility as Social Secretary for many events, including the introduction of the RAF Club for the Annual Dinner. He was a traditionalist – he resisted the movement of the Annual Dinner away from Haberdashers Hall, and also the cessation of it being a “black tie” event. He was a true supporter and could be relied upon to attend the various events organised by the Old Askean Association.

I am grateful to have known him and will remember him as a good friend. He is sorely missed by me and many others. May he rest in peace.

Dennis Johnson