Dear Old Dovorian

I am pleased to report that it's been a very good year for the Old Dovorian Club and I have highlighted here only some of the more significant happenings during 2010.

You will be pleased to learn that one of our most distinguished and active ODs, John Turnpenny, received the well-deserved honour of becoming a Freeman of the town of Dover. Congratulations John!

The OD Trust, http://www.odtrust.org/, the charity arm of the club, managed, after protracted legal machinations, to secure the GH McMillan legacy, enabling it, at last, to make more significant disbursements for the benefit of Dover College and its students.

The club has a new and magnificent website which receives a significant number of “hits” and is proving invaluable in keeping ODs in touch, specially now there is the facility to post on-line messages. It is truly inter-active. Don't forget to register if you haven't already done so!

Sadly we lost some friends during the year, most notably Admiral Sir Peter White, who died in May, aged 91. A tribute to Peter and other friends can be seen on the OD website.

Dover College has a new headmaster! Gerry Holden will take over from Stephen Jones in September. Stephen and Katie have done a great job for the school and will be sorely missed. We wish them both every happiness and success at St Edwards. Gerry will be joining us with a wealth of experience from Rendcomb College and we wish Gerry a very warm welcome.

The party this January should be magnificent. Stephen and some of the senior staff, together with the school prefects should be up from Dover and we are hoping that Gerry will be able to join us, too. Stephen will be auctioning the painting of the Gatehouse by our artist OD, Dick "dot" Bates, for the benefit of our charity. In addition we are hoping that Julian Lloyd Webber, who is to open College's new music school in the new year, will be able to put in an appearance. Unfortunately, we have had to increase the party ticket price but there will be no compromises on the quality and quantity of the refreshments! It will be well worth it, I promise!

Finally, this will be my last newsletter, as I shall be standing down as chairman next summer to make way for younger blood! But I have had a tremendous time and have very much appreciated all your support. Thank you!

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year!

John Sinclair
The School House 1962 – 67
chairman@olddovorians.com