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75th Anniversary VJ Day

14 August 2020

On 15 August 2020 we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, marking both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War.
Victory over Japan Day is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – August 15, 1945, in Japan, and because of time zone differences, August 14, 1945 – as well as to September 2, 1945, when the surrender document was signed, officially ending World War II.
At this time we remember and recognise all those, in particular OAs, who served and sacrificed in the Far East ultimately bringing an end to the Second World War. Also the forgotten history of those who fought in the conflict; the atrocious and harrowing conditions in which they served and were held prisoner.
Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principle fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history - over 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented. The descendants of many of the Commonwealth veterans of that army are today part of multicultural communities up and down the country, a lasting legacy to the success and comradeship of those who fought.
The Japanese viewed the prisoners as expendable labour for their war effort and thousands died building roads, bridges, and working on other Japanese projects. The most notorious project was the Burma-Thailand railway or 'Death Railway'. Opened in October 1943, it covered over 1,250 miles and cost the lives of over 15,000 prisoners of war and 80,000 native labourers o fought in the Asia-Pacific.
We remember those OAs who lost their lives and gave their tomorrow for our today. A wall memorial with their names incised in the marble tablet is displayed in the School Chapel. Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13.
During these challenging and uncertain times, things will get better. We will meet again. Stay safe.
James James-Crook
President, OA Society

Welcome to the OA Society - Class of 2020

13 August 2020

The President of the OA Society, James James-Crook (M1968-72), welcomes the Class of 2020 to the OA community as they collect their A Level results this summer.
It has been a strange and difficult year, with schools being closed in March and exams cancelled, but Aldenham is for life and the friendships made at the School will continue to grow, while new relationships are built at university and in the working world.
The OA Society will keep in touch with former pupils through events and various communication channels. It provides a unique network of people with one thing in common - they are all Aldenhamians.
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OA William Stein launches ‘Desert Island Discs’ style podcast for LSE

27 July 2020

An all time, avid fan of BBC Radio Four’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ Will Stein (R2008-15) came up with the idea of starting his own podcast series whilst working as a Graduate Intern in the Geography and Environment Department at LSE (London School of Economics).
Will’s plans came to fruition when he was forced to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic and he found he had a bit more time on his hands to be creative.
Will said:
“The podcast idea came from hearing the Director of LSE, Dame Minouche Shafik, Desert Island Discs back in 2018. I have always been a fan of the programme and hearing Minouche Shafik put an extra layer of humanity behind the senior figures of the university for me”.
Will has now interviewed several senior figures at LSE as well as friends and people of interest within the community. The podcasts, called Geography Island Jams, were launched at the beginning of July 2020 and quickly reached over 700 plays.
The work has reaffirmed Will’s belief that everyone has a story worth hearing, from first year students to Professors. He is looking forward to sharing more stories from the people at LSE.
Will’s long term aim is to get into brand and innovation consulting, which will allow him me to use his creative skills. Making the podcasts has provided good experience in the field of media and production and we wish him luck on developing his career path, following this early success.

Last Day Traditions

26 June 2020

A long standing tradition at Aldenham is the Eros to Eros run, from Eros in Piccadilly Circus to the Eros statue at the School, on the last day of the summer term.
Despite the lockdown, forced upon us by the COVID 19 pandemic, the run went ahead on Friday 26 June 2020 with OA Alan Philips (M1977-82), left in the picture, and his two running friends in the race.
Another tradition is the Aldenham School song and this year the President of the OA Society, James James-Crook (M1968-72), brought together a voices from across the Aldenham community, including current and former pupils and staff, to sing the School Song. The video was played at the conclusion of the Chapel service, at the start of a 'virtual' Visitation Day on Saturday 20 June. This was one of several productions distributed to the whole School, at intervals throughout the day, so that everyone could celebrate the year in their own surroundings.
The academic year closes in unusual circumstances and it has been very good to be able to share these special events, which help to make Aldenham so unique.

Chapel Talk - Who Are Our Brothers and Our Sisters?

13 June 2020

The whole School Chapel service at Aldenham is a long-standing tradition and even during the lockdown, enforced by the COVID 19 pandemic, Chapel Talks have continued to be broadcast, although online rather than in the Chapel.
Revd. Philip Green (CR2005-Present) addressed the School following a 'virtual' trip to the WWI battlefields with the Year 9 students and asked the question; "Who are our brothers and our sisters?".
This reflection, on a week when people all over the world have been moved to protest for equality, when our students have shared personal stories and remembered Old Aldenhamians who gave their lives in battle, people who walked where they now walk, it seems appropriate to share the address with all our brothers and sisters.

OA Day 2020 - A 'Virtual' Event

05 June 2020

OA Day 2020 and the Beevor's reunion, celebrating 125 years has had to be cancelled, due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
This video presentation was prepared by the OA Society to mark the occasion in a 'virtual' way.
The President of the OA Society and the Headmaster send you their very best wishes at this difficult time.
We look forward to being together at Aldenham again in the not too distant future.

Keith Fowler MBE (SHO1947-52) – An Audience with the Queen

13 May 2020

In November 2019 Keith Fowler (SHO1947-52) was invested with an MBE, awarded to him in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for a lifetime of voluntary service and work for charity.
On leaving Aldenham, Keith served as an Officer in the army in Egypt before embarking on a successful career in advertising and marketing communications, which included a short spell with Procter and Gamble.
During his working life Keith worked for and lead UK and French marketing communications groups, often involving reconstruction, innovation, merger and recovery. After retirement from the corporate life, when he was 60, he became a consultant and Non-Executive Director with a number of companies in the marketing and communications sector, including working for the European Bank in the Baltic States and 3i in the UK.
Keith’s involvement in charity work goes back many years. He has been intimately and still is involved as a Trustee of the media industry charity NABS (National Advertising Benevolent Society), as well as a director of the Abbeyfield organisation, providers of sheltered housing and care homes, another role that he continues to pursue.
Close to Keith’s heart has always been Winchester House School, a greatly respected and thriving prep school, located in Northamptonshire, where he was Chairman of Governors for many years.
At the age of 85, Keith is still heavily involved in his charity work and enjoys an active family life with his wife, Vicki, three married children and six grandchildren.
Many congratulations to Keith on this lifetime achievement. It is always a pleasure to see his smiling face at OA events and he is a welcome visitor to Aldenham, whenever his busy schedule enables him to attend.

75th Anniversary VE Day

07 May 2020

Tomorrow we commemorate Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day on 8th May 1945, which marked the day Victory was secured after six long years.

On the night of 8th May 1945, Aldenham celebrated the occasion with a magnificent bonfire at the end of the cricket field which burned long into the night.

At this time we remember the 116 OAs who lost their lives and gave their tomorrow for our today. A wall memorial with their names incised in the marble tablet is displayed in the School Chapel. Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13.

During these challenging and uncertain times, things will get better. Whilst we may not be able to dance in the street, we will meet again. Stay safe.

James James-Crook

President, OA Society

The Vincent Building – Something to look forward to

23 April 2020

Just before the coronavirus pandemic locked us all down Aldenham was getting ready to tell you about an exciting new development happening on our beautiful site.

The Vincent Building, is under construction and scheduled to open in the spring 2021 as a purpose-built preparatory school.It will honour the memory of Lord Vincent of Coleshill a most notable OA, known to many as Dick Vincent, School House Evens 1945-50.

Aldenham Prep School was first established in the year 2000 in some existing buildings.The Nursery and Pre-Prep currently operate in Wilson House, which was originally the Sanatorium and is really not fit for its present purpose.At the age of seven the children move to Woodrow House for their Prep School years and many continue on into the Senior School.

The Aldenham Foundation is committed to providing this brand new building for its younger children and this major development will be fully funded.Vincent House will provide excellent facilities with some specialist classrooms for Science, Computing, Art, Music and Technology.There will be a Hall for assemblies, which will convert into a mini theatre for small productions.The children will have their own Library and dining area, essentials that previous pupils have had to share with the Senior School.

When the Vincent Building is complete, Woodrow House, the current Prep School building, will be returned to the Senior School, creating a second House for eleven to thirteen year olds.Woodrow House is named after OA John Woodrow, who was a Governor from 1989 to 2003 and Chair of Governors from 1995 to 2000.

Although the Foundation plans to fully fund this latest development there are several ways in which it is hoped people will be able to support this project and future plans for the further development of the organisation going forward to 2027.

The Headmaster will be in touch with OAs when the lock down is lifted and he can invite visitors back to the School.In the meantime, it’s pretty much business as usual at ‘Aldenhome’. For the latest news see the School website and Facebook page.

For more information about the Aldenham Foundation’s development activity please contact Ann Saffery, Development and OA Manager, Email aesaffery@aldenham.com Tel. 01923 851612

Aldenham Digital Archive Updated

07 April 2020

More historical information and visual material has been added to the Aldenham digital archive. The search facility has also been improved to help you find the things that most interest you. Whole school photos are now easier to view and enlarge and pictures may be seen in a slide show.
The digital archive is still far from complete, with a lot of memorabilia still stashed away in draws and cupboards in the Development and OA office, but there is already a lot of interesting things to see.

Through the Aldenham digital archive you can read the very first school magazine, produced in March 1881 and the Register for 1836. By logging in, using your unique access details for the OA Society website and clicking on the Archive link, you will be able to see some more recent issues of the Aldenhamian, right up to the issue from 2010. The restricted archive contains photographs, albums and scrap books with pictures of the School and the people who have passed through it over many years. There are pictures of sports and activities, including the cricketers of 1913, the Football team from 1915 and the Officer Training Corps in 1916. While you are there, why not read reports from the Aldenham Boys' Club dated 1910 or the School's very first inspection report? There are Rule Books to compare, from 1938 and 1971 and the School Improvement Plan of 1963-64, along with the 1937 Chapel Appeal.

This project has all been made possible through donations to the Aldenham Annual Fund, for which we are most grateful.

Enjoy browsing this fascinating treasure trove from Aldenham over the years and do let us know what you think.

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