Regional Lunch - Oxford 2016
22 April 2016
There was no shortage of chatter and laughter when OAs met at The Bell at Hampton Poyle in Oxfordshire on Wednesday 20th April 2016, for the latest Regional Lunch. The guests enjoyed a welcome drink at the bar before taking their seats for a splendid three course lunch at this five star inn.The most senior OA present, Frank Henn (SHE1934-39), who is a spritely 95 year old, was word perfect when he said the School Grace, in Latin.The restaurant was buzzing for over three hours as stories and memories of school days were swapped. It is always fascinating to hear what Aldenham was like for past generations of boarders, which the majority of pupils were until relatively recently. There were few occasions for the ‘Old Boys’ to meet the ‘fairer sex’ and Robin Chaventre (M1949-52) amused his table when he told of the time he organised a debate with his sister’s school, St Helen’s. He took the opportunity to get the debate over quickly and then passed a motion to hold a dance. Mr Mason, Headmaster 1949-61, was none too pleased when the Head Mistress from St Helen’s made a complaint and Robin was sent for. All ended happily when approval was given for the boys to have dancing lessons and Robin was charged with arranging more dances.After lunch the Headmaster proposed a toast to the Queen on the eve of her 90th birthday and then gave an update on the latest activities at Aldenham. Everyone was delighted to hear about recent successes, especially winning no less than three County cups for football and securing a place in the Independent Schools Golf Championship finals, to be played at St Andrews on the forthcoming weekend. This news bodes particularly well for the future of the OA sports clubs. It was appropriate to highlight some past achievements recorded in the School magazine and a snippet from the Aldenhamian published in 1937 was shared. A 17 year old Frank Henn was pictured in the Football 1st XI with a small write up about his skills and areas for improvement.A reference to Shakespeare’s seven ages of man by the Headmaster summed up the proceedings by comparing today’s pupils arriving more willingly to school and the OAs attending this social event “with teeth, with eyes, with taste, with everything”.