More than 60 years of Borden history were bridged between the oldest and youngest attendee, and there were well-wishing messages received from all around the world, from Members leaving as far back as 1946.
The cold outside was soon dispelled by the warmth shown between friends inside the Old Hall.
The Honesty Bar, motto: “open early, open long”, offered local Shep (Shepherd Neame) beers (which proved very popular) together with lagers, non-alcoholic beverages, and a selection of red, white and rosé wines.
For the first time, card payments could be processed, as well there being a cash-jar, so there were no unhappy souls unable to partake of these refreshments. The Honesty bar left the wandering wondering: “Wasn’t there a stage over there ?” and “Weren’t there climbing bars and ropes over there ?” and “Is there another Shep over there ?”.
Also on offer were Old Bordenian Ties, commemorative copies of the final printed Maroon magazine (before we went online with our eMaroon), and commemorative boxed vinyl-copies of the Borden 1978 Centenary recording of the Verdi Requiem, with a certificate of authenticity from Leslie Olive.
Proceedings opened by solemnly remembering OBs whom we have lost since the last Dinner, followed by a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne, hands linked together, and a toast to Absent Friends, followed by the Grace.
Members enjoyed a wide menu choice; three courses prepared and cooked in the adjoining school kitchen, and served at table, using local ingredients and Kentish recipes - including Gypsy Tart, which many had not sampled since their school days.
The Loyal Toast marked the beginning of after-dinner speeches.
Whilst there were no current students at the Dinner, it was very pleasing to rekindle our shared experience with our successors, by way of a recorded video message from the current School Captain.
Our Keynote Speaker was Alan Snelling (OB 1960-67), a former Governor of the School and longstanding Member of the Old Bordenian Association, who has clocked up more than two million miles in the air – and, perhaps, as many hours waiting in airline lounges – from an international career spanning 52 years.
Alan
made the title of his talk :- “Mind
your language-
the passport to success and to fly 2 million miles around the world.:
Alan
Snelling – probably the
most widely travelled Old Bordenian businessman”
He based his success on learning French and Spanish at School which eventually led to him having a long international career in sales and marketing with Matchbox Toys, Parker Pens, and Beefeater Gin before setting up his own Import/Export consultancy business for 30 years.
Now retired, he regaled with his story of how BGS built the foundation for such a well-travelled life. It was certainly interesting to note how someone from “The Island” could end up speaking two foreign languages. He based his ability to cope with many varied international meals on his 7 years of school dinners at BGS (present caterers excepted).
On one occasion, between two Sunday OBA football matches, he travelled to Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. As evidence for his travels Alan displayed the 8 passports issued in 10 years, 4 of which were the large 96 page ones.
You may read the text of Alan’s talk by clicking here.
Alan closed by proposing the toast To the School.
The response was from our President and Headmaster Ashley Tomlin – who prefers to be called headteacher, on duty – and who gave us an history (notice the correct “grammer” ?) of the School, from Mr. Bond onwards, linking the increasing school roll size to the expansion of the School premises over the decades, interjected by school inspectors’ reports from the original School in College Road, and pre-war reports in the current building.
The
latest, substantial, new school extension is due to be handed over at
the end of the current Term, and it had been decided to name it the
‘Vafeas’ or ‘V’-Block, in memory of Headmaster Harold Vafeas,
who was taken ill in service, and passed away from cancer. A formal
dedication ceremony was being planned.
On view for Members, at a side table, was the School’s visitor’s book rediscovered by Ashley when he took office, and including Harold Wilson’s signature from when he visited the School in October 1963, a year before becoming Prime Minister. The Beatles were No.1 then, with I want to hold your hand, no doubt because it was ever jolly cold in the Quad and Old Hall !
The Headmaster paid tribute to Tim Hewitt, who had retired after serving 30 years as the School’s Caretaker. Tim literally knows the School inside-out, and Diners might have enjoyed one of his guided tours in the past. Members gave him a great round of applause for all his work, mostly unseen, done for the School and for the Association.
Ashley closed by proposing the toast To The Association.
The Association’s response was from the Chair, Mark Sayer. Mark recalled the outcome of a school inspection from the 1970s where the inspectors commented that the School was “too didactic”. From the classical Greek, that would literally mean “teaching too much”, although the phrase has been hijacked to become a sarcastically pejorative term. Bad that good schools teach too much, but the inspectors clearly hadn’t attended a school such as Borden.
The Chair described how the Association now has a new Constitution to carry us forward, and we hope to become a Registered Charity this summer “as the millstones of progress grind imperceptibly into action”. Following this will be an application to HMRC for Gift Aid relief. These will give us access to further funding, and also access to free use of services to help keep the Association running.
There were greetings messages from all around the world – as far apart as the USA, Vietnam, Australia and Murston – from OBs who were unable to attend this evening, themselves, but who wished Members a fine Dinner and Reunion.
From the rousing applause given in thanks to the catering staff, and the clusters of interacting OBs throughout the evening, our well-wishers were granted their wish.
The evening finished with a ‘first’ in OBA Dinner history – an auction of various ancient looking scientific instruments from the backs of cupboards in the Science Labs, but also including a freshly baked family size Gypsy Tart (does that count as biology or chemistry ?). Great fun was had, and the total sum raised was over £190.
The sweepstake (should such a mythical beastie actually exist) was won by David Vowles, who was accurate to a remarkable 8 seconds (where’s my pint, please, Dave ?). And the time: remains shrouded in secrecy.
We look forward to returning in greater numbers next year, and benefiting from a revamped 1928 Hall and the new kitchens that the School is kindly building for us !
It was a very enjoyable evening for all concerned and set the standard for future Dinners - the next of which has already been set for Saturday 26th April 2025. Mark it in your diary now.
More pictures from the 2024 Annual Reunion Dinner may be viewed on our Flickr site by clicking here.