It is with great sadness we report the passing of Francis (Dick) Baker CBE in December. His daughter, Karen Page, wrote to the OBA with this obituary of one of our most distinguished OBs both through public service but also in supporting the School.
The minutes of the OBA Extraordinary General Meeting held on Thursday 30th November 2023 are published here:
At the Extraordinary General Meeting of the OBA that took place on 30th November 2023 membership voted in favour of a revision to the OBA Constitution which paves the way for an application to register the Association as a Charity.
The Association has been pleased to build closer relations with the School Head since his appointment and this includes a number of Old Bordenians being asked to speak at the School's Annual Prize Giving.
Peter Lusted writes about a tradition that embodies the OBA spirit:
For the past few years a small group of Old Boys have had occasional meetings during the year culminating in a Christmas meal.
For a formatted printable copy of the Constitution, please click on this link:
/images/OBA-Constitution-Revision-Adopted-30-Nov-2023.pdf
THE CONSTITUTION of the OLD BORDENIAN ASSOCIATION
(Revision Adopted by Member Vote at EGM 30 November 2023)
We are aware of an OB, Peter Jordan, who died in service of the North Rhodesia Police in 1964. North Rhodesia became independent of Britain as Zambia in 1964. OBA Archivist Marc Stewart is researching Peter and would welcome contact with any OBs who were at School with Peter or contact with him after School days. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As we draw near to Remembrance Day we remember the last Old Bordenian known to have fallen in service of his country. Michael Simpson (who left the School in 1972) served with the Royal Engineers before being commissioned in the Staffordshire Regiment. He was shot whilst on patrol in Northern Ireland by IRA gunmen on 3 October 1974 and died three weeks later, aged twenty-one.
The New Building is taking shape above ground, where a white skeleton has arisen to rival anything the Natural History Museum can display !
Following notification from his son, we note the death on 4th July 2023 of John Frederick Hearn, teacher at the School during the 1960s.
Mark Sayer (OBA Committee) offers this personal tribute to his old teacher:
We are sad to report the death of Ronald Swan who was at the School from 1936-41. His grandaughter Catherine contacted us to pass on the news. Ron passed away on 27th April 2023 aged 97.