Clubs & Societies
competition on Friday 10 April at 8:20 at Royal St George’s playing The Leys and welcome supporters of Dulwich.
The Lodge has had a very good year, with new initiates joining, including former pupils and current members of staff. As is customary, the Lodge dinner in December was attended by several non-masons, including: the Deputy Master External, Ralph Mainard; Ivor Warburton (57-65), President of the Alleyn Club; Chris Field (51-59), Secretary of the Alleyn Club; and Guy Lawrenson, the College’s Development Manager. Mr Mainard updated the Lodge on College activities and Mr Warburton on the activities and ambitions of the Alleyn Club. Charity is an important part of Freemasonry in general. The OA Lodge regularly gives to worthy causes, including donations to school-related causes. The Lodge remains in good heart and continues to receive expressions of interest from young OAs, some of whom are considering becoming Freemasons and some who have been initiated into their university lodge and would like to become joining members of the OA Lodge. Both are equally welcome. If you would like to find out more about the Lodge and/or Freemasonry in general, please contact me and I will let you have more details.
David Sommerville (63-69) and Felix Truckel (00-11) at Royal Cinque Ports
We are hoping to expand our youth section (anyone under 25) and if this is you then we would like to hear from you. There is no membership fee until you reach 25. The OAGS is also the only golf society with its own app thanks to Phil McInley (64-72) and his company, Eagle. This app shows the full fixture list, has a notice board, enables members to contact team managers and contains full contact details for all members. Finally, our Christmas turkey trot was at The Wildernesse Club in Sevenoaks, where we were treated royally and have booked again for 2015.
Ghanem Nuseibeh (94-96) Secretary Old Alleynian Shooting Club
Duncan Anderson (64-71) Hon Secretary Old Alleynian Lodge
Hon Secretary: David Nicholson (59-67) Email: davidn3004 @ gmail.com
Secretary: Ghanem Nuseibeh (94-96) Email: gn @ cstoneglobal.com
2014 was not so easy for the Club. Numbers are still critical and as the years catch up with us all there is talk from some members of hanging up their shooting gear for the final time. And here is the rub: there is currently no target shooting at the College and, as a result, there is no obvious appetite in boys leaving to join what is, after all, the oldest OA club, predating even the OA Football Club. It would therefore be excellent if we could start to encourage new members to come along to sample what we enjoy at Bisley. This is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone from their teens to the 80s. Our two best shots currently have a combined age in excess of 140 – I will not embarrass them by naming them and specifying their exact ages! It is, however, clear that this sport can be enjoyed far beyond many others.
The OA Lodge is one of nearly 8,000 lodges registered under the United Grand Lodge of England and was founded in 1920, one of the founder members being Sir Ernest Shackleton OA. It has around 50 members from all walks of life and of a wide variety of ages. Membership is open to all who have attended the College or who are members of the Alleyn Club or members of staff. We warmly welcome those who are interested in becoming a Freemason, or are already members of other Lodges and who wish to strengthen their connection with the College. The United Grand Lodge of England, to which regular Masonic lodges in England belong, says: ‘Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. For some, it is about making new friends and acquaintances. For others it is about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby’. The OA Lodge offers all this and a bit more. Our members meet in College four times a year, by kind permission of the Master, thereby maintaining a continuous connection with the school. The Lodge is a member of the Public Schools Lodges Council and visitors from other public school lodges regularly visit us.
Neil Blaydon (56-62) preparing to shoot on the 300 yard firing point
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