Alleyn Club News
From the Secretary’s Desk ..........................................................................................................
Sitting, with pencil poised, wondering how to start this review of the Alleyn Club year, lines from Cole Porter’s 1948 musical Kiss Me, Kate flashed through my mind:
Another op’nin’, another show In Philly, Boston or Baltimo’, A chance for stage folks to say hello, Another op’nin’, of another show. So, with sincere apologies to you, Mr Porter: Another op’nin’, the AC show
In Cooden, Sherborne and Toronto, A chance for ‘A-team’ to say hello, Another op’nin’ of the AC show. Just as a new musical will start touring in the provinces before reaching the West End or Broadway, so the Alleyn Club roadshow involving the Master and the President has its fixed points around the UK and overseas before reaching its climax at the Annual Dinner in late October or early November. Incidentally, as the President reminded the committee recently, the Club’s rules state that the only event the committee is required to organise is an Annual Dinner. For all that there are fixed points (including, of course, Founder’s Day and the College Remembrance Ceremony, both occasions when the President lays a wreath at the College War Memorial), no two Alleyn Club years are ever exactly the same. Indeed, it is hoped that Alleyn Club years will become ever more varied as committee plans to engage, Heineken-like, with as many parts of the membership as possible gradually come to fruition. Returning to 2014, it gives me great pleasure to place on record the sincere thanks of Alleyn Club members to those of you who have organised the local and overseas events. These events do not just happen: their success depends on the enthusiasm and meticulous organisational skills of the organisers, together with the splendid backroom support given them by the members of the Alleyn Club & Development Office team, in particular the Development Manager, Guy Lawrenson, and the Alumni Events Officer, Katie Cullen, whose unfailing cheerfulness, courtesy and efficiency make it a pleasure to work with them. As a means of strengthening and sustaining links between the Alleyn Club and the College, the presence at these events of the Master, or one of his deputies, and the President of the Club speaks eloquently. In this latter respect, the Club was especially well served by its President for 2013-14, Dr Colin Niven, who embarked on his round of visits to events large and small, at home and abroad, knowing full well that he was likely to have to undergo major surgery as soon as his presidential year came to an end. It was, therefore,
with great gratitude, warmth and affection that Colin was greeted at the Club committee meeting in January this year, just two months after undergoing successful by-pass surgery. It also gives me pleasure to record that the work begun three years ago by Dr Bruce Smith to bring greater effectiveness to the committee’s deliberations has recently been given added impetus: during autumn 2014 a sub-committee met on three occasions to examine and report to the full committee with recommendations, including timescale, on: 2. Relations between the Club, the College and franchised Dulwich Colleges overseas and sporting clubs using the Old Alleynian or Alleyn Club name (whether closed or open) Details of recommendations made by the sub- committee and actions taken are likely to be made known later in the year. It was, however, abundantly clear from the initial debate on the sub-committee’s recommendations that the full committee wished to make the Alleyn Club relevant to the broadest spectrum of members possible. A section concerning The Life Cycle of an Alleynian, for example, addressed the need for the Club to establish and maintain effective links with OAs as they move from school to university and on to building a career and, most probably, taking on family commitments. Another, dealing with Communications, highlighted the importance of embracing modern means of communication including social media, and further developing the emerging role of OA professional networking groups. Watch this space! 1. Purpose, aims, membership and objectives of the Club
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