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OAs in Buenos Aires
International Old Alleynian Gatherings San Francisco, USA The San Francisco dinner that took place last July was a new addition to our calendar of events, but one that we hope will become an annual fixture. Senior Deputy Fiona Angel was joined by 11 OAs and guests whose ages spanned an impressive 63 years. Fiona reflected on how lovely it had been to hear OAs of wildly different generations all speak so enthusiastically and affectionately about their time at the College. Our newest OA representative, Lukasz Strozek (00-02), is keen to bring the group together again soon. New York, USA New York is home to a thriving OA community, which is only growing as increasing numbers of young OAs move across the pond to work and continue their studies. We were delighted to be able to put on both a drinks reception and dinner in the heart of the city in October, attended by both The Master and then OAA President Nick Rundle (69-76) as part of their tour of North America. Los Angeles, USA Following the success of the New York event, the OA Hollywood Dinner returned to Los Angeles, much to the delight of regular attendees. The Master and Nick had a wonderful time meeting OAs living on the West Coast, and we are most grateful to Richard Evans (87- 95) and his wife Sara for their generous hospitality. Toronto, Canada A group of seven OAs in Toronto, including Paul Vaculik (56-64), come together to organise the annual dinner for both OAs and JAGS alumnae. Last year’s dinner in October was thoroughly enjoyed by the 18 guests in attendance. Two recent Dulwich leavers, Luca Franchi (09-20) and Robert Ward (03-10), were warmly welcomed to the established Toronto community, as was John Bell (70-75) who is new to Nova Scotia. Singapore Anil Scott (86-91) was able to bring the OA community in Singapore together not once but twice last year. Their first gathering in September was attended by Nick Magnus and Daniel Brown (85-92) from Dulwich College Singapore and Matt Jarrett, the Director of Development at the College. A toast was made in memory of the late Mehraab Nazir (84- 91) and another in honour of Queen Elizabeth II who had recently passed away. The group met again in December for their Christmas drinks and look forward to seeing each other again this year. Dubai Matt Jarrett also went out to Dubai to meet with Aston Benjamin-Taylor (90-00) and other OAs living out in the area. The group talked about what had brought them to Dubai and shared their plans for the future. This was only our second event in Dubai but we are sure that it will not be the last. Lagos, Nigeria In January, we hosted our first event in Nigeria to coincide with the UK Boarding Schools Exhibition. The College's Director of Higher Education, Richard Sutton, and Ivyholme Housemaster Ben Pelly very much enjoyed meeting Obinna Inogbo (97-99), Lanre Lawal (91-97) and Oge Peters (96-98) during their time in Lagos. Thailand Chai Chalitaporn (62-66) recently hosted a dinner in Bangkok attended by12 OAs, including three who were new to the group. His Excellency Anand Panyarachun Hon KBE (48-52), former Prime Minister of Thailand, was in the Chair. There will another towards the end of the year, possibly with the inclusion of Alleyn's Old Boys and Girls and JAGS alumnae.
In the early twentieth century in South America, young Englishmen were dominating the railway, banking, and livestock industries on both sides of the River Plate. As early as 1902 it had been suggested that the OAs in Buenos Aires might form their own cricket club, and OA names figured early on in the famous North vs South matches in Argentina. In 1912 the MCC toured South America with a side that included Kent captain and OA Lionel Troughton, along with Lord Hawke and Archie McLaren. Old Alleynians JD Gardom and HA Cowes played in matches against the tourists without being selected for the three first class ‘Tests’. The following year the series of matches with the Old Bedfordians began, and these became regular fixtures at either Palermo or Belgrano in Buenos Aires. The 1913 Bedfordian match was tied, and the OAs won the encounters of 1914, 1923, 1925 and 1930. James Wigg took 7-66 in the 1925 game, and Charles Mold made centuries in both 1928 and 1929: both were contemporaries of Neville Knox in College XIs. Carlos Cat travelled from Uruguay to play in the 1930 match, and his commitment to the OA cause was rewarded with bowling figures of 8-37. These matches were essentially social occasions, and were normally accompanied by a celebratory dinner, often held jointly with the Old Bedfordians. Sir Ernest Shackleton, brother-in-law of the first OA cricket Blue Arthur Dorman, dined with his fellow OAs in Buenos Aires in October 1914 on his way south to lead the Imperial Trans- Antarctic Expedition that was to end in the famous 800-mile journey from Elephant Isle to South Georgia in the whaler James Caird. In 1948 President Juan Perón nationalized the railways bringing an abrupt end to the fixtures and to general British commercial influence in Argentina.
A photo of the Buenos Aires CC pavilion in Palermo where many of the OA v Old Bedfordian matches were played.
CT “Carlos” Mold OA was top scorer in the 1925 fixture. He also played in the first ever Argentina national rugby team which played the touring British Isles side in Buenos Aires in 1910. CT Mold is standing far left in the back row. Other OAs WH Bridger and KG Drysdale also played in representative teams against the tourists.
Charles Fellows-Smith (66-75)
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