You are reading the online edition of the Old Camdenians Newsletter, Autumn 2024.

Dear Old Camdenians

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

With our AGM and Lunch rapidly approaching, no doubt many of you are looking forward to another enjoyable afternoon, in good company, and with plenty of good food and drink to be had. This is assuming you’ve already booked your place. If not, don’t delay.

However, there are a number of OCs who used to be regular attendees, but, whom we haven’t heard from for some time. Names that spring to mind are George Palmer, Bill Rogers, Mick Kennedy, Roger Gravett, Paul Doyle, Fred Rason and Peter Thompson, among others. My apologies if any of these are no longer with us, but, of course, Anno Domini takes its toll in different ways, and it is quite understandable if, for some, the journey up to London is now out of the question. Nevertheless, that does not mean that you are gone and forgotten. We would still like to hear from you and what you are getting up to, especially if it’s a bit unusual, or, better still, risque. Equally, if there are any OCs you are aware of who deserve a mention in these columns, do please let us know.

Ideally though, we would like to see as many of you as possible in person at the school on Friday 1st November. Remember, we are pretty unique, and fortunate, in continuing to have an association such as ours, let alone an annual lunch and get-together. So, let’s celebrate that fact, and show our support for our hard-working committee in maintaining close contact with the school, and, administering the considerable financial resources which former OCs have put at our disposal.Remember, also, you are guaranteed, arguably, the best value for money roast beef lunch in north London, with second and third helpings readily available, not to mention liberal amounts of beer and wine. What’s not to enjoy!
Hope to see you all there. Alan Meyer

Thank you, Alan, for that resounding call to arms. I can only echo what he has to say about the upcoming OCC Annual Lunch. Please come if you can and help support the club and the school. We are always open to suggestions regarding alternative ways of putting on this event. The club is its members, and the commitee’s job is to listen.

Panos, our man on the governing board, highights below the post-Covid challenges still faced by the school, but read on for some postive and uplifting personal statements from young members of the School Council as they set out their objectives for the near future.

Our ever busy Hon Sec has been to a screening of Absolutely Marvellous, a film made by one of our Eminent OCs and his wife. See Ray’s report below.

I hope to see you at the school in November. Denis Piggott

A new term begins and the school faces another set of challenges with the new cohort and of course the old ones. The GCSE results came in as expected and reflected the recent problems faced nationally. This year was the first set of exams taken by the Covid home-taught generation.

The pupils of the Covid generation have many gaps in their education. The delivery of courses varied across the country. Face to face delivery of courses is probably the best, it is how it is done in this country. So many learners ended up with bits of courses not properly learnt. No one is to blame but students have suffered.

Despite this the teaching staff at Beacon High School have done a magnificent job. As well as the usual daily issues they are confronted with, they have had to deal with filling the gaps. They are to be applauded.

As a governor I have started the year with a recap of my Safeguarding training. This is very important and it is vital. Looking forward to completing it. Panos Nicolaides

“Absolutely Marvellous”

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, Eminent OC and founder of the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF), invited me to a screening of his and Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe OBE, his wife’s film, Absolutely Marvellous, on Saturday 27th July, at Rich Mix, London,. This is what I posted on Trustpilot:-

“Absolutely Marvellous! Meeting Emmanuel and Clare was an inspiration. What a team! Once again, many thanks for sharing your wonderful new genre experience with me: it is ‘new’ and a very refreshing film. It was compelling watching through the eyes of Marvel. I felt it was your love letter to our mums and, all those people who have helped us throughout our journey in life. Such a lovely story; I wish you both all success in greater exposure of Absolutely Marvellous. Clare and Emmanuel took questions after the screening and their passion for their chosen careers was for all to see – well done!

Hopefully, Emmanuel will be updating us at our Annual Lunch where you can see this wonderful film, and how this year’s BUFF Awards (17th to 25th October 2024) went.

Denis Piggott, Panos Nicolaides and I were invited to attend Year 11’s GCSE Exam Results Day, at the school, on 22nd August. Once again our President, Alan Streeter, had included a letter in their envelopes inviting them as ‘new’ Old Camdenians to meet us and discuss the benefits of the club and to join us for our Annual Lunch, at the school. on Friday 1st November. Hopefully, Abdikarim, Bobby, Caran, Davi, Holly, Jalal, Jayden, Kain, Keira, Leona, Lily, Manal and Micha will be there. Keira and Micha were Queen and King of the Year 11 Proms 2024, you may remember. Come and join us – book your table and have fun.

Also, I wish to thank Emma Dufeal, Deputy Head Teacher, for enlightening us on the role of the School Council and the School Leadership Team. I have included extracts from The Beacon where Ahmed, Amir, Anisa, Celino, Lok,  Malaika and Joe, who are all members of the School Council, state their hopes and aspirations. I wish them well.

Graham Thorpe from the village of Deanshanger has discovered damage caused by Holloway School boys when they were evacuated during WWII. He may join us for the lunch and ask some questions and tell us what he found. I am not too sure if he wants any money, but these days who knows. If you can assist Graham with his historical archive please drop me a line or come and meet him.

Lastly, many thanks to everyone who has contacted me and made a contribution to our newsletter. Ray Rowe

The Sports Leaders were active virtually right up to the end of term as we hosted on site two Sports Days for Brecknock;  supported St John’s Highbury Vale’s Sports Day at Finsbury Park; and again hosting the Year 5 and 6 Summer Sports Festival for 120 pupils taking part in 6 different activities. Much to their disappointment, the Year 11s can no longer be sports leaders (although Lok did do a fine job proudly sporting his O.C.C. Sports Leader top at the recent Open Evening for local families choosing their secondary school) but a new round of applications has just opened.

The latest beneficiary of the Old Camdenians Sports Bursary is  Attarullah, who  took receipt of the cricketing equipment bought with the funding. He kindly provided photos of himself with his haul.

Bill: “Great. Thanks for the photos. It will no doubt make the O.C’s very happy. Hope it all helps to make you an even better player! Make sure you knock your bat In properly if it hasn’t been pre-prepared and check if it needs oiling if it isn’t covered”.

Attarullah: “Thanks for the tip! Yeah I will thank you very much”.

Y8 and 9 Girls’ footballers have their first game next week as we host Bishop Challoner school on our M.U.G.A in the Inner London Cup and then have the District 7–a-side competition at Market Rd the following week. Hopefully we’ll have good news to report in the next update.

Bill Wood

Celino

Hello, my name is Celino and I’m a Year 10 student. I’m known for being very outgoing and my interests are things such as sports, playing games and listening to music. I am currently studying Engineering, Geography and Music as my option subjects. I decided on these subjects as I’m either interested in their subject matter or thoroughly enjoy learning the skills and context in each. I’m also interested in Engineering as a career and hope to study engineering post-16 and beyond. I’m determined to reach my ambitions and to be successful and I believe that being in the School Council is the first step in reaching my career goals. I joined for the reasons of making a difference to the school community and it is also a positive thing to include in my CV. My hopes for the end of my time at Beacon High are to achieve the best results and to leave with memories for a lifetime.

Amir

My name is Amir and I am a Year 9 student at Beacon High. For my GCSEs, I have chosen to study Geography, Triple Science, Engineering and Art and Design. I aim to excel in my studies, build meaningful connections and support others. As a School Council member, I am dedicated to improving our school environment, striving to make Beacon High a place where everyone feels safe and happy.

Lok

Hello, my name is Lok and I am a Year 10 student. Some have described me as knowledgeable, helpful and smart. My interests include fitness, reading, being lazy at times and playing games. I am currently studying Design and Technology, Business and Enterprise and Computer Science. I chose to study these subjects as I believe they will be important in the future as Business is quite a well-rounded subject that allows you to learn things that can help you in employment, Computer Science is a rapidly growing industry with the introduction of all these new technological advancements. I hope to achieve high grades in all my subjects! My hopes for Beacon High are to be able to leave the school with no regrets and leave with new skills and information that I didn’t have before I came to the school. The reason why I joined the School Council was because I believed it could lead me to new opportunities for growth.

Malaika

Hello, my name is Malaika. I’m 15 years of age and a Year 10 student at Beacon High. Some might describe me as articulate and someone with an outgoing personality that provides good company. My typical interests include: films, history, music, reading and board games such as chess. Given that I will be sitting my GCSEs next year, the subjects I have chosen to study are Food Technology, History and Business and Enterprise, two of which include creative skills that suit me quite well; being creative is a skill that I treasure. I hope to excel in all of my GCSE Subjects and aim to achieve Grade 7s and for that I have to be resilient and stay hopeful. The reason why I decided to join the School Council is because I am someone who aspires to create change and I believe that I can achieve that. When I leave Beacon high I anticipate leaving with strong friendships, the grades that I will work hard for and an ambitious attitude towards my future.

Anisa

Hello, I’m Anisa. I’m 15 years old and a Year 10 student. I can usually be described as a fun person to be around and loyal, however I can be a bit lazy at times! My interests include: listening to music, watching TV, and going out with my family. As a GCSE student, I chose to study Geography, Business and Enterprise and Design Technology since I enjoy learning these subjects the most. I hope to achieve strong grades in my GCSEs (hopefully all Grade 6s and above; I’ll have to work hard for these grades. I decided to become a part of the School Council because I knew that there were some things I wanted to change and help improve about the school. My hopes are to leave Beacon High as a strong young woman and to have continued friendships and a good placement at College/ Sixth Form to study A Levels.

Joe

Hello, I am Joe, I’m 15 years old and a Year 10 student. I can be described as someone with a bubbly personality who always has something going on around them. My typical interests include: music, films, TV, as well as visiting the theatre – this is one of my favorite activities. As a GCSE student, I have chosen to study Design Technology, Business and Food Technology, two of which are quite hands-on subjects and, being someone who loves to get involved in all things, they reflect who I am quite well. I hope to achieve a Grade 6 in all of my subjects; I have to hope, pray and revise for that. I decided to become a member of the School Council because I am someone who has a lot to say and would like to be looked up to by others. My hope for Beacon High is to leave with strong friendships, a good college placement and the grades that I want.

Ahmed

I’m Ahmed, a Year 9 Student Council member at Beacon High. My aim is to do well in my education and to achieve a fulfilling career. I chose to become a member of the School Council in order to identify and solve issues within our school, improving the school experience for myself and my peers. Ever since receiving this position, I have learned the importance of projecting my voice to others as I now realise how much of an effect communicating my ideas can have. My hopes for Beacon High in the future is for it to continue to allow students to voice their ideas and consider their opinions more.

The club is very grateful for any and all donations that we receive to make our donations to the school. However, since we do not have a members’ subscription fee our only other source of income is through the George Ives 50+ Club membership. Please help us to realise future causes and help change a life by joining the George Ives 50+ Club, which is £60 per year or a standing order of £5 per month. A number between 1 and 59 is selected and that is entered into a monthly draw which is determined by the first two numbers drawn in the National Lottery. Prizes are £100 (£200 in November) and £20 (£50 in November).

The new draw commenced on the 28th September 2024 and ends 30th August 2025. Only £60 per number for the year; and you choose the numbers. Some members have more than one number. Indeed, some of our members love to hear that they’ve won, but give their winnings as a donation to the club. George Ives 50+ Club is our only regular source of income. Please let me know if you want to have a go and keep us supporting the students and the school. For more information contact us here.

The OCC Committee are pleased to announce that £60 per annum will be used from George Ives’ very generous donation of £1000 to the club, so that George can keep his number and continue winning. All George Ives’ winnings will be donated back to the club. Sadly, with the recent passing of the late Fred John Dickson there are now two more numbers available for you. Please consider continuing to keep George and Fred’s legacy of using the draw to generate funds. It is these that we use and they certainly make a difference.

Transcript of Marta’s video to all Year 11 students:-

Hi Year 11.

I hope you’re all doing well. My name is Marta Monteiro and I have just finished my penultimate year of Accounting and Finance at SOAS. Just like you, I completed my GCSEs at Holloway School, which was Beacon High’s previous name, in the summer of 2021. Today, I want to share something that has made a huge difference in my life since I left school, and that’s being part of the Old Camdenians Club.

The OCC is an amazing community made up of former students from our school, many of whom are now accomplished seniors. They offer the Billy Fund bursary to students who want to further their studies at university which can be used in any way you see fit – whether it’s buying study materials and equipment, covering your transport costs, or even traveling to gain new perspectives.

Personally, I have found the OCC to be incredibly helpful, not just for the funding but also for the immense support the members provide. Dr Ray Rowe, in particular, regularly checks in with me, giving me the opportunity to share my contributions to the club’s newsletter. This is a great place where we update each other on our achievements, experiences, and even challenges.

Ray also shares his own updates – his travel experiences with family, knowledge, and tips that are so useful as a young adult. The members of the OCC are valuable connections and they offer interesting insights into life, which I find applicable as I work towards my degree and other life goals.

So to all Year 11 students here, I strongly encourage you to consider progressing into university and applying to be part of the OCC. Not only will the bursary help you out during your university studies, you’ll also gain access to a supportive network of former students who are eager to help you succeed.

Believe in yourself, work hard, and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. The OCC has been a game-changer for me, and it can be for you too, so please get in contact with Ray for more information and I hope to see you at the annual lunch this year. Marta

You too can request details from our members to locate friends from school – just ask!

Thanks also for the kind invitation to join the AGM and lunch. I find as every year passes, the more sentimental I seem to become, and therefore I am going to make a conscious effort to try to attend this time, and I will get the application form back to you at the first opportunity.

Fred John Dickson (1949 – 1954)

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Fred John Dickson, a former pupil at Holloway School from 1949 to 1954, died on 1st September 2024, in Redditch, Worcestershire, aged 86. John was a stalwart supporter of the Old Camdenians and for many years was a member of the George Ives 50+ Club, Indeed, John wrote an article in our Spring Newsletter 2024 to encourage other to join and generate funds that enables us to make bursaries and donations to the school and its pupils – thank you John!

John was born on 23rd July 1938, in Islington and had a distinguished banking career at RBS 1955 to 1994.John’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 9th October 2024, at 12.30pm, at Chelmsford Crematorium, Writtle Road, CM1 3BL Our most sincere condolence go to Jez, his son, and John’s family and friends at this difficult time. Ray Rowe

The 115th AGM will be held in the Camdenians Hall at the school on Friday 1st November 2024. It will be available via Zoom for our members who cannot be there. The AGM will be followed by our 97th Annual Lunch under the stewardship of Ann Tennant and her team in the New Hall, at the Beacon High School, Hilldrop Road, N7 0JG.

We are all looking forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, an Eminent Old Camdenian, who will be talking about his time at school.

We do need your support to keep this yearly tradition going. So please put it in your diary for Friday 1st November 2024 and if you cannot come donate a seat so our new Old Camdenians at college can attend. The format for the day includes a tour of the school, followed by a reception with drinks, the AGM and then a sit-down meal with friends. Also, if you are interested in attending an evening event during the year, such as the quiz night or formal dinner please let us know and we will see if we can organise something for you. Use the ‘Contact’ button or drop me an email. Ray Rowe

The school song ‘Forty Years On’ being sung at the close of our 2023 lunch – enjoy!