ADMINISTRATION MATTERS
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Contacts
To email to an Officer, please click on one of these - Webmaster - Secretary - Treasurer - Newsletter - Annual Dinner
A Cri de Coeur
It has been pointed out to us, that what we need (on our site) are some definitive articles about periods in our history, that are often referred to, but exact details are not commonly known. Accordingly, we would like to put together a page covering exactly what did happen, at any one of these times - What we need, is data, from our readers including, of course, photographs (which, we could copy and return to the sender).
Any of our readers, who have memories of such incidents should contact "webmaster@liverpool-collegiate.org.uk".
Such topics, might include :--
Bangor
The school was evacuated to Bangor - Where? (exactly) - When? (exactly) - For how long? - Did ALL the school go? - Which members of the staff went? - Did "The Prep" go? - Was the Shaw St. building closed down? - What Sport was available?
The Fire
What we need, is a definitive article about the disastrous fire that caused closure of the school. We do have quite a few photos of the damage that was done - but no description of the events.
We don't need"I was sitting there reciting some Latin, when I felt a blast of hot air risding up the back of my chair ......."
What were people doing when it occurred? - What did people say, to each other? - Did anyone rush down to see the flames? - Or next day to see the ruins? - Did you go inside? - Did you see any souvenir hunters, picking through debris?
Colomendy
Many Liverpool schools used this 'Outdoor Centre' - Contributions from Non-COBs would be considered (to stimulate memories )
School Camps (and CCF Camps)
Where? - When? - How long? - Who went/ - Which staff went?
ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC.
News
Sam Kelly
BTW - Just to make your 'Heartbeat' a little faster, were you aware that a new character in the show, Stan Bickle, is played by an Old Boy - You may also have spotted him, in an episode of "My Family", recently. :-)
Liverpool College: The 171st Anniversary Founders’ Day Service.
The above service was held at the Liverpool Cathedral on Friday l4th October 2011. This was the celebration of the founding of the Liverpool College back in 1840. This of course was also the founding of the Liverpool Collegiate School before the higher school (i.e. the Liverpool College) moved away from the Shaw Street site. The Governors and Principal of the Liverpool College very kindly invited members of the Collegiate Old Boys Association Council to join them at the celebration. Six members and two of their wives were able to accept the invitation and attended the service. 0n arrival at the Cathedral, displaying our Collegiate Old Boys Ties we were soon spotted and greeted by the Chairman of the Old Lerpoolians and a short conversation ensued and then we moved to our allotted seats, four rows from the front, a fine seat.
At 11.55 the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Pro£ Helen Carty DL and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Frank Prendergast, were escorted to their seats. Following the playing of a fanfare, the choir entered from the East and the Hymn, ‘Christ triumphant ever reigning’ was sung. The Chaplain of the Liverpool College & Pioneer Minister, Liverpool City Centre, Revd Dr. Jill Duff gave the opening prayers and welcome. The commemoration of the founders and benefactors were given by the Principal, Mr. Hans van Mourik Broekman The mixed 31 strong choir sang the Anthem ‘O how amiable are thy dwellings’ based on Psalm 84 & 90 to the music of R. Vaughan Williams. The Chairman of the Governing Body of Liverpool College, Mr. G.N. Wood QC read the first reading from Romans chapter 8 verses 31-39. We then stood to sing the hymn ‘Lord the light of Your Love is shining’. The second reading, Mark chapter 10 verses 46-52 was then read by the Deputy Head of the Preparatory School, Mr G Kendall. Following which a choir of 36 younger pupils sang a motet, ‘Our world is one world’ Words by Cecily Taylor and music also by Cecily Taylor, arr. By Richard Greaves.
The Revd Adam Watkinson, chaplain of Repton School and former Chaplain of the Liverpool College (2003 — 2006) gave the Sermon starting with some personal humorous reminisces and nostalgia about his time at the Liverpool College. This brought murmurs of recognition and approval of the congregation He spoke of an amazing coincidence recently in that at his present college the roof was being repaired by a team of roofers from Liverpool. This brought back to him again the Liverpool wit and attitudes to life. His message was that the Liverpool College gave you the will to get on with life and do things with your life and have humanity to your fellow humans. He quoted a former pupil Rosie Norman, a girl who had now set up a fashion business in Edinburgh and attributed it to the Liverpool College attitude.
After the singing of the Hymn, ‘Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart’ Prayers were led by the Revd Dr. Jill Duff a Governor, Mrs E. Bramley, a member of the common room, Mr. J. Taylor, a parent, Miss A. Case, an old Lerpoolians, Mr. D. Antonia, an old Huytonian, Miss A,P. Morris, the Preparatory School Head prefects, Aisha Roukhamieh-McKinna & Caleb Khan and finally the two Head prefects, Melissa & Joshua Smith. At the end of which, the Lord’s Prayer was said. During the singing of the final hymn, ‘Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided’ members of the Pre Prep had gathered at the side. The Chaplain interviewed some of the members as to what they had been doing in their separate service in the Lady Chapel. A reflection ‘Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’ traditional words and music by Simon Lindley was sung twice, the blessing was pronounced by the Chaplain and following a fanfare, two verses of the National Anthem were sung ending a fine service.
As the processions left the Cathedral, the organist played ‘Toccata in F by C.M. Widor’ and all members of the Council felt honoured that they had been made so welcome and were able to share and enjoy the celebration of the founding of the Liverpool College and of course our school the Liverpool Collegiate all those years ago. 
Once more we met in the splendid Liverpool Athenaeum for our AGM and Annual Dinner. It was agreed beforehand that this year we would hold our AGM in the Newsroom, as the Library was wanted by a `Trafalgar Day` Group, wishing to celebrate the sea battle won by Vice-Admiral Nelson over the combined fleets of France and Spain on the 21st October, 1805. Those who enjoyed History at School will remember the date well!
The AGM was well attended, with some nursing drinks obtained from the Bar. Some did not attend but enjoyed chatter and a drink with friends from schooldays.
We had a sad start to the proceedings, standing for a few minutes in silence in memory of our former President, Ellis Clarke. A lovely man much admired by his pupils and Association members alike.
On a happier note the AGM unanimously approved the appointment of Gwyn Thomas, O.B.E., as our new President. Gwyn has served the School and the Association well for very many years, being Chairman of the Council for the past twenty years. We know he will fill his new role with vigour and maintain his interest in the affairs of the Association. Arthur Evans, who has been Vice Chairman of the Council for 10 years, felt it was time to have new and younger blood over-seeing the work of the Association and it was agreed unanimously that Joe Lucas (48/52) and Li Ross (53/61) be appointed Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. Both have made major contributions to Council proceedings and are much involved in the Rugby, Soccer and Golfing activities of the `Old Boys`. The Association is most fortunate to have their services and long may it continue.
Arthur will continue to attend Council meetings and be much involved in arranging the Annual Dinner, helping with website items and liasing with the Liverpool Record Office to ensure the archives of the School and the Association are suitably preserved and available for inspection in the years ahead. Much to his great pleasure, the AGM decided to appoint him to the office of Vice-President.
After the AGM we moved on to the Dining Room, looking splendid with candles lit on all the tables. Eighty two of us attended, some having travelled considerable distances to be present – such as Barry Hoy (68/75) from Hong Kong. This year we asked those wishing to be present to indicate with whom they would like to be seated. Hopefully all were satisfied.
Last year Roy Whipple (28/35) overlooked making application to attend the Dinner and was much annoyed at missing the event. This year he made sure and his was the first application received. We had a few new members of the Association present – including Dr. Joe Rivlin (32/38) – and we hope they enjoyed themselves.
The meal was excellent, as was the service, and many members commented on how much they had enjoyed the evening.
Li Ross was with us again as our Master of Ceremonies, having missed last year because of a cold (when Bob Wilson stood in for him). We are grateful to Li for so willingly taking on this important role and affording us such merriment.
The Speaker at the Dinner was David Winsland (57/65), a former Head Boy of the Collegiate, retired Head Teacher of a Liverpool Primary School and still much involved with British Lions. He is also a member of the Council of the Association and has been for many years.
He traced his time from being only one of a few from his primary school in Kirkdale who were successful in gaining a scholarship for secondary education. Attending at the Collegiate on his first day was an awesome experience, but so much enjoyed by him in the years that followed. In particular he praised Ellis Clarke, who had been his Form Master one year and encouraged him to play Rugby, which he did at a variety of levels for the School and beyond. It is of interest to note that, like so many of our previous Speakers (all Old Boys), David mentioned the great debt he owed to the School and Ellis. Inevitably reference was made to his introduction to Physics and a certain lady who was his Teacher! He recalled a School play in which a number of boys were dressed as females, who clearly looked better so dressed than they did as boys.
Having the honour of being made Head Boy of the School, he found himself, together with other Prefects, being much involved with the discipline of pupils, more so he felt than the teaching staff. (The author of this report recalls being `slippered` (together with others) at a Prefects` meeting for not wearing our school caps outside the School at Lunchtime).
From School he moved on to a Teacher Training College, enjoyed his Rugby there and recalled playing against Goldsmiths` College in London, a R.A.F. team at Cranwell and a team in Leeds, where his College team were “battered”
School Teachers always have plenty of anecdotes about life at School and David treated us to many of them, ranging from the sad to the hilarious. Being a Headmaster of a School he was not short of incidents. For a time he was Treasurer of the Liverpool Schools` F.A., involving travel to many grounds of interest, both at home and abroad.
David is much involved in the work of the British Lions and we heard from him of interest about the voluntary work undertaken by this organisation – which has Clubs all over the World. It was founded in 1917 in Chicago, U.S.A., where men got together to help others in need. A lot of work has been done in helping blind people and, of interest, the `white stick` used by the blind was invented by the Lions in the U.S.A.
The late Queen Mother was impressed by the work of Lions` Clubs in America in sending food parcels to Great Britain during the Second World War and she was involved in the formation of British Lions` Clubs in 1950. There are now over 700 Clubs in the U.K. and the Countess of Wessex is one of their Patrons. David mentioned that one of the members (Evan Jones) of British Lions was present at the Dinner, and he asked him to speak of his fund-raising work for St. Dunstans. Last year some £50,000 was raised for this Charity.
British Lions` Clubs are organised in Districts – the North West District stretching as far the Scottish Borders. Within this District there are 54 Clubs and during his term of Office as District Governor, he visited 53 of them. He was installed to this position at a ceremony during the Lions` International Conference held in Australia a year or so ago. Some 12,500 members of the Lions participated in a parade held in Sydney. It was good to hear that an Old Boy of our School had achieved such high office in this voluntary organisation, having completed 28 years of service as `a Lion`.
Our thanks to David for such an interesting and humorous address. The School certainly turned out many pupils of whom we can be justly proud.
Paul Goulden (48/49) kindly brought along his keyboard and provided expert accompaniment for the singing of the School Song. It was followed, as is our custom, by a rendition of the School Chant, which took us back to memorable days on the touchline urging our schoolmates to many victories.
Our Treasurer, Ron James, took the opportunity of making a plug for the CD of the School Song (recorded at the Dinner in 2010). He sold 25 copies – a bargain price at £3.
To hear a sample of verse two, click on HERE.
Another wonderful evening, with much praise from those present for the excellent meal so well served in such a pleasant venue. We are booked in for 2012 – Friday, 19th October. Make a note in your diary NOW and be sure not to miss this great occasion.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PEN PICTURES
Officers
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JOSEPH ( JOE) LUCAS - Chairman. Joined the OB's rugby in 1952. was Captain for two seasons and later Chairman and later President for a total of about 20 years. Joined West Derby Golf Club 1972 and became Captain in 2003. Represented Rugby and Golf on the OB's Council since about 1995. |
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LIONEL (LI) ROSS - Vice Chairman. School 1953-61. From school studied classics at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. On graduation he Embarked on career as a Management Consultant, culminating in his appointment in 1982 as the Director of the Academic Institutions Management Services unit (AIMS), until taking early retirement in 2003. He has been Chairman of the Collegiate Old Boys Football Club for more than 25 years. Has been on the OB's Council since 2003. Regularly writes reviews for the music magazine "Blues in Britain". |
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DAVID WILLIAMS - Hon. Secretary. School 1968-75. Joined The Trustee Savings Bank in 1976 and continued in banking until 1998 when he left Lloyds TSB having served the Bank as Senior Customer Service Officer. His subsequent career has included teaching at HMP Walton and three Lancashire Prisons as Employment and Training Co-ordinator specialising in the Employment and Resettlement of offenders. Presently employed as Careers Advisor for Connexions Lancashire based in Leyland , specialising in the improving the employability of offenders and benefit claimants. Joined the OB's in from school and played football for every team from the 6th XI up to the 2nd XI, and played for the Veterans XI up to 2005. Presently Vice Chairman and Press & Publicity Officer for the Campaign for Real Ale in the Southport area. |
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RONALD (RON) JAMES. - Hon. Treasurer. School 1958-63. Moved from Southport to Liverpool and joined the Collegiate School. On leaving School worked for a short time for the United Liverpool Hospital Board before transfer to the Liverpool City Treasury where he qualified as a Local Government Accountant (IMTA later CIPTA). After early retirement became involved with a number of local organisations including the RSPCA as Hon Secretary and his Bowling Club as Hon. Treasurer. His interest in and skills at Desk Top Publishing has proved useful to a number of organisations including COBA for whom he prepares the Newsletter. |
Members of the Council
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GWYN THOMAS - President of COBA. School 1940-45. Chairman since 1991. Spent career in public transport from leaving school to retirement in 1990. Held appointments in Liverpool, Wigan and Wirral before Director of Operations of Merseyside Passenger Transport. On establishment of Merseyside Transport Limited (Merseybus) in 1986 appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive until retirement in 1990. Services to Public Transport recognised by award of Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and O.B.E in 1990. Is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics andTransport. Played soccer for Old Boys' and was Captain of the 2nd eleven for many years. |
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ARTHUR N. EVANS - Vice President of COBA. School 1941-46. - D.P.A. (Liverpool University). Entered employ of Liverpool City Council 1946. Appointed Director of Personnel and Management Services in 1973, retiring in 1990. Board Member of the Merseyside Training Council - Retired in 1990. Elected onto Old Boys' Council in 1990 |
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WILLIAM HARRY (BILL) BALDWIN - Council Member. School 1948-53. Played soccer for the OB's for one season before heart problems forced early retirement at age 18 ! Worked in local government from school until 1990 moving around a number of authorities in the North West. Took Articles and qualified as a Solicitor in 1969.Took early retirement upon the abolition of the former Merseyside County Council. Was a part time Planning Inspector in the early 1990's and has been a part time Chairman of Social Security Tribunals since 1990. Was also a Legal Assessor for the General Medical Council for 5 years before compulsory retirement at age 70. Been a OB's Council Member since early 1990's and drafted the current Constitution for the Association. |
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GERRY V.MULCAHEY - Council Member. School 1951-55. Joined Lewis's from school and then joined the Army (RASC) 1956-59, 1957-59 being in Malaya. Returned to Lewis's 1959-67. Joined Hutchinson Publishing in 1967 until early retirement in1986. COBA councillor since 1999. Association Auditor since 2001. Enjoys reading and music and entertaining friends at his home in Anglesey. |
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DEREK S.TASKER - Council Member. School 1944-54 On leaving School, joined the family photographic printing business. Joined Mono-type Corporation in 1973 and worked on Industrial Cameras and Hi-speed Photofilm Typesetters until 1977. He then joined M.A.Buckley Ltd. Managing the Photographic Department 1981. He then became Service Manager for Kodak Ltd, until 1983 when he became a Senior Customer Service Engineer for DPCE UK Ltd. / Granada Computer Services UK Ltd. and continued in this position until 1994. At that time he joined Crown Computer Products responsible for their Technical Department and remained so until the company closed in 1998. Elected to OB's Council 2003. |
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DAVID WINSLAND - Council Member. School 1957-65 Played rugby throughout school and later for the Old Boys. Was School Captain in his final year. Went into teaching from College in Sheffield in 1968. Continued in teaching and became a Primary School Head Teacher 1981 until retirement 2006. Joined the OB's Council in 2006. Is married to Lynne and has three sons and four grand children. |
Membership
Are you a member of the Association? - Did you know that there are over 550 members of the Association? - Members receive a copy of the Annual Newsletter (some 50 pages), which is full of information, correspondence, photographs and reports on events.
The Annual Subscription is only £5 - Life Membership is £45. - To email for further details and an Application Form, click on Secretary ). In fact, you can download an Application Form, from this Site.
Come to the Annual Dinner - held at the Liverpool Athenaeum Club - where you will have a warm welcome and a most enjoyable evening in a lovely building with good company. (To email for further information, click on Annual Dinner ).
Notable achievements of Old Boys
The Association is compiling a list of former pupils of the School who made a notable
mark in life. Some achieved high office; some were accorded public honours, medals
for bravery or were inventive in their profession. Some were, or still are, great
sportsmen or well-known actors. The list is endless. It is felt that there should
be some lasting record of these achievements. If you know of such an Old Boy, or
are indeed one, contact our Secretary and let us know. This list will
be included in the Website, the Newsletter and will be deposited ultimately with
the Liverpool Record Office.
© Liverpool Collegiate Old Boys' Association (2012)