Concordia

Concordia Winter 2019 27 Concordia Winter 2019 26 Development M erchant Taylors’ School kicked off the summer of cricket as hosts for the Middlesex vs Gloucester County Championship match in early July. A win for Middlesex and the opportunity to see some top-class professional cricketers made for a very enjoyable three days. Thereafter followed a quiet summer with OMT events pausing while the nation was gripped by golden overs and the ebb and flow of the Ashes. September arrived with an incredibly successful weekend away in Pembrokeshire. Chris Hirst (1958-1965) and his wife Sara organised a busy weekend for more than 50 OMTs and their guests, visiting not only Carew Castle andTidal Mill but also Pembroke Castle. There was plenty of time to relax and enjoy fantastic food at The Celtic Haven on the Saturday evening as well as a lunch at Sara and Chris’s home the following day, when OMTs were joined by the original founders of the weekend, Jeff Pearson (1949- 1954) and Iain Hardcastle (1943-1947), and their wives. A full report of the weekend can be read in the News Sheet. Meanwhile, back at school, the Head Master and Senior Leadership team hosted twin events for our youngest OMTs and their parents.This is a well- established event in the calendar, an opportunity to catch up with friends before the start of the university year. We particularly value the day’s light-hearted atmosphere, excellent catering from Tolly and Sons of Moor Park, and love hearing tales of OMTs from their parents, with one proud set of new grandparents welcoming the birth of their first grandson that very day – perhaps a future MerchantTaylors’ pupil! The last weekend of September was a busy weekend for Society events, with the Northern Dinner at MerchantTaylors’ Hall,York, and the Classic Car Club meet at Studio 434, Potters Bar for an exclusive viewing of Rodger Dudding’s amazing collection of cars. See the News Sheet for a full report. In early-October the City Luncheon was held at the Guildhall, an opportunity to celebrate and thank PhilipWilloughby (1953-1957) for all of his years as organiser, as well as to hear the special guest, Sir David Brewer KG CMG CVO JP, speak. Alvan Seth-Smith (1967-1973), who is the new organiser, was delighted to welcome a new generation of OMTs, further details of the next City Luncheon can be found in these pages. OMTs young and old, including a number of new faces, enjoyed the Society Dinner at Merchant Taylors' Hall on 15th November. Excellent speeches from the Master, Nicholas Hunter Jones, Head Master, Simon Everson, and President, General Sir Richard Barrons paid tribute to the strength and values of the bonds between the Company, School and Society. Next year's Dinner, on 20th November 2020, will take place for the first time at Freemasons Hall, where no doubt one of London's largest organs will again be drowned out by the enthusiastic post dinner chorus of Homo Plantat! MerchantTaylors’ School and St Helen’s School have just completed a three night production of Les Misérables School Edition in the Great Hall. Sold out on every night, the strong tradition of school productions is alive and well! The OMT Society continues to make connections overseas with drinks receptions in Hong Kong, Singapore and most recently, Dubai, organised by James Marsh (1983-1988). James writes, “It was a small gathering, but the general consensus was to make it a regular event and to increase our numbers. If any other OMTs in the region would like to join this group please contact the Development Office by emailing events@mtsn.org.uk” . l t Events Roundup OMT Annual Dinner Dick Clack (1952-1959) City Luncheon Club Pembrokeshire Weekend Recent Leavers' Lunch City Luncheon Club Les Misérables OMT Annual Dinner OMT Annual Dinner Development