Message from President Ian Coundon

Happy New Year to all former students of March Grammar and Neale Wade School. I hope you all had a good 2016, a great Christmas with family and friends and are now looking forward to what 2017 may offer.

It seems a long time since the annual dinner in April when I started my year as President. Many thanks to all those who came along, I do hope you agree that it was a really good night, fairly well attended by 47 former students who enjoyed the chance for a catch-up, a bit of a natter about the ‘old days’, a tasty 4 course dinner and the opportunity to hear from a former pupil, Steve Fallon, about his working and professional life as a footballer and manager. I think the question and answer session could have gone on all evening! Thanks again to Steve for taking time out from his busy schedule to be with us.

When I agreed to take on the role of President I was told it was just to be a figurehead, attend the dinner, arrange a guest speaker and “living in Bournemouth you won’t be expected to attend committee meetings”. Well funny how things don’t quite work out as planned! No seriously, it has been a good experience, partly challenging but rewarding at the same time. Your elected committee has worked hard to put the Association into a stronger position, financially secure and ready to look forward to 2019 when it will be the 100th anniversary.

The committee is keen for the 100th anniversary to be celebrated and marked in a special way but we do need your support and your thoughts/ideas for this to happen. A sub-committee will be set-up following the 2017 AGM so if you would like to be involved or have some input then please make yourself known.

Those of you who were at the last dinner may recall from my Presidents speech about expanding the number of attendees and I quote…”spread the word, tell any old school pals you may be in contact with, encourage them to come along, if 50% who attended brought along one new attendee then that would be 60 plus for next year’s dinner”. Although your committee is planning for 2019 we can’t do it without a growing support. Putting it bluntly, if numbers don’t increase and there is a downwards trend then future of the Association could be in doubt. I believe and your committee believes that this would be a great shame. I hope you agree too.

So as we start 2017 put a date in your diary…Friday 28th April for the Dinner with AGM held just prior on the same evening. Notification will be sent out in due course.

So it just leaves me to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. See you in April.

Ian Coundon