The President of The Old Woodbridgians

Requests the pleasure of the company of

All Old Woodbridgians and their Partners

On the occasion of

The Annual OW Reunion Dinner

at Woodbridge School

on Saturday 20th September 2008 at 6.30 for 7.15pm

Dress:  Smart Casual or Suits

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND PRINT YOUR TICKET ORDER FORM & REPLY SLIP

Want to know who came to the 2007 Dinner - click here

Want to know which OWs sponsored the 2007 Dinner - click here

The OW Dinner 2008 – What’s happening in brief

• All OWs welcome

Other events the same weekend

• School Open Day –  Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm

Ladies OW Hockey match vs School 1st XI – Saturday at 2 pm

Dear Fellow Old Woodbridgian

This year at the OW Dinner we celebrate the Centenary of our much loved CCF which was first formed at Woodbridge School in 1908.  We are hoping that OWs who took up a Services career after leaving School will return to mark this important date in our history.

Please DO NOT think that this means that the OW Dinner will just be for current and ex military people. All OWs will be equally welcome no matter which career you embarked upon but remember, for many years, joining the CCF was compulsory which means that most OWs from those times have a connection with the CCF whether they liked it or not!!

The CCF started life as the OTC (Officer Training Corps) and some years later the name was changed to the JTC (Junior Training Corps) and then again later, after the Second World War, it was changed to the CCF (Combined Cadet Force).  Whatever its name the idea was more or less the same and that was to give some experience of life in the Armed Services to young people still at School just in case they were needed later in their lives to defend their nation from an enemy.  Even if this had not been necessary, and we know with hindsight that it was, the young people would benefit from the discipline, camaraderie, knowledge and self reliance gained from going through the training. 

Many OWs did take up a career in the Forces by a variety of different routes.  Some joined as a conscious career choice, some volunteered in times of war, some were ‘called up’ or conscripted in times of war and some did National Service. When you consider that Conscription and National Service (which only ceased in December 1960) legally obliged all young people to join the forces, with the exception of a few ‘reserved’ occupations, it soon becomes clear that a huge number of OWs over the last hundred years have, one way or another, had a Services experience.

For some OWs, of course, it meant making the ultimate sacrifice and their names are recorded on the School War Memorial.  But for every sad and tragic story there are probably many more funny and enjoyable experiences which can now be told.    

The OW Dinner is on Saturday 20th September 2008 and the best way to make this centenary celebration a success is to have as many OWs and their partners present as possible especially those with CCF/Services experience.  Please check your diary now, ring your OW friends and persuade them to come and, in addition to this, please book your tickets early.

Our arrangements for the OW Dinner this year are, again, a departure from the norm.  First, there will be Pimms on the Chapel Lawn, as usual, hopefully to the accompaniment of the School Swing Band.  Dinner will follow in the Tuckwell Room which will give us a capacity of 180 seats.  Some of the School CCF cadets will join us for the evening and after Dinner and Coffee we will all assemble in the new Seckford Theatre where there will be a 35 minute slideshow illustrated presentation and readings to celebrate all that has happened over the last 100 years in terms of the CCF and OW Services memories.

After the theatre presentation Diners will be able to relax and socialise back in the Tuckwell Room or the Theatre Bar until the early hours. 

Full details of the Dinner are on the website and this will be updated regularly throughout the spring and summer.  So, whenever you require the latest information, as always, logon to www.oldwoodbridgians.org.uk

Please book early, and in any event, by August 26th 2008.

Ken Bailey

OW President

CLICK HERE TO PRINT YOUR TICKET ORDER FORM & REPLY SLIP

ALSO ON THE SAME WEEKEND

Saturday 20th September 2008

Woodbridge School Open Day 10.00am to 1.00pm

Here is a chance to see the School in action alongside parents, prospective parents and members of the public. OWs can tour the School to look around and see how much things have changed or not!  OWs are also welcome any other time. Come and see the new Theatre which is now well and truly established.

Saturday 20th September 2008

OW Ladies’ Hockey vs The School Start 2.00pm

OW contact: Clare Laight via cll35@hermes.cam.ac.uk or 07747 015029

School contact: Sherrell Chuter via starrspin2000@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 21st September 2008

OW Touch Rugby Tournament Start 11.00am

vs Teams from The School, Staff, OWs and OW Ladies – note both sexes welcome.

OW & School contact: Adam Lubbock via adamlubbock@oldwoodbridgians.org.uk

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Who can attend OW events?

All OWs are welcome at any event.  You should also be aware that all OWs are automatically members of The Old Woodbridgians for life at no cost to themselves no matter when or for how long they attended School.

Dress code at social events

None of the OW events requires any sort of formal dress.  This is something that is asked about regularly.  Casual dress is fine for all events – for the Annual Dinner most people wear their normal business wear, such as suits, or smart casual.  So it’s simple, come as you are normally and enjoy yourself with friends.

Partners

Your partner is very welcome to attend any of the events listed.

Dinner Bookings

It is greatly appreciated if you can book with me as early as possible.  This makes our planning and organising so much easier.  Cheques should be sent to Michael Weaver at Woodbridge School, Burkitt Road, Woodbridge IP12 4JH together with a completed ticket order form which you can print from the links on this page.  These details are needed for the place cards and seating plans.  He will then send you your tickets.

We very much hope to see you at the Dinner

Ken Bailey

OW President

The OWs below attended the 2007 OW Dinner.

Read a more detailed report here...