ANNUAL OJA DINNER

On Saturday 28th April 2012 the Old Johannian Association held its 93^rd annual dinner and reunion at the Queen’s Hotel in Southsea. As current Head Girl of the College I was asked to write an account of the night, perhaps for a younger perspective on the association, and to generally give an account of my first OJA experience.

In response to a handwritten letter by Charles Hoar, Chairman of the Association, John Wilkinson (Head Boy) and I invited eleven other prefects to join us at the reunion. After meeting our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Maloy in the Belle Isle at 6.30pm, the other prefects and myself arrived at the hotel and met Miss Young, (the College’s Marketing and Development Officer) and Mr Best (Headmaster). The first twenty minutes or so were spent introducing ourselves and mingling with the OJs, and finding out who we were to sit with. I recall that on my table (from the left to the right were sat: Andy Volvona (former pupil), Christina Bartkowiak (former Head Girl), Clare Young, Brother Ignatius (a De La Salle Brother), Richard Polson (current pupil and Chairman of the Politics Society), Zaheda Begum (current prefect and Head of Year 9) and Tommi Kwok (Head Boarder). Other guests present included visitors from France, Dubai and St Peter’s in Bournemouth, and several others who I am sure travelled from various parts of the country to meet for the reunion.

In the first speech we were greeted by Charles Hoar in an introductory speech, welcoming back the OJs, and directed to us, the newest members, what being a Johannian was about. We were told that we were welcome to return to the dinners and that in previous meetings talk had taken turn to how to keep the Association going, to recruit younger members, to reduce publication costs and modernise the way the society went forward.

This, in coalition with Mr Best’s speech after a most satisfying four-course dinner, inspired me to think of ways that we, as prefects, could put our efforts towards promoting the Association. One of the aspects of Mr Best’s speech that caught my interest was how he had already started on setting up a foundation for the school, and how he had hopes that that school would support children, perhaps with disadvantaged backgrounds, or without the means to fund their education. From this came an idea (as next January I will be travelling to South Africa to work in another independent school in my gap year): visiting other Lasallian schools on my travels to form a stronger connection. Whether or not this is achievable, I will be writing of my experiences and reporting back to both the college and the Association for next April, as I will be unable to attend next year’s dinner as a result of this. Other ideas discussed between Molly Davis (Deputy Head Girl, Head of Edwin, and Head of Music) and I, included inviting of OJs to the musical concerts taking place at the college and around Portsmouth: those of both the Girls’ and the Chapel Choir.

Furthermore, after updating guests on the developments of the college and quoting from the OJA Dinner gazette from 1929, Mr Best made reference to Charles Hoar’s school report from 1953, whereby a his role of ‘Antonio’ in his school performance of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ was referred to with humour. Stefan Bartkowiak, father of Christina and member of the OJA responded to Mr Best’s speech and lead us all in a spirited rendition of the school song.

Prefects Courtney (Head of the School Council), Katie Gwyther (Deputy Head Girl), Chloe Taylor (Head of Alan) and John Wilkinson (Head Boy) discussed and made serious suggestion of reintroducing the song as a tradition: to have it sung more regularly at school events and assemblies. Nevertheless, plans are being made to sing the school song on our last day of term as a Sixth Form, to which I am sure parents and OJs alike will be welcome.

Following this, three other prefects and I assisted Miss Bartkowiak in selling raffle tickets, the winners of which I unfortunately cannot remember, but the prizes I recall consisted of an exuberant variety of port and wine!

The remainder of the evening consisted of much enjoyed conversation and banter, predominantly reminiscence of St John’s from decades past and comparisons to the college as it is today. On my table for instance, it was interesting to meet Mr Andy Volvona, (coincidentally the brother-in-law of my Maths teacher from last year), who ruminated on his memories of the college, for example the introduction of girls to the sixth form in his last year- which would only make it 15 years since the college has been co-educational – a cause for much celebration of course. He informed us of how the Castle building (which is now a combination of a Staff room, Human Resources centre and IT Support) used to be a prefect common room and bar! It was also fascinating to hear how our current school houses of Leo (red), Edwin (green), Alan (blue), Damien (yellow) used to be called ‘Simon’, ‘ De la Salle’, ‘Benildus’ and ‘Solomon’ – which was purple instead of blue. On this note, he mentioned an old peer by the name of Quentin, (who sat next to Molly Davis on a different table and I was later introduced to), whose wife had ingeniously reworked his old Lower School tie into a bow tie, which he was wearing that night! He also suggested to Richard Polson, who being head of the Politics society was of keen interest, potential speakers for our future Politics Society meetings: including Sarah McCarthy Fry and Neil Hamilton.

All in all the night was most enjoyable, and I felt honoured to be invited, and to be in the company of people who, like me, were grateful to benefit from the opportunities St John’s was able to give them, and look forward to returning in years to come. The other prefects requested of me, on a final note, to thank Charles Hoar for the invite, to send their best wishes, and agree that (to quote directly from Mr Best’s use of the 1929 Gazette) the night was a ‘dashed good show!’

Corinne Crosbourne (13A)

Head Girl

Committee Election Results:

Chairman - Charles Hoar
Hon Secretary - Charles Hoar
Membership Secretary - Brian Laming
Treasurer - Peter Cullinane
Publications Editor - Charles Hoar
Web Manager - Vacant
De la Salle Liaison - Vacant
Ordinary Members - Trevor Clark, Stefan Bartkowiak, David Harris