The 109th Annual Dinner took place on Saturday 17th November from 6:30 pm for 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm in the Oldfield Hall, King Charles I School, hosted by President Arthur Miller.
Around ninety members of the Old Carolians Association sat down at the Annual Dinner this time, with the catering again handled very professionally by Plyvine, and with the occasion chaired by our newly elected President, Arthur Miller. This may be the last time that we are called the 'Old Carolians Association' as a very strong tide is moving in favour of our being renamed the 'Carolians Association'. The Dinner remains the highlight of our year and, again, we were joined by many members of Kidderminster High School for Girls Old Girls' Association. This is a trend that is very much to be welcomed.
Joining Arthur on the top table were Dave Allen, President of Hartlebury Old Elizabethans' Association; Steve Brownlow, Headteacher of King Charles I School; Rosemarie Morgan, Chairman of the Old Girls Association; Cllr Martin Stooke, Mayor of Kidderminster; Stephen Williams, Chair of Wyre Forest District Council; and Peter Picken, Treasurer. Also present were Tim Gulliver, ex-Headteacher; David Bishop, Head Boy; Daisy Lewis, Head Girl; and Chloe Stretch, Deputy Head Girl.
As with any large celebration, we need to mention those that put so much effort and time into making the event a success. Prominent in the organisation of the Dinner were Peter Picken and Dave Laverty, Past Presidents of the Association, for their administration and for their lovely illuminating table decorations. Then, there are Colin Lloyd, Roger Perrin, David Slater, Mike Wilson and Norman Broadfield. Norman's presentation of historical documents and photographs of the School provided a continuous and fascinating screen-showing throughout the evening.
Peter Picken said grace to get the meal underway and, at the conclusion, Steve Brownlow rose to give the first speech. He said that 2018 had been the best year for progress in the School's recent history. The School had been top in the Wyre Forest area and sixth in the Worcestershire Local Authority area. There had been approximately one hundred trips, to universities; for Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme work; residential visits to Paris, Cologne and the National Space Centre in Leicester. In addition, several sports teams had been champions in Wyre Forest – in girls' football and rounders, for example. There had also been individual exceptional performances in athletics, and cycling. Students had undertaken leadership roles in work for the disabled, and had produced an excellent drama presentation of 'Beauty and the Beast'. Steve continued by saying that the School was extremely fortunate in being able to call on the Old Carolian trusts (King Charles I School Foundation, Roy Woodward Educational Foundation and the Harry Train Exhibition Fund), which has provided grants to buy computers, carpets, sports equipment and furniture, and to help to finance students going on to universities and colleges for the next stages in their educations. Steve mentioned that the old Honours Boards from Woodfield Hall, that site now having been sold to developers, had been placed for safekeeping in School's boiler room. Perhaps the most significant educational event of the year, however, had been the creation of the Four Stones Multi Academy Trust, which led to King Charles I School having joined Haybridge High School, Hagley. This will probably take the school on to another education high and will create one of the most advanced educational partnerships in the West Midlands. Steve ended his speech by proposing a toast to the Old Carolians Association and to its President, Arthur Miller.
Arthur began by praising the hard work of teachers and students at the School. He had recently enjoyed the School's Founder's Day service, revelling in the achievements described and in the active role of the pupils. He commented that the School was fortunate to enjoy its foundation of financial assistance when so many British schools, in different postcodes, are struggling. From his residential French perspective, Arthur said that this story of financial problems is replicated across the Channel, too. Obviously, the wealthier a school is, the more you can offer in the curriculum, and one major educational aim in Europe should be an effort for students to meet, to understand one another, and to avoid conflict between citizens and countries. He said that he felt as if the Old Carolians should embrace change, too. Perhaps a move to a new name of the Association was now appropriate – society has moved on and so should we. We have 580 members and the Association should be striving to double that number. Arthur concluded his speech by proposing a toast to the School. A rousing rendition of 'God Save the Queen' and 'Auld Lang Syne' brought a very successful Dinner to a close.
'Captain' Peter Vaughan, Home Affairs Correspondent