The 110th Annual Dinner took place on Saturday 23rd November from 6:30 pm for 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm in the Oldfield Hall, King Charles I School, hosted by President Stephen Wyer.
There was a much greater attendance at the Annual Dinner this year – around 110 guests, an increase of about twenty on last year. This was partly because of groups of ex-pupils' deciding to use the Dinner as a reunion occasion. The catering was once again in the very professional hands of Plyvine, the admired catering firm from Brierley Hill. Looking at their website, you can't fail to be impressed with the numerous comments of thanks from Midland and Welsh organisations for their services.
The Dinner was chaired by our newly elected President, Stephen Wyer, and, again, we were joined by Carolians and a sizeable group of ex-pupils of Kidderminster High School for Girls. On the top table, Stephen was joined by Mark Garnier, the prospective Parliamentary candidate for Wyre Forest; Rosemarie Morgan, Chairman of Kidderminster High School for Girls Old Girls Association; Cllr David Ross, Mayor of Kidderminster; the Rev Simon Archer, Vicar of St Mary's and All Saints' Church; Kevin Smith, President of Hartlebury Old Elizabethans' Association; Steve Brownlow, Headteacher of King Charles I School; and Peter Picken, Treasurer of the Old Carolians Association and a Past President. Also in attendance were Jasmine Morris, Head Girl; Adam Turley, Head Boy; Isobel Walden, Deputy Head Girl; and Lachlan Macphail, Deputy Head Boy.
As usual on this occasion, we need to thank all those that made the occasion possible. Dave Laverty and Peter Picken for their organisation and lovely table decorations, and Tim Gulliver, Association Secretary, for issuing the invitations. Then, there are those that work so efficiently behind the scenes – Colin Lloyd, Peter Guy, Joel Douglas, David Slater and Mike Wilson. If I have omitted anyone from this list, I apologise. Norman, the Carolians' historian and archivist, was responsible for all the photographs and documents shown on the big screen. Speaking for myself, I certainly missed my old friend and contemporary David Campbell Slater, who was always present selling his CDs.
Steve Brownlow welcomed all the guests. He told us about the excellent GCSE results this year and coming top of the table Progress 8 benchmark performance in the whole of Wyre Forest with a score of + 0.30. King Charles was the only school with a plus performance. A-level results were the best ever and the school were sixth in the County, as they have been for the last three years. There had been at least one hundred trips to universities, for Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme work, and for foreign residential visits and battlefield tours. Sporting achievements had again been excellent throughout the School. Individual students had excelled in cycling, curling, badminton, rounders and archery; some of these were nationally recognised. There had been several musical achievements once again, and the musical 'Annie' had been performed to local acclaim. Finally, Stephen said that a huge number of these achievements would not have been possible without the finance from the Old Carolian trusts. Students continue to be assisted in their higher and further education endeavours with grants. He ended with a toast to the Old Carolians Association and its President, Stephen Wyer.
Stephen started his speech by saying how proud he was to be the new President, following on from his father's Presidency in 1988. The Old Carolians Association Membership Sub-committee had been making strenuous efforts to facilitate reunions at the Annual Dinner, and thus attract new Association members. Social media platforms were also employed to this end. Stephen had been part of the final 11+ cohort to be educated at Woodfield and then to transfer to the new combined school at Chester Road South in 1977. He had fond memories of the Woodfield site, especially of buildings, pupils, staff and of Clares house. He spoke with affection of the help given to him by George Oxendale and Tom Hardwick. Graham Merlane, the then-Headteacher, was especially singled out for opening new horizons and for highlighting the possibilities of Oxbridge entrance; 'aim high' had always been his advice. Finally, Stephen proposed a toast to the School, to continued success and especially academic achievements. The final event of the evening was the award of Honorary Life Membership to the Association's Membership Secretary, Peter Guy, who had worked tirelessly in the Old Carolian cause for many years. With piano accompaniment from the Association's Senior Vice-President, Martin 'Max' Wall, the congregation joined in singing the National Anthem and 'Auld Lang Syne'. And, just like that, a very successful Annual Dinner had been brought to a close.
'Captain' Peter Vaughan, Chief Culinary Correspondent