OXFORD OD LUNCH - SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2016

Although the majority of the ODs living in the UK live in and around London, there are many who live too far away to be able to join the events the ODU holds in the city. So the ODU tries to go to them.

Last year, there was a small lunch for some of the ODs living in the Oxford area and this year we repeated the event, with an altogether larger group. 10 ODs and three wives met at The Bell at Hampton Poyle just outside Oxford (Chris Winearls' suggestion and is to be highly recommended) on a typically gray and wet Saturday afternoon for a very colourful and lively lunch. Tim Bravington said Grace in impeccable Afrikaans!

Present were: Tim Bravington (S, 1952) and his wife Rosemary, Mark Charnock (O, 1962), Chris Danziger (G, 1958) and his wife Seonaid, Mathew Golesworthy (K, 2011), Duncan Hepburn (W, 1966) and his wife Moira, Katie Hofman (nee Hutchings, G, 1981), Rob Hutchings (G, 1982), (James Masey (F, 1983), Chris Winearls (W, 1967) and Nicky Bicket (F, 1973).

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(clockwise) Moira Hepburn, Matthew Golesworthy, Tim Bravington, Seonaid Danziger, Chris Winearls, Mark Charnock and Rosemary Bravington

Mark Charnock and Rosemary Bravington

Duncan Hepburn and Katie Hofman

Nicky Bicket, Chris Danziger and James Masey

Tim Bravington and Seonaid Danziger

Moira Hepburn and Matthew Golesworthy

Tim Bravington, Seonaid Danziger and Chris Winearls

Chris Winearls, Duncan Hepburn and Mark Charnock

BISHOPS RHODES' SCHOLARS GATHER IN LONDON FOR DINNER

Despite the debate which continues to rage over its legitimacy, nothing can take away from the honour and transformative experience of a Rhodes Scholarship.

Often a forgotten constituency of the OD fraternity, the (UK-based) Rhodes Scholars got together at the Flyfishers Club in London on the 19th November for a dinner to rekindle and share their Oxford memories and to debate about how best they might give back to the School and the ODU. In all, it was a happy and rich evening which we hope to repeat.

The Rhodes Scholars present were (House, matric year, scholarship year and Oxford college in brackets): Rob Knutzen (S, 1966, St Catherine's, 1972), Steve Hofmeyr (O, 1973, University, 1977), James Gardener (W, 1974, Oriel, 1979), Malcolm Brown (G, 1978, Worcester, 1986), Graham Thomas (K, 1984, Brasenose, 1990), Jan van Zyl Smit (K, 1996, Magdalen, 2003), John Hodges (K, 2005, St Anne's, 2011) and Chris Linegar (K, 2008, New, 2013). Also present were Niall Carroll (O, 1981) and Nicky Bicket (F, 1973).

We were particularly pleased to welcome Rob Knutzen who had come in from Singapore where he lives. Malcolm Brown who works in Amsterdam, had braved the French security cordon to catch the Eurostar from Paris to get back in time for the dinner.

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James Gardener and Rob Knutzen

Chris Linegar, Graham Thomas and Jan van Zyl Smit

From left: Niall Carroll, Jan van Zyl Smit, Rob Knutzen, Malcolm Brown, James Gardener, Nicky Bicket

James Gardner, Rob Knutzen, Graham Thomas, Malcom Brown and Chris Linegar

And after dinner, in the Club bar: Malcolm Brown and Graham Thomas

Niall Carroll, Chris Linegar and John Hodges

Jan van Zyl Smit, Steve Hofmeyr and James Gardener

THE 1990s CELEBRATE THEIR SILVER ANNIVERSARY REUNION IN THE ONLY WAY THEY KNOW HOW

The 1990 ODs celebrated their silver anniversary reunion in style, even persuading Wales to let the Springboks through to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals. Murray McPherson hosted a superb gathering of the good and the great of the year.

Assembling at the village pub to warm up for the game were, Murray McPherson, Gordon Robinson, Neil Orpen, Caelim Parkes, Nick Cunningham, James Legg, Paul Ellis-Smith, Stephen Larkin, James Deane, Richard Pontin, Dave Tordesillas, Ant Marten (fresh from the USA) and Neal Arnold. Murray, who had wisely despatched his family for the weekend, had even found some authentic boerewors for the braai. Where he found the sausage no one knows and were wise enough not ask. The pictures below, taken by the local paparazzi, chart the slow but certain downward journey into reunion happiness. The 1990s are a lively and generous class and, when it comes to drinking, battle-hardened and focused. It was a pleasure to be with them.

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The local pub bravely refreshed the early arrivals who are from left to right: James Deane, Ant Marten, Murray McPherson, Neal Arnold, Neil Orpen, James Legg and Caelim Parkes, Marc Wilmot, Richard Pontin, 

At lunch, Neil Orpen and Marc Wilmot

Arguably the best view of Richard Pontin. Top right is Gordon Robinson with a very neatly trimmed and perfumed poodle (Gordon in the Bok shirt!). Below right, Marc Wilmot and Neil Orpen ignoring Gordon Robinson (middle)

The boys working up a thirst (and some minor injuries) in Murray's planet-sized garden

Celebrating the Boks' win after a very tense but well-hydrated 80 minutes. Stephen Larkin and Nick Cunningham on the left.

James Deane and Gordon Robinson taking sportsmanship to a new level