THE UK OD CRICKET XI WIN COMFORTABLY AGAINST AN OLD ETONIAN XI IN THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE AN ANNUAL FIXTURE

A few years ago, a very good idea circulated up here that the UK ODs form a cricket team to play local sides around the country (and thereby earning international colours). At that time, one match was envisaged, with more to come if sufficient promise was shown.

18 ODs put themselves forward for selection. You don't have to know much about cricket to know that 18 is seven more than required, so, it seemed, we were all set to go with enough spare capacity to select several drinks and bag carriers as well.

The problem was that of the 18, 15 claimed wicketkeeping as their first-choice field placing! Which guaranteed, presumably that byes would not feature among the extras count. But with no bowlers in the line-up, it made the services of even one wicketkeeper a bit redundant. The very good idea was mothballed.

But then this year, driven by Ant Pickering (F, 1990) the idea was resuscitated and on Saturday 8th June, at the beautiful Armadillo Club ground located in the even more beautiful Sheffield Park, an ODU XI took on an Old Etonian XI — and won.

The OD XI:

George Jones (M, 2018), Ant Pickering (captain), Dev Campleman (G, 2016, wicketkeeper), Ollie Cunningham (K, 1991), Neal Arnold (S, 1990), John Stanford (F, 1998), Gordon Robinson (F, 1990), Neil Orpen (W, 1990), Caelim Parkes (O, 1990), James Durrant (G, 1994) and Nick Cunningham (K, 1994)

The game, followed by boerewors rolls (obviously) and then a visit to the nearby Griffin Inn, was played and enjoyed in the most exemplary spirit. Bruises and tired and torn muscles forgotten, both sides mingled and relished the opportunity to make new friends.

The scoreboard:

ODs: 226 off 35 overs
Nick Cunningham 56, Dev Campleman 51 retired, Neal Arnold 33*, Gordon Robinson 29*

OEs: all out for 140 in 26.5 overs.
Archie Hines 35, Jim Sclater 31, Nick Cunningham 3-12

The match report (with thanks to Ollie Cunningham (K, 1991)):

Ollie's fabulous, humerous and sort-of-accurate version of the game is in this document.

We have already set June 7th, 2025 for the return fixture with Eton likely to come much harder at us. But so encouraged and confident are the ODs by their win, that one of the team has offered a trophy to be handed to the winning side next year - although suitably engraved with this year's winners. OD team diaries (hopefully) already marked!

Click on the photos below to enlarge them

Gordon Robinson warming up the only way he knows how! And wearing the same blazer he wore to many of the local pubs while he was still at School.

Nick Cunningham making short work of Eton's deadliest ... safe in the knowledge that brother Ollie, sporting the latest in umpire shorts, was only ever going to signal a boundary. Until he gave him - his own brother - out LBW a few balls later!

Dev Campleman played precisely and decisively before, sportsmanlike, he retired once he reached his 50

John Stanford and Neil Orpen (and Neal Arnold in the background) relaxed while others got on with the runmaking

Nick Cunningham - unstoppable

And Dev Campleman ... again

Caelim Parkes was in and out so quickly, the beer he left behind didn't have a chance to get warm

It's always slightly easier when there's no bowler to face ... James Durrant

Neal Arnold looking slightly apprehensive as he fits his body armour

Despite the lefthand salute, Gordon Robinson provided military grade scoring services and ensured he didn't suffer dehydration in the process

James Durrant, Caelim Parkes, John Stanford, Neil Orpen, Neal Arnold and George Jones

Nick Cunningham with skipper Ant Pickering

Ollie Cunningham limbering up - in both photos

A contented Dev Campleman having retired on 51 with Neal Arnold behind him who wonders how it's done. Behind them is Dr Seán Cunningham, father of Ollie and Nick

A slightly despondent James Durrant (pitch behind him)

Nick Cunningham, Dev Campleman, George Jones, Ant Pickering and Gordon Robinson

Eton talking tactics

James Durrant making enjoying the delicious sandwiches served at tea

Gordon Robinson pretending to hear the captain's new fielding coordinates

In an attacking field that would make Bodyline look tame, the ODs crowd in on the Eton tailend

And then it was over:

Not everyone at Sheffield Park was included in the playing squad:

??, Gordon Robinson (played and did the admin) and Brett Chambers (S, 1990)

Evie Donch and Blaine Tomlinson (G, 1968) who came in from Verbier

Doc Seán Cunningham and son Nick

Back: Michelle Vintcent, Ross Vintcent and Sophie-Rose Lloyd

Front: Evie Donch and Blaine Tomlinson

The "Time" part of "Father Time"

In a somewhat different metier, Ross Vintcent (F, 2020, last seen playing for Italy in the most recent 6 Nations Rugby tournament), Craig Vintcent (S, 1986), Stephen Larkin (F, 1990) and Brett Chambers (S, 1990)

Bishops 175 / Founders Day Lunch 2024

Last week, on Friday 8th  March, Founders Day, the UK Branch held a lunch to mark Bishops 175th  Anniversary. The event was sold-out well in advance of the date which anticipated the talk to be given by Sir Anthony Seldon — and the opportunity to celebrate the School's fantastic milestone.

50 ODs and wives/partners listened to Sir Anthony give a most thoughtful, thought-provoking speech referencing Bishops (whom he wished a very happy 175th) as an exemplary school with an fantastic history of which we could all be proud. Independent schools, he said, had a unique, important and powerful role to play in reducing societal imbalances. This was especially important with the rapid advance and influence of Artificial Intelligence (in education and everywhere else) if we are to maintain our real sense of human purpose, something, in his view, many schools, including independent ones, were losing sight of.

We were seated at round tables, each named after the five oldest Bishops houses (to give a sense of occasion!) in the stately Wellington Room of The Carlton Club. 

Typical of all rooms in The Club, the walls are adorned with portraits of past British Prime Ministers and Statesmen (and women). This prompted Sir Anthony, one of the UK's foremost political historians (and one of the country's best-known and successful school headmasters) to give a short precis on each - from the good to the terrible to the downright lazy - which provided a useful segue into the main body of his speech.

He spoke about the role and responsibilities of independent schools in addressing, through education in its broadest sense: inequality and (lack of) social mobility; the vital importance of keeping humanity at the centre of schools; and, in the face of advancing Artificial Intelligence, the development of a keen faculty for critical thinking. These, he said, were very quickly disappearing from state education, which meant, in time, where the general population have no access to these teachings (93 % of all UK children are educated in the state system) the prospects for a just and productive (and socially mobile) nation diminish. Sir Anthony, a leading advocate of happiness and mindfulness as part of the school curriulum which he successfully introduced into Wellington College, urged parents and teachers alike to lift the heads of their proteges, permanently bent over mobiles, to take in the far more interesting and beautiful world around them.

Before Sir Anthony spoke, Nicky Bicket (F, 1973) welcomed everyone and read out the Bishops School Prayer. Ian Haggie (F, 2005) proposed the toast to the School, reminding us of what an extraordinary place it was.  Tom Baigrie (F, 1978) in his usual eleoquent and perceptive way, thanked Sir Anthony and presented him with a small gift from the UK Branch.

The guest list (including the houses and years of ODs), seating plan, menu and messages from the ODU President and committee are at the bottom of this post.

Please click on the photos to enlarge

BEFORE LUNCH

Before we sat down to lunch, a glass of celebratory Bishops 175th anniversary Prosecco:

Chris Leach and Nick Boswell

Peter Boycott talking to Waine Lawton with Liz Lawton and Cecilia Lawton on the left

Chris Danziger, Tom Baigrie and John Clemow

Chris Danziger, Nick heesom and Rob White-Cooper

Karen Malan, Rob White-Cooper and Matthew Golesworthy

Nicky Greig, Stuart Commins and Doug Mallett

Scott McLean and Jonathan Frost

Bradley Eaton, Nic Woolaway, Anthony Pickering and Caelim Parkes

Peter Boycott, Waine Lawton, Liz Lawton, Cecilia Boycott, Matthew Golesworthy, Karen Malan and Grant Challis

Anthony St John and Michael Mills

Chris Winearls, Waine Lawton and Mark Charnock

John Wyatt and Robbie Weich (Chris Winearls, David Walsh and Mark Charnock in the background)

THEN LUNCH

Top Table - of course

Clockwise from bottom middle: John Wyatt, Cecilia Boycott, Martn Fletcher, Waine Lawton, David Walsh, Chris Danziger, Marjorie Scott-Goddard, Liz Lawton, Murray Lomas-Walker and Peter Boycott

Clockwise from bottom middle: Rob White-Cooper, Karen Malan, Anthony St John, Chris Winearls, Marie Syfret, Mark Charnock, Jenny White-Cooper, Peter Syfret and Nick Heesom

Clockwise from bottom middle: Andrew Henwood, Michael Mills, Wendy Heesom, Nicky Bicket, John Clemow, Astrid Henwood, Rob Campbell, Greg Baldwin and Grant Challis

Clockwise from bottom middle: Chris Leach, Nicky Greig, Nick Boswell, Jonathan Frost, Rupert Langerman, Matt Jordan, Andrew Gebers, Matthew Golesworthy, Scott McLean and Alex Price

Clockwise from bottom left: Ian Haggie, Stuart Commins, Doug Mallett, Tom Baigrie, Nic Woolaway, Robbie Weich, Anthony Pickering, Caelim Parkes and Bradley Eaton

Clockwise from bottom middle: Liz Lawton, Murray Lomas-Walker, Peter Boycott, John Wyatt, Cecilia Boycott, Martin Fletcher, Waine Lawton, David Waalsh, Chris Danziger and Marjorie Scott-Godddard

Clockwise from bottom middle: Chris Winearls, Marie Syfret, Mark Charnock, Jenny White-Cooper, Peter Syfret, Nick Heesom, Rob White-Cooper, Anthony Seldon, Karen Malan and Anthony St John

Clockwise from bottom left: Peter Boycott, John Wyatt, Ceecilia Boycott, Martin Fletcher, Waine Lawton, David Walsh, Chris Danziger, Marjorie Scott-Goddard, Liz Lawton and Murray Lomas-Walker

David Walsh, Peter Boycott. Marjorie Scott-Goddard, Liz Lawton and Murray Lomas-Walker

AND THEN THE TALKING

Ian Haggie wishing Bishops a happy 175th birthday and proposing the Toast to the School

Toasting Bishops

Nicky Bicket introducing Sir Anthony Seldon

Some last minute tactical advice to Sir Anthony from Nicky Bicket and concern from Karen Malan

Sir Anthony in full flight ...

Nick Heesom, Rob White-Cooper and Anthony Seldon

Murray Lomas -Walker, Anthony Seldon, Peter Boycott and Rob White-Cooper

... and ODs are spellbound ...

Clockwise from bottom left: Murray Lomas-Walker, Peter Boycott, John Wyatt, Cecilia Boycott, Martin Fletcher, Waine Lawton, David Walsh, Chris Danziger, Marjorie Scott-Goddard and Liz Lawton

Front, l to r: Jenny White-Cooper, Nick Heesom, Peter Syfret, Peter Botcott and John Wyatt
Back: Rupert Langerman, Jonathan Frost, Matt Jordan, Nick Boswell, Matthew Golesworthy, Scott McLean, Nicky Greig, Alex Price, Chris Leach, Nic Woolaway and Tom Baigrie

Front, l to r: John Wyatt, Cecilia Boycott and Martin Fletcher
Back: Alex Price, Chris Leach, Nic Woolaway, Tom Baigrie, Doug Mallett, Anthony Pickering, Caelim Parkes, Stuart Commins and Badley Eaton

Front from l to r: Anthony St John, Chris Winearls, Marie Syfret and Mark Charnock
Back: Michael Mills, Wendy Heesmom, Nicky Bicjet, Andrew Henwood, John Clemow, Grant Challis, Astrid Henwood, John Parker-Wood, Rob Campbell and Greg Baldwin

... with a question from Nick Heesom

The speaker outspoken; Tom Baigrie gives the reply and thanks ...

 

... and a small gift with thanks for a job well done.

AND THAT WAS THAT FOR ANOTHER 175 YEARS

Saying goodbye to the men ...

... and the women

... and being chased out by Nicky Bicket

... and a final hug. Stuart Commins

THE PAPERWORK

ODs and our guests

The menu (outside cover)

The menu (inside pages)

The seating plan