President's Letter

Dear OT,

For many decades the OT Society has been served by a number of dedicated, unpaid Secretaries and by equally committed Registrars. We owe huge debts of gratitude to Terence Page, Roger and Colin Schooling and Tim Denham, as well as to John Knott, Colin Cobb and John Smalman-Smith. They gave generously of their time and energy pro bono publico; none more so than Tim, our current Hon. Secretary, who this summer completes some 20 years in the post. He has freely devoted himself to OT affairs and has taken on an increasing amount of administrative work but he is a busy accountant in London and feels the time has come to hand over. He is to be dined out by the Committee in the autumn and we are nominating him for election as a Vice-President at the AGM.

Tim’s departure coincides with the retirement of John Smalman-Smith after three years of helping the Society in his role as Registrar. This double blow has forced us to look for new ways by which we can sustain and develop the traditions of the OT Society. Other famous public schools have demonstrated that there are exciting opportunities available in this respect and we are now planning our first steps. They include:

1. Appointing Peter Morris (HS 1959-63) to be the new Secretary of the Society and remunerating him for his work. He began the handover process on May 1st.
2. Placing the OT office on a more professional basis. Here the database is kept and Peter will be at Tonbridge at least three days a week.
3. Developing an OT website, linked to the School site, will be a priority. Feel free to pass on your ideas as to how the Society might develop and send in information that might prove interesting to other OTs.
4. Improving the flow of information about OTs. This will require OTs to report back on their activities, promotions, publications and careers. To be effective the new culture will require up to date details – especially if we are to help younger OTs progress in their careers, settle in new locations and keep in touch with contemporaries.
5. Broadening the range of those involved in running the OT Society. This might include introducing year group representatives and/or regional ones. Any volunteers who would like to contribute in any way should contact Peter Morris.
6. Developing the publications you receive. Russell Tillson has produced remarkable essays on School life for years and how we will miss them now that he has left Tonbridge. Meanwhile, John Gibbs has stepped nobly into the breach.

The aims of the OT Society will not change. They are to keep OTs in touch with the School and to foster good friendships between OTs. It may take time to settle into this paid and, hopefully, more professional era, so your input will be a crucial part of the development.

The 450th anniversary of the School comes at an appropriate time, encouraging the renewal of old friendships and perhaps a return visit to Tonbridge. The details of the Headmaster’s invitation for 2003 can be found elsewhere in the Report and further ideas will be forthcoming as to possible celebrations in London during the summer of 2003.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Hudson