Record Breaking WOBS Reunion: Saturday September 14th 2002

Chairman speaks, people listen! Reunion 2002

At a WOBS Committee meeting in Autumn 2001, new boy to the committee, Steve Noel-Hill (St Bede’s ‘74) found himself volunteering with new-boy zeal to revitalise the annual Old Boys’ reunion. The date, after much heated debate was controversially set as a Saturday, rather than the traditional Sunday, and the pin fell on 14th September. Ideas for activities for the day and enthusiasm abounded… whether these good vibes would be enough to galvanise Old Boys into coming to the 2002 reunion was yet to be proved.

After much discussion it was agreed that the Reunion would hinge on the inauguration of the newly levelled rugby pitches and hopes were high that there would be a good turn out of Old Boys for this. However it soon became apparent that the sketchy plans for the great day were not fleshing out terribly well; because of the wet winter, the grass seed had not been sown until the spring and the rugby pitches would probably not be playable on by the 14th September, and certainly not ready for the great weight of Old Boy players!

Reunion 2002

Fortunately as events would have it, Steve’s Guardian Angel came to his rescue. In July the Abbey announced that newly elected Abbot Christopher would receive a blessing from Bishop Keiran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, on Saturday 14th September. Perfect!

The previous sketchy plans were shelved and invitations sent to all Old Boys (for whom we had an address) detailing a packed day beginning with the blessing of Abbot Christopher, followed by an Old Boys lunch and then the opening of Gervase (the new Sixth Form Block) and an OBs rugby match.

Reunion 2002

The opening ceremony and blessing for the new Gervase Block, built on the old grass tennis courts and now housing the top year in en-suite splendour, proved irresistible to nearly 90 Old Boys. With family and friends, 180 old boys represented WOBS at the blessing. This was a particularly special event as it included the opening of the new Patrick Lamb Centre.

Reunion 2002

The Abbatial Blessing

The Abbey was filled to capacity for the blessing. Here is Fr Ian’s account (The Wheel October 2002) of the occasion:

“The impressive monastic liturgy on the 14th September was celebrated by Bishop Kieran Conry, visiting Abbots and diocesan clergy in the presence of 1700 invited guests. These included Abbot Christopher’s 92 year old mother, family and friends, students in our school, their parents, members of the Lay Community, parishioners, Old Boys of Worth and friends of the Community.

As the processions entered the Church, the choir sang a choral work “Come, my children hear me”, a setting of the words to the Prologue of the Rule of St Benedict, written specially for the day by Dom Philip Gaisford of the Worth Community. The three symbols of the Abbatial office, Rule, Crozier, and Ring were carried in procession and laid on the altar. Then the Prior, Fr Aidan, introduced the Bishop to each monk in turn, and the Mass began. In his homily the Bishop explained certain aspects of the monastic life, especially Stability and Obedience, and he paid tribute to the Worth Community for the striking witness it gave to the world.

Michael Corbyn, JP Szczepanik, Owen Lean, Matthew Margrett, Chris Lamb and Adrian Pring Reunion 2002

The Rite of Blessing of Abbot Christopher followed with the litany of the saints. Then the Bishop gave the new Abbot the three symbols of his office. During the presentation of the gifts, Michael Matthews (Saxophone) and members of the choir performed a newly commissioned piece by Michael Oakley, that combined traditional and contemporary music styles

After the distribution of communion, Abbot Christopher addressed the assembly. He thanked everyone for coming and singled out for special mention Dom Geraldo Gomez, who had come from Brazil and Abbot Thomas Frerkin and Fr Bede, from St Louis, Missouri, USA. The Abbot then posed three questions facing the Community:

• How to promote contemplative living in the monastery?
• How to promote Benedictine values in our work especially in our school?
• How to support justice for all and especially for the poor and disadvantaged in our world?

The Bishop then gave the new Abbot his mitre.”

The Reunion Lunch

After the Abbatial Blessing the catering nightmare began as the 1700 people in the Abbey went to various parts of the school and Abbey to have their lunch. The Old Boys had been designated the Cowdray Room (the new name for the Masters’ Refectory). But the large number of last minute “yes” replies meant that lunch was moved into the Reading Room and Old Library and thanks to the weather most OBs and their families and friends ate outside on the terrace, enjoying the fantastic view.

Reunion 2002

OBs spanning the leave years from 1963 to 2002 were represented at lunch and various friends of WOBS such as Keith Owers, Liz Blake, Fr Kevin, Carol and Paul Miller, Helen Smith and Yvonne Gubbin were there to catch up with Old Boys.

The Chairman of WOBS, Andrew Boys, gave a short speech followed by a few (reluctant) words from the Secretary. Andrew encouraged all those gathered to make use of www.wobsnet.org.uk, heralded the WOBS Voluntary Services Award, and announced that Helen Sweetman, who retired from her post of Junior House Matron, after 45 years, in the Summer, would be made an honorary member of WOBS.

Reunion 2002

The New Gervase Block, Tour and Rugby!

At 3pm the new Gervase building (for Upper VIth boys) was officially opened by Abbot Christopher and acting Headmaster Peter Armstrong and then blessed by all the past Housemasters of Gervase. Fr Kevin then kindly led a tour around the school and Abbey for all those OBs who had missed the development of the Sports Hall, Performing Arts Centre, Main Refectory, Abbey west side, Abbey piazza, etc, etc, etc.

Dermot Woolgar and James Maxwell Scott, Reunion 2002

Meantime, WOBs The Elder played WOBs The Younger in a rugby match on Mount Noddy, followed by refreshments at chez Robertson. The whole day wound up with tea for everyone in the Whitehead Room (otherwise known as the Assembly Room), but by then the Secretary had collapsed in a heap and so she can’t report back on how much cake was eaten!

This year’s Reunion was a great success and very encouraging! However (God willing) there won’t be an Abbatial blessing next year to pull the crowds (although Abbot Christopher did say he would see what he could do!). Hopefully some of you who came this year will come again next year, and some of you who couldn’t make it this year will venture back to Worth next Autumn. I hope so. See you then.

Best wishes,

Marie-Clare

Marie-Clare McMenemy, Secretary, Worth Old Boys’ Society

Rapt audience! Reunion 2002