President	-	Hugh Griffiths
Chairman and Hon. Membership Secretary	-	Bob Rench
Hon. Secretary	-	Tony Day
Hon. Treasurer	-	Colin Lucas (ag)
Newsletter Editor	-	Peter Foster
Hon. Press Officer	-	Michel Hooper-Immins
Webmaster	-	Terry Stone

TONY BILES RECALLS DORCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN THE WARTIME YEARS AT THE OLD HARDYEANS DINNER

"A lot of my life has been tied up with entertainments, journalism and broadcasting," guest speaker Tony Biles told the annual dinner of the Old Hardyeans at Dorchester. At Dorchester Grammar School during wartime, he would join the Portland branch train at Rodwell station, then change at Melcombe Regis for Weymouth Town station, to catch the school train to Dorchester. "Much of our homework in those days was done in the air raid shelter- us Weymouth boys often wondered whether the Dorchester lads realised there was a war on!"

Tony Biles went on to talk about some of the famous people he had met during his career- "I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time," he told the old boys of Dorchester Grammar School and Hardye’s School. He had replaced the legendary John Arlott on "Sport in the West" and went on to report from sporting venues all over England, including Old Trafford. As a Weymouth borough councillor, he became a successful Chairman of the Entertainments Committee and recounted anecdotes from the stars that had appeared on stage in Weymouth. Now retired and living in Owermoigne, Tony Biles became the youngest Mayor of Weymouth in 1971, later elected an Honorary Alderman and revealed he had once been a Governor of Hardye’s School.

Professor Hugh Griffiths, President of the Hardyeans Club, highlighted some of the key events of the past year- the 50th. anniversary of the school Combined Cadet Force, with a celebration at Lulworth and the presentation of the commemorative sword to Dr. Iain Melvin OBE, Headmaster of Thomas Hardye School. The superb London Dinner had been hosted at the House of Commons by Old Hardyean Roger Gale MP. Professor Griffiths expressed delight at his own appointment as a Governor of Thomas Hardye School.

Dr. Iain Melvin OBE, Headmaster of the Thomas Hardye School, confirmed he has been asked by the Governors to stay on until at least September 2010. He spoke of the recent royal visit, by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as being "a wonderful day- all our students were marvellous." Dr. Melvin went on to thank the Old Hardyeans for their remarkable support for the school and the Hardyeans Club Charitable Trust for their bursaries, "which certainly improve the life chances of many students." One new bursary is financed by a grant from the Prince of Wales.

Past President Captain John Pearson RN proposed the traditional toast to absent friends. Colin Lucas was again the excellent Master of Ceremonies. In the modern Sixth Form Centre of Thomas Hardye School and served by sixthformers, the annual Old Hardyeans dinner was again a great success. Beginning with oxtail soup, followed by chicken fricassee and as always, strawberry & sherry trifle.

Earlier in the day, the Hardyeans Club held their annual general meeting with Professor Hugh Griffiths in the chair. Membership Secretary Bob Rench reported the membership is steady at 1,213 and he was thanked for his work on getting the records into good order. The London Dinner will be held on Friday 6 November at the Rugby Football Union President’s suite at Twickenham. All officers were re-elected including Professor Hugh Griffiths as President, Bob Rench as Chairman, Tony Day as Secretary and Colin Lucas as Treasurer.

Founded in 1905 as the Old Grammarians, the Old Hardyeans- also known as the Hardyeans Club- is one of the most successful old school associations in the county, bringing together the old boys of Dorchester Grammar School and Hardye’s School, plus ex-students of the modern Thomas Hardye School. In the times of Queen Elizabeth I, it was Thomas Hardye [with a final "e"] described as an yeoman of Frampton, who endowed Dorchester Grammar School in 1569. Hardye’s [shopping] Arcade today stands on the site. The Grammar School moved to Culliford Road in 1928- renamed Hardye’s School from 1954. The new Thomas Hardye School in Queens Avenue opened in 1992, encompassing the best traditions of the two previous schools- but admitting girls for the first time since 1569! Writer Thomas Hardy OM, who lived at nearby Max Gate, laid the foundation stone of Hardye’s School in 1925. He was no relation to Thomas Hardye, founder of the school, nor of Admiral Thomas Masterman Hardy!

PHOTOGRAPH  [left to right:] Dr Iain Melvin OBE, Headmaster of the Thomas Hardye School; Colin Lucas, Old Hardyeans Dinner Organiser; Tony Biles, guest speaker; Professor Hugh Griffiths, President of the Hardyeans Club; Bob Rench, Chairman of the Hardyeans Club. Photograph by Michel Hooper-Immins. Further Information and additional photos available from the Press Secretary

THE LOST LEGION

Bob Rench has done a sterling job of reducing the Lost Legion, it has gone down from almost 120 members to 34 but there are still 34 people out there who are not receiving the Newsletter!

Please take a moment to follow this link where you can make sure you are not one of the lost legionnaires. If you are or if you have changed your e-mail address or you do not yet receive the Newsletter by E-Mail please drop an e-mail to Bob Rench.

MEMBERS WEBSITES

Nigel Newbery has set up a Website at:
www.schoolpanoramas.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
which has a copy of the 1957 Panoramic School Photo, well worth a visit for those who were at Hardyes in that year.

Graham Allen also has a Website at:
 http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/grahamallen/Old%20Hardyeans/index.html
which has a great selection of pictures of life at Hardyes in the Fifties, again well worth a visit.

Carambola Real Estate at:
http://www.stkittsandnevis.net
Lists properties for sale and rent in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the twin island Caribbean state

SITUATION VACANT

The position of Club Treasurer remains vacant and Colin Lucas continues to fill the gap. If you are interested in the position pleas e-mail Colin.