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Worldwide Events
Judy Longworth (JL) and Charles Hastings (CWH) report on events from around the world.
PARIS
With the help of Jonathan Eastwood (OR 1963-66), who has lived in Paris for 16 years, we secured a wonderful venue for the dinner - the Cercle de l'Union Interalliée. This Club is in a very elegant building in the Faubourg St Honore next to the British Embassy and not far from the residence of the French President. The disadvantage of such a prestigious venue became obvious when I arrived for the dinner to find the whole area sealed off by armed CRS in riot gear. Apparently, the President of Syria was expected at any moment, to visit the President of France. Fortunately, once he had arrived security was scaled down and the street was re-opened.
It was a lovely, hot June evening. Twenty-nine of us sat down to a delicious dinner and enjoyed the wine, which Peter Jorgensen (OR 1949-50) had very generously brought from his vineyard near Bordeaux. After dinner, the Warden spoke about his impressions of Radley at the end of his first year. This dinner will now be a biennial event. JL
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BOSTON
On Thursday, 4th October, Anne and Michael Wynne-Willson (OR 1933-36) kindly hosted a dinner at the Dedham Club for ORs in the Boston area. Duncan Walker (OR 1985-90) joined the Chairman of Council, Michael Melluish, his wife Anna, their son, Sam (OR 1976-82) and Charles Hastings (Radley don and former Tutor of F Social) who was on sabbatical, for what we understand was a very lively evening. JL
LOS ANGELES
Marshall Rutter (OR 1949-50) and his wife, Terry Knowles, kindly opened their home to us on a warm Californian day in late October. Charles Hastings and I had a very relaxed afternoon talking to Marshall and Terry, David Evered (OR 1970-74) and his wife, Jacline, and Jason Garrett (OR 1981-85). As in Boston, the local OR constituency is small but both occasions were valuable as a means of introducing expatriate ORs to each other. JL
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NEW YORK
The splendid venue for our New York reception, the Harvard Club, was kindly organised for us by Robert Johnston (OR 1970-71) and his wife, Phyllis. There were thirty of us altogether consisting of ORs and their guests and both current and former parents, on a sweltering evening in late October. The Warden gave a "state of the nation" talk about the School and people seemed pleased to meet others with Radley connections. Many thanks to Michael Greenlees (current parent) whose office co-ordinated the acceptances and to all who made the effort to come in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th. JL
MELBOURNE
The Melbourne drinks party was kindly hosted by Milly and Chris Phillips (OR 1978-83) in the city offices of Deloittes. The guests, who ranged in seniority from Peter Adams (OR 1955-60) to Harry Shuttleworth (1987-92) and Ed Elworthy (OR 1987-92), had to run a tempting gauntlet of hospitality from the other Deloittes' parties, but having found the right room enjoyed the occasion so much that a party billed as 6 - 8 pm finally closed at 10 pm. I reckoned that every one of the 36 possible one-to-one conversations between the guests did actually take place. CWH
SYDNEY
Australian Rugby Tour
In August, David Allott (OR 1961-66) kindly opened his home and provided a barbecue for ORs and their families before the first match of the Radley Australian rugby tour against Knox School and then also entertained both teams and their supporters after the match. We dread to think how much was consumed. JL
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November Reception
Twenty-nine ORs live in metropolitan Sydney and on Tuesday, 27th November, fourteen plus their guests accepted an invitation to the apartment I was living in on Potts Point. Neil Craven (OR 1980-85) and Jamie Sutherland, a former gap assistant, helped with the hosting and Gary Denman's digital camera was much in evidence. This was the largest of all the gatherings, so much so that not everyone was able to meet each other, but from the number of cards I saw being exchanged and the promises I heard to meet up again, it was clear that the admirable Wyndhams Chardonnay had served its purpose. CWH
SINGAPORE
Charles Hastings was passing through Singapore on January 3rd on his way back to the UK. Although we realised that it was not a good time for an event because so many people would still be away, we thought it was worth telling ORs and current parents that Charles would be delighted to buy them a drink at Raffles. Very many thanks to Michael Bracken (OR 1981-85) who contacted all those in Singapore with Radley connections. In the event, Charles, Michael and his wife, Mayawati, enjoyed a drink and supper à trois. We will try to choose a better date next time. JL
HONG KONG
I understand from Adrian Crookenden (OR 1975-79) that he is organising a dinner for those with Radley connections at the Hong Kong Club on January 29th. JL
With many, many thanks to all the ORs and parents on the ground without whom it would be so much more difficult to organise these events.
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