PURPOSE, AIMS AND ADVANTAGES

The Association enables Old Fullerians to meet or keep in touch with one another as well as with the School and its staff. The Association also aims to help the School either as a body or through its individual members; indeed, one of its constitutional objects is "to further the interests of the School by giving it every assistance".

MEMBERSHIP

Members range from the most recent school-leavers to those who left over seventy years ago, and while many of course still live in the Watford area a good number are dispersed throughout the country and indeed the world. The Association provides a unique opportunity to meet and maintain contact with Old Fullerians. All former pupils  are eligible for membership (and serving Masters and Governors of the School, honorary membership). Those who have only recently left the School may not appreciate at once that the Association can provide a valuable network of old friends and new contacts. Russell Deane’s experience outlined in his letter to new leavers, indicates the advantages of being an Old Fullerian  and particularly of being an Association member.

June 2010

Dear School Leaver,

First of all, my congratulations to you on behalf of the OFA for completing your schooling at WGS.  I trust you achieved what you wanted and that you now move on to University, Further Training or a Work Career of your choice.

Right now at this time in your life it will be about ‘what you know and less about who you know’ but this will change, please let me explain;

Following my A-levels my Economics Master, Mike Weston, secured me a job with the BBC as a trainee journalist.  It soon became apparent that I needed a degree to progress with the BBC so the then Second Master, Neil Hart, managed to get me a University place with written Personal Statements from John Williams & Dave Evans from the school.  Following my graduation I turned my back on journalism and began a career in corporate life with one of the UK’s largest companies.  The Personnel Manager was an ex Grammar school boy and this helped me secure a Graduate Training Programme with this company.  In my career since then I have bumped into many old boys from across the globe and we all share the same pride at having been a school boy at Watford Grammar School.  This year for Annual Chairman’s OFA Dinner I have tracked down many of my old class mates and they are going to attend.  In that group are Captains of industry – a Brigadier in the Army – famous Musicians – wealthy Entrepreneurs – senior Academics etc. etc.  I have been amazed at the success of these boys over the years.  To end the story John Williams kindly contacted Josh Lewsey on my behalf and he is going to be my guest speaker at the Dinner alongside Martin Post, who was a year above me at school and we both represented the school at Rugby.

So at some point in your life it will be ‘less about what you know and more about who you know’ and therefore I recommend you joining the Old Fullerians’ Association, a network of old boys spanning all ages, career sectors and geographical locations around the globe.  

We offer a 4 year membership package for leavers at a mere £15.  This is the normal annual membership cost. In years to come you will reap the benefits of being a member of the Association many times over – because we know a man who can help you when you need it most!!!

Yours sincerely

Russell Deane,

Chairman OFA

 

CONTACT BETWEEN MEMBERS

The Association encourages any activities or interests which enable its members to keep in touch with each other and several new initiatives are in the offing. Several clubs are affiliated to the Association for those interested in association football, cricket and golf, and membership of these is officially limited to Old Fullerians. There is also a Masonic Lodge. Other affiliated clubs or societies have come and gone with the years and any initiative to promote or revive one to enlarge the circle of interest available to members of the Association can be guaranteed our support and encouragement, there are proposals for a skiing club! Those members who live a long way from Watford naturally have fewer opportunities to maintain personal contact with others through the Association. However, every paid-up member receives details of the Association's frequent social events, most of which are listed in the annual Association Calendar. The A.G.M. is normally held at the end of February in the Fuller Memorial Library, is open to all members and is followed by a convivial gathering over refreshments. In addition members receive two or three times a year the Chairman's Newsletter, which includes accounts of Association activities and news of old boys, and there is now a new more comprehensive newsletter - “Old Fullerian Contact”. The traditional climax of the Association year is the formal Annual Dinner in the School hall each January. For those able to attend, this one evening alone more than justifies their membership of the Association!

CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOL

In addition to the above, every paid-up member receives a copy of the Fullerian magazine as part of his subscription entitlement. The Association is also represented on the School's Development Committee, which considers and in part provides for the improvement of the School's facilities.

HELPING THE SCHOOL

The standard of education you received at the School is mainly owed to the will and determination of successive Headmasters and to a dedicated staff, and it is no coincidence that the School has a strong and thriving old boys' association which has always maintained close links with it.The continuing vitality of the Association, as with any other, does however depend on a constant influx of new members so that past success can be built upon and further success achieved. The Association is only as strong as its membership and its ability to help the School is directly related to its strength. We therefore hope that YOU will decide to become a member, in which case please complete the application form. If you still have any doubts, at least join the Association for a trial period and experience the many benefits of membership. You will be made most welcome!

 

 

Old Fullerians in the Antarctic

 

A number of Old Fullerians have contributed to expeditions to the Antarctic. Sadly 29 expedition members have died during the expeditions, including one Old Fullerian, Jeremy Bailey. The British Antarctic Monument Trust has been set up to commemorate those who have given their lives. An update on the activities of the trust may be downloaded here.

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