The Old Elizabethan Association

The Bisley Centenary celebrations got off to a cracking start with a Vin d'Honneur for Old Elizabethans who'd represented the College in shooting teams. Geoff Martel (who was to be the OE Dinner Guest of Honour on the following day) and John Ross had travelled over from New Zealand especially for the event.

A number of past College shooters had also made the trip from the mainland.

The present College VIII took some of the OEs down memory lane with guided tours around the College. Many were surprised at the changes that have taken place over the past few decades, for example, the old gym building now being nothing of the sort.

Peter Knight, captain of the VIII and a member of this year's cadet GB team, was introduced to Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant. Sir Peter was also a distinguished shot and himself one of the GB Athelings - seventy years ago.

Sir Peter then presented commemorative medals to this year's College Bisley party.

The OE Association has refurbished one of the College's old boxing trophies. Re-named the Centenary Cup, it was handed over to the master in charge of shooting, Rick Le Page, by the OE President, Jerry Girard. It's to be awarded annually to the highest scorer under 16 in the Ashburton.

It was a most successful occasion - not least because Claire Barber checked our paths with some delicious food to go with all the wine we all drank! Thank you, too, to Sara Cash and her husband, Barry, who made sure no glasses remained empty for long.

Back home in Wellington NZ, Geoff Martel emailed Bruce Parker and Mike Martel, who'd both helped organise the centenary event, in the following terms:

"Can I just thank both of you (and many others) for encouraging me to circle the globe and making me feel so welcome after such a long absence from the shooting world.

The functions were a real delight and so well organised. Standing in the College hall and being at Bisley were real trips down memory lane."

Bruce Parker

Photos from the Bisley Centenary event