The Old Elizabethan Association

The 144th Old Elizabethan Association Dinner was held in the College Hall on June 27th 2008. Once again the weather was anything but a balmy June evening! However, undeterred, 113 Old Elizabethans and guests came up the well worn College steps to be greeted by the President and Secretary.

The College Hall, renowned for stimulating nostalgia, recent and distant memories of OEs, produced the most wonderful vibrant atmosphere for this memorable occasion. Here there were friendships being rekindled on a yearly basis, some OEs who see each other most weeks of the year and some who have not met since they left College over 40 years ago! A very welcome guest from the Common Room was Suzanne Battey, Head of the Junior School.

The Guest of Honour was Malcolm Wicks MP (5775) Minister of State for Energy. His speech was light hearted, highly amusing and only very slightly political. He was aware that he had been referred to, by a most senior OE, as a 'Labour Bugger'. His answer to the diners was simple, they would have to put up with him until they could come up with an OE who was a 'Conservative Bugger'!

An superb Floreat was proposed by Michael Eades (6529) including some amusing competitive spirit as to which local legal firm had the most OEs! The Senior Prefect Josh de Kooker (9918) delivered a most confident and profound speech.

The Principal, Dr Nick Argent, (how does he speak so comprehensively about the College year without any notes?) was obviously proud of some very fine achievements on and off the field during the year. One of his amusing recollections was the EC versus VC cricket match when "Elizabeth College scored 129 and Victoria College didn't"! He also made note of the amazing performance of Nick Branch who attended the Palma Match with the Channel Island Team and came up with the second highest score at 900 yards.

Sadly, the last dinner that our President Jerry Girard will preside over as President but what a great night to go out on.

The Carmen was particularly robust this year! Thank you to Colin Langlois (5746).

The 144th Guernsey Dinner, they just keep getting better!

Pictures of the Dinner

Malcolm Wicks meets the Bailiff