Clubhouse Bar Winter Opening Times
During the winter months up to Easter 2023, the clubhouse bar is open to members and their guests at the following times:
Monday : Closed
Tuesday - Thursday : 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday : 6 pm - 9 pm
Saturday : 12 noon - 11 pm
Sunday : 12 noon - 8 pm
Last orders are at 30 minutes before closing and all members and their guests must have left the grounds by 11 pm (unless we have a late license).
We reserve the right to call last orders and close early if custom is very low.
Policy Change for all Saturdays: Somerset Road Gates Closed at 11 pm sharp.
Our good and understanding neighbours in Somerset Avenue have been brilliantly tolerant over the years but, unfortunately, they have experienced an uptick in noise disturbances in recent weeks, particularly late on weekend evenings after closing.
We rely on our neighbours’ support to be able to put on the events that you want (for example those with late night licences), and it is unfair and so damaging when they are subjected to unnecessary disturbances. It also takes up a huge amount of our valuable volunteer members’ time to handle complaints.
The OWA Committee has therefore reluctantly but necessarily taken the decision that the gates to Somerset Avenue will be closed at 11 pm on Saturdays (and on other days where we are holding large events). Anyone still at the Clubhouse after 11 pm will have to make their way to the exit on Coombe Lane.
Consequently, members are also kindly informed of, and asked to cooperate regarding the following:
Whatever time of the day or evening it is, but particularly late at night, please act with respect and decorum when walking down Somerset Avenue. Please remember you are a member of the Association, our neighbours are fully aware of where you have come from and any poor conduct reflects badly on the OWA.
Any cars in the Somerset Road car park will be locked in (no exception) at 11 pm sharp on Saturday. You are advised to park in the Coombe Lane car park if there is any prospect of you staying later than 11 pm.
Please do not order any taxis to pick you up at Somerset Road after 10:50 pm in case they or you are late and you cannot get out and/or they cannot get in. Please do not ask bar staff to make an exception.
Before 11 pm, please not wait or linger at the Somerset Road gates for any reason, for example, saying an elongated farewell to friends or waiting for your taxi to arrive.
One issue that our neighbours have complained about is people standing around in the car park entrance late in the evening talking and laughing before leaving. When you leave, please make your way quickly and quietly straight up the alley to Coombe Lane or down Somerset.
If you want or need to linger around and chat for a bit, please do that either in the Clubhouse or on the terrace where the sound does not travel into the road.
Many thanks again for your kind cooperation and support.
New Chef – Welcome Amal Sasikumar aka the Taste Magician
We are delighted to announce that following Chef Richard’s departure last week, we have engaged a new catering company, ably led by Amal.
Amal’s company is highly experienced working with sports clubs and we are very excited to have him on board
Amal will continue to provide first class meals and teas to all sections and to cater for your special event or occasion. We are sure that you will give him a warm OW welcome.
We have spent many hours planning with Amal, so we expect his first weekend to go smoothly and you will not notice any difference in service. However, if you experience any wrinkles, we should be grateful for your patience and understanding for the next few weeks while he gets his feet under the table. If you have any feedback then please email chairman@oldwimbledonians.com.
One major change to watch out for will be in relation to bar menu items and Sunday breakfasts, where payment will now be made directly at the kitchen hatch.
It’s with great sadness that we mark the passing of Simon Travers, who died on Sunday 13 August, aged 67.
Simon attended Donhead from 1963-69 and the College from 1969-74. One of 6 siblings, he and his 3 brothers all attended the College.
Simon spent the majority of his working life teaching at Donhead, before ending his career at Cranmore.
A fine sportsman, he excelled at Rugby, representing England U19 Colts, Rosslyn Park and Old Wimbledonians, most notably as part of the 'magnificent 7' in 1977 at the Middlesex Final's at Twickenham.
There will be a memorial service on Wednesday 20th September at 12 pm, to be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cobham KT11 1AA.
Following this there will be a celebration of his life at Dorking Rugby Club, Kiln Lane, Brockham, Betchworth RH3 7LZ
If you plan on attending, kindly contact Richard Travers.
No flowers please. Donations to the British Heart Foundation and any tributes can be made on Simon's Tribute page.
Old Wimbledonians under 11 Girls Cricket Team to represent Surrey in the Regional Finals
Congratulation to our under 11 Girls Cricket team who became Surrey Champions and will represent our county at the Regional Finals next Bank Holiday Monday 28 August.
The finals are being held at Old Wimbledonians and next door at Raynes Park Sports Ground where our girls will play their four games:
11:00 vs the Middlesex champions
11:50 vs the Essex champions
13:30 vs the Kent champions
14:20 vs the Sussex champions
The trophy presentation for the under 11s will be at 16:30.
Please come down and support our girls against their much bigger rivals, they wil really appreciate it. The clubhouse will be open for hot drinks and food from 10 and the bar opens at noon.
Full details of the finals can be seen in the PDF.

John Ambler RIP
The funeral for John Ambler who died on 26 July 2023 from pancreatic cancer, will take place on Friday 25 August 2023 leaving 41 Norbury Court Road at 11:20 am.
A Requiem mass will be held at 11:30 am at St Bartholomew's Church, Hepworth Road, London, SW16 5DE followed by the South London Crematorium, Rowan Road, London SW16 5JG.
No flowers please, donations to St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham can be made instead on his Tribute site using the link below.
Vincent Poncia RIP
We regretfully inform you that Old Wimbledonian Paul Hollingworth has been in touch about the sad death of Vincent Poncia last month.
Vince attended the college between 1973 and 1976, and was a popular member of the school during those years. He later worked for Sun Chemical, and latterly before early retirement due to ill health had worked as a Business manager at the Nelson Surgery in Merton Park.
Vince had been born and lived all of his life with Lymphedema, but always retained a positive outlook, and greatly enjoyed travel and music. In pursuit of this latter interest he travelled the world to see some of his favourite bands, such as the Eagles, Billy Joel, Paul Carrick and others.
Despite his life long condition Vince displayed the most amazing resilience, rarely if ever complaining or allowing this to inhibit his interests and activities.
Sadly Vince was diagnosed with a complex cancer related to his lifelong condition at the end of 2022, and he succumbed to this in hospital in Bristol on Saturday 24th June.
He leaves his loving wife Deborah and a plethora of close friends, many of whom were also former pupils from the college.
There will be a small cremation service at 2.00 pm in Cheltenham on July 11th followed afterwards by some food and drinks at their home in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Should you wish to attend, please contact Paul Hollingworth.
He will be greatly missed.
May he rest in peace.
Simon Potter's New Book: Not All Right On the Night
I produced and directed plays and musicals at The College for 50 years (1972 - 2022).
Of these 66 productions, 38 have been a breeze, but 28 haven't! I gave a talk in Wimbledon a couple of years ago called "Disasters in Luvviedom" and this led to "NOT ALL RIGHT ON THE NIGHT!" - all about the frightful near-averted and not averted horrors of these shows.
All proceeds go to BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL who work for a world where everyone has access to books.
Available on-line from Witley Press Bookshop and Amazon (£6.99 book, £2.99 Kindle).
Old Wimbledonian Joe Moss climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this August raising money for the Meningitis Research Foundation
Joe Moss is a recent graduate of the College now at the University of Birmingham where he is taking part in their "Birmingham climbs Kilimanjaro" campaign this August taking on the challenge of a lifetime all whilst helping in the fight against meningitis and septicemia.
This charity is very close to his heart, as when they were younger, his brother was diagnosed with viral meningitis and his sister with bacterial meningitis.
Joe has already done a great job in fundraising but would like to raise more and it would be great if our generous members could help out.
So please use the accompanying link to go to Joe's JustGiving page and help him raise more money for Meningitis research.
Meningitis is deadly; killing and seriously disabling in hours. Small children and young adults are high risk, but all ages can be affected. Globally 1,000 people die daily. We fund raise to invest in research, campaign for vaccines, provide symptom information and support those already affected.
John McPartlin RIP
It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of John who died on Monday 14 November, aged 85.
John attended the College from 1947-55 before going on to Brasenose College, Oxford, and the London Hospital Medical College. He died, peacefully, surrounded by his family, in the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, where he had worked for many years as a Consultant Surgeon.
John is survived by his wife Sarah (daughter of Walter Wright and sister of Andrew Wright who both attended the College), his seven children, Fiona, David, Gregory, Hamish, Kate, Andrew and Christopher and his 14 grandchildren.
There will be a Requiem Mass at 11 am on Monday 19 December at
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
Hythe
CT21 5LS
The Mass will be streamed at www.churchservices.tv/hythe.
After the mass there will be a celebration of his life at Folkestone Rugby Club where he was a lifelong club member and President and devoted many hours to their youth sections. You can see some comments from club members and people who knew him on their website.
The address for the club is (see map):
New Burlington Ground
Newington
Folkestone
Kent
CT18 8BH
Walter (Wally) Close RIP
We have recently the sad news of the death last Tuesday of Wally Close aged 90, an OW from the 1940s, the eldest of 3 sporting brothers, all of whom represented both the College and the Old Boys at cricket and rugby. Wally made his career in the RAF which he also represented with distinction on the sports field.
There will be a Thanksgiving service at on Wednesday 7th December at 11.30 am at
St. James the Great
Ewhurst Green
East Sussex
TN32 5TD
All those who remember him are invited.
His son Andrew is interested in tracking down the words to a song Walter has been singing recently:
Interestingly, he was recently signing a song to my mother and brother that he remembered that had been written by Fernand Laloux when he was the Music master at the College. I have attached a copy as Dad remembered it, but it would be interesting to see if anyone actually has all the words
See the image accompanying this article, please get in touch if you do have a copy of the complete lyric
Written by Fernand Laloux – Choir Master & Music Director, Sacred Heart Church, SW19 and Music Director of Wimbledon College.
Tony Coates RIP
We have recently learned of the death in the USA of Tony Coates who was at The College in the early to mid-1950s.
He was an outstanding sportsman at both cricket and rugby and he played for both OWRFC and OWCC on leaving school and prior to emigrating. He had a scintillating career as an academic as a Geologist. His career took him all over the world and an early destination was Jamaica where, in addition to lecturing in geology at the University of Jamaica for several years he played rugby for Jamaica and played cricket with Sir Frank Worrell.
Most of his career was spent in the USA but he did spend time as Visiting Senior Lecturer at Kings College London and also as Visiting Professor at Wolfson College Oxford, as well as in Paris. For most of his career he taught at George Washington University and subsequently became Director of Research Programmes, Roving Ambassador and Senior Scientific Emeritus at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He was a remarkable man and it is well worth searching for "Anthony G Coates, Washington" on the internet to find out more about him and his life.
His death follows on from that a couple of months ago of his younger brother, Phil, also an OW who had emigrated to and made his career in the USA. May they rest in peace.
A Tribute to Mike and Margaret Parsons
On The Occasion of Mike’s Funeral 26th October 2022
It is a great privilege today on behalf of the old Wimbledonians to be able to say a few words about Mike. However, it would not be right to talk just about him when both he and Margaret were such an integral part of our club. So, this address is about them both.
Mike and Margaret, M & M, our constant couple.
Mike played his first game for us in April 1976, against our local rivals Wimbledon. He had been talent spotted at his local pub, the Willoughby in Kingston and came with a motley crew of other “rugby” men and one woman – Margaret.
At that level, any support is appreciated and, from the start Margaret’s vocal enthusiasm was worth at least ten others.
We recall that she had a detailed knowledge of the very complex offside laws and was always happy to impart that knowledge, generally to referees, and almost always while the game was in progress. At the same time, she was able to express genuine concern for the referee’s obvious visual impairments : “are you blind ref, that was a mile offside !!”
M & M finished that season and, while most of the Willoughby recruits returned to their pub, Mike and Margaret came back for more…and more…and more.
With a newcomer’s naïve enthusiasm Mike took on the onerous job of team secretary for a month’s trial in January 1977. He continued in this role for nearly 10 years, during which time he was made a vice-president of the club.
From 1994-97 Mike became Chairman and President of the Rugby club, a role he performed admirably and one which he took up again for the 2003-04 season.
At this point Mike joined a committee with a well- established secretary – Margaret, who had taken on this role in 1996 and, having also been made a vice-president 2 years later, continued in the job until illness forced her to step down in 2017, only 18 months before she so sadly left us.
During that time, Margaret became the glue that held the club together. More than one person said they would only be prepared to go on the committee as long as she remained secretary. Margaret brought organisation and method to the committee. She wasn’t bossy but if something was going to be done, it had to be “done right”; and heaven help anyone who failed to fulfil a task they had promised to complete.
Undoubtedly, her years running the OWRFC and the Shell Pensioners’ group honed her skills for the hardest task of all - keeping Mike under control. I am not sure she always succeeded in that, but she certainly managed better than anyone else could have.
While Margaret was doing this, Mike wasn’t sitting idly by. For years he organised the annual fixture card. He sent out regular highly amusing circulars – every week during the season. He was the deviser and question master for our occasional pub quizzes and the supreme, and sublime organiser for our twice a season, vice-presidents’ lunches. Mike carried on with the circulars and the lunches until Illness forced him to stand back in 2021 – only a year before he passed on.
So, you can see that from the time Mike and Margaret joined our club in 1976 for the rest of their lives they were 100% part of the Old Wimbledonian family.
But that’s only part of the story – we are not here just to appreciate an efficient secretary and a good organiser of lunches. We are here to celebrate the lives of two very special people.
Not only did Mike and Margaret become part of the OW family, but we also became their family. They didn’t have children of their own but anyone here wearing one of these ties was one of their “boys”.
The Parsons’ enjoyed nothing more than their family holidays or, as we called them, rugby tours.
From the early days in Cornwall, Holland and Germany to much later trips to Spain, Portugal and Malta, Margaret would provide her usual vocal support from the touchline while Mike provided the more spiritual kind from the bar.
They even joined the first ever Wimbledon College tour to Canada in 1983 and have kept touch with some of those boys ever since, some of whom are here today.
Of course, parents never admit to having favourites, but they couldn’t really hide their passion for the rams, also represented here today, and would accompany them on their occasional holiday/tour to Scotland.
As well as family outings they were regular supporters of all the teams and great company in the bar afterwards, Mike particularly happy to provide constructive criticism where he thought appropriate.
“my dear chap. You were rubbish today. Let me buy you a beer” friendship – banter – generosity. That was Mike.
They were equally happy to travel to away games and Mike was, as always, a generous host when fixtures in deepest Surrey and Hampshire mysteriously always involved a visit to the Good Intent on the way back.
From this and numerous other occasions Mike became known as the man with the bottomless pockets and the never ending £20 note.
It will, therefore, come as no surprise to anyone to hear that he will be picking up the tab posthumously later on in the Good Intent.
The tributes to Margaret and Mike on the news of their passing were too many to even contemplate going through today , but they all mentioned how generously they gave of their time, their skills, their support and above all their friendship.
So, here’s to our lovely and loving couple, our dear friends, our family, Mike and Margaret,
May they rest together in peace.
Graham Turner
College Hospitalité Centenary Update
Dear Old Wimbledonian,
I wrote to you in February about an important milestone in the history of our Hospitalité: the Centenary in 2023 of our College working parties to Lourdes. I told you of our plans to celebrate this illustrious occasion by a pilgrimage to Lourdes, running alongside our annual working party, from the Friday 25 to Tuesday 29 August 2023. I asked you to let me know if you were interested in coming.
I and the College Hospitalité Committee were very heartened by the response we received at such an early stage. However, at the same time we were very aware that people may not have given too much thought then to an event that was still 18 months away, particularly given the still high COVID rate and the ongoing travel disruption in its wake. As we move closer to our centenary year, and while the tour of St. Bernadette’s relics around Britain brings Lourdes to mind, I am therefore renewing my invitation to join us on our momentous centenary pilgrimage next August.
Our plans have moved on since I was last in touch with you. As I said in February, Fr. Michael Holman SJ will be leading the pilgrimage, and we are currently in discussion with him about the programme. I can also present to you an information sheet (attached), prepared by St. Peter’s Pilgrimages, who we have selected to organise the pilgrimage on our behalf.
The overall cost for the 5 days will be £480, which includes BA flights to Toulouse, coach transfers between Toulouse and Lourdes, and 4 nights’ accommodation in a centrally located 4-star hotel on a half-board basis. If applicable, there is a single room supplement of £120. Please note that the activities in Lourdes described in the itinerary are illustrative at this stage, until we have finalised the programme with Fr. Holman.
The pilgrimage is open to all members of the College Hospitalité and old boys, as well as their family and friends, or indeed any friend of the College. We will be also be advertising it to parents of students currently at the College.
We are not yet at the stage of asking for deposits, but could you please let me know whether you are interested in joining our pilgrimage by replying to this email address: wimbledonlourdes100@gmail.com. It would be very helpful also if you could indicate the number of people you anticipate being in your party.
I do hope you can join us in 2023 to celebrate our hundred years of introducing many hundreds of old boys and others to the unique experience of serving the sick and disabled in Lourdes.
Edmund Hills,
President, Wimbledon College Lourdes Hospitalité

Clubhouse Food at the weekend
Food is now available all weekend at the clubhouse.
Breakfast is available from 9 - 12 on Sunday mornings with a selection of baps and fries or cheesy fries for those of you who need a bit more from your breakfast.
There's a BBQ menu from 1 - 8 pm in the evening on Saturday and Sunday featuring delicious home made burgers.
Don't forget Friday night is Pizza night, check out the TakeOWAy page for this week's menu. Delicious pizzas and sides to enjoy at home or at the clubhouse.
New Books from Simon Potter MBE
Simon Potter is at it again and has published two new books with the proceeds going to charity:
It's news of two books, both published by my imprint, Glassingall Books, one written by a Jesuit about hunting in WW1, the other by me about old models!
We are looking for a House Manager
We are looking to employ someone to take on the running of the clubhouse to ensure that you members get the first class venue and service you deserve.
If you know anyone who might be interested then please ask them to contact chairman@oldwimbledonians.com

The Poetry of Father Peter Banyard SJ
Fr Banyard died on 7 August, 2018. He was 87 and had been a Jesuit for seven decades and a Catholic priest for 57 years.
200 copies of a delightful anthology of his poetry have now been printed.
If you would like a copy please phone Fr Dermot Preston, who is the Superior of the Jesuit community at St Aloysius, in Glasgow, on 0141 331 4580.
A donation of £10 to Jesuit missions is all that is asked.
Many OW’s will remember Fr Peter (‘Bertie’) Banyard from his time at Wimbledon, as a scholastic, from 1955 and, after his ordination, from 1977 – ‘80.
He played both cricket and rugby (as a prop) for the OW’s. But Glasgow became his spiritual home. He was Games Master for many years at St Aloysius College and later Chaplain to pupils and staff. His poetry reflects his love of nature and, in particular, of the rugged landscape of Vatersay, in the Outer Hebrides, where he supplied three time a year for over 40 years.
A typical example of his poetry, ‘Lunchtime Landscape’ (Glasgow, 3rd November 2014), was on the memorial card at his funeral.
Lunchtime Landscape (Glasgow, 3rd November 2014)
On this third November day
the Campsie Fells are patched:
patched with sunlight,
patched with shadows.
And so my life is patched:
patched with friendships,
patched with others’ sorrows
until all is subsumed in Him
whose coat was without seam.
OWA Committee Update February 2021
It is approaching six months since the (delayed) AGM in September, and we hope that you have been keeping up with the goings on at the Clubhouse through our regular emails in particular the fantastic work in preparing meals for the NHS at Kingston Hospital.
We'd also like to update you on the work that the OWA committee has been doing on other non-COVID related matters behind the scenes so please see the following items which detail some of the initiatives the committee has bee pursuing thus far.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to updating you again in the coming months.
Best regards
The OWA Committee
Why am I getting these emails? Who are the OWA?
The Old Wimbledonians Association is the organisation that owns the Clubhouse, half of the grounds and is responsible for maintaining those facilities. It is also responsible for other matters such as members’ discipline. The other half of the ground is owned by Donhead.
The OWA was initially established as an old boys’ association for former pupils of Wimbledon College and Donhead and its links to those schools remains very strong, but its membership is more widely community based.
There are three sporting sections under the OWA umbrella: the Football Club, Rugby Club and Cricket Club. The Rugby Club incorporates the Old Wimbledonian Warriors, and the Cricket Club incorporates the Colts.
If you have paid a subscription fee to your sporting section, you are a member of the OWA. If you pay a subscription to the Warriors or Colts for your child, you are also a member of the OWA.
However the OWA is more than just a sports club, and its activities and connections go beyond merely sport. See History of the OWA for more details.
The OWA is principally funded from the income generated by the clubhouse bar and kitchen, membership fees and pitch use fees. We do not receive any local authority grant or legacy funding.
The OWA is managed by an annually elected committee made up of volunteer members, which is presently constituted of representatives from each of the sporting sections (Football, Rugby & Cricket), Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, plus the Headmaster of Donhead, Phil Barr.
Pitch Flooding
Many of you who have been to grounds in the past month or so cannot have failed to notice that once again, the pitches have resembled a wetland centre more than a centre of sporting excellence.
The committee has been working very hard to address this now perennial problem that strikes at the core of what we do. Resolving it is at the very top of our priority list.
We are working (and have been working since the Autumn) with drainage experts, our grounds maintenance company and Merton Council to urgently find the causes and devise solutions.
Whatever the cause or causes, the solutions are not going to be simple or cheap and will require a substantial investment from the OWA and its members.
We cannot put an exact figure on how much until we have the suite of options to consider, however we should not be surprised if the cost approaches £500,000.
In light of the above, raising significant funds for this project in the coming months will be something you will see further communications about both from us and the sporting section with which you are principally involved.
However there is no doubt that we will once again be asking for your help and generosity in any number of ways to help us reach our fundraising target.
Rest assured that we will explore every avenue of funding available but we are confident in our members’ desire and determination to create a quality and reliable facility that is usable year round.
So, please do let us know if you win the Euro Millions Jackpot this week!
New Brewery Deal on the way
Damian Woodward (OWFC Chairman and OWA committee member), has put his considerable experience working with AFC Wimbledon to good use and we are delighted to announce that he has negotiated a new brewery deal with AB InBev. Again, this will produce some badly needed cash and a higher profit margin than our existing relationship with Carlsberg, assuming we reach certain sales targets.
This new deal will provide a range of top named branded drinks and afford us the flexibility of bringing in guest beers from time to time. All your favourites such as Youngs Ordinary and Guinness will of course remain a staple offering.
We will be keeping our pricing under review and we would like nothing better than to return to our pre-pandemic status as a member’s bar offering better-than-pub value. However, much will depend on what our staffing costs will be after we are permitted to open again, and what safety regimes we will have to impose, for example, table only service
Contracts Being Reviewed
Since September, the committee has been reviewing a number of contracts and relationships connected with the facilities in order to try and run things more efficiently.
For example, our Treasurer Sam Shethran, has been doing some tremendous work with our finances and has renegotiated our waste management contract which has and will produce significant savings of hundreds of pounds every month.
The OWA and Donhead will also be working much more closely together on financial matters to ensure that we are running things as efficiently as possible, particularly in relation to the grounds maintenance costs. This relationship is moving from strength to strength and will be critical in relation to the flooding issue described below.
Utilities and other contracts are also being scrutinised and we will update you about those in due course.
The first 60 meals go out to Kingston Hospital
Thanks To All Volunteers
Thanks to everyone who has volunteered their time, money and baking skills over the last few weeks.
We have had 20 volunteers working with Richard to produce over 1700 meals for NHS staff so far and our bakers have produced over 1200 portions of cakes, cookies, flapjacks and other tasty treats.
We received the following from a member of staff thanking you all for all the hard work.
Hello and thank you again to all of you at The Old Wimbledonians Club from another grateful Kingston Hospital staff member! We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity in providing such nutritious food (and some treats too) for us, we often don’t have the energy to prepare our lunches or dinners for the next shift after we’ve clocked off the day before.
With best wishes, stay safe and well
Sign up to bake for Kingston Hospital ICU and COVID ward staff meals
Many of you have expressed an interest in baking for the Kingston Hospital meals.
This is very welcome and in order to make sure we don't get inundated with too many baked goods on a particular day, we have set up an online rota which you can access via the sign up button below.
We're currently doing around 80 meals a day and the requested baking quantities have been set accordingly.
Cake or cookies need to be in simple portion size and individually wrapped. Cookies, flap jacks or cupcakes fit the bill.
Please avoid nut products and fresh cream or other dairy products which have a short shelf life.
They can be dropped off at the back door of the clubhouse between 9 am and 1 pm on the days you pick from the rota.
Richard will leave ingredients for collection as available, help yourself to what you need when dropping off your baking.
Baking slots are for 12 portions and there are 7 per day on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 14 on Mondays and Fridays (to cover the day after as well).
So if you think you can produce 24 cup cakes for a particular day then sign up for 2 slots on that day.
Funding target for Kingston Hospital meals reached
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members, we have reached the funding target to enable us to provide meals for Kingston Hospital ICU and COVID ward staff until the 7 March.
Any money left will then be donated to local good causes such as the Kingston Hospital Charity who support Kingston Hospital by: funding cutting edge equipment and high quality clinical research; helping create the best possible patient environments; and recognising the dedication and caring commitment of staff by supporting their development and wellbeing.
There are still some volunteer slots left to help Richard prepare the meals.
Wimbledon College is now amongst the top 10 State Schools as measured by alumni in Who's Who
A recent report released by Keystone Tutors entitled DOES ALMA STILL MATTER? THE SCHOOLS EDUCATING THE NATION’S ELITE which is an analysis of schools featured in Who’s Who and Desert Island Discs finds Wimbledon College in the top 10 State Schools up 30 places in the rankings from last year.
The authors use Who's Who "in the hope that this monumental (though under-explored) resource could present a new angle on schools in the UK. We liked the fact that it measures ‘impact on public life’ in a way that would see alumni recognised even if they would not have shined in an academic league table. We also hoped it would throw out the names of schools that were especially good at adding value: it is not unsurprising when a highly academically selective school comes top of an academic league table but it is more worthy of comment when a less academically selective school repeatedly produces high achieving alumni."
Supporting frontline staff at Kingston Hospital ICU and COVID Wards: volunteers and donations needed
Given the latest surge in the new strain of coronavirus that is rampaging through our community, we hope that you and your family safe and well.
While we hope that you can shield yourself and your loved ones by locking down, we know that is not an option for some in our community, not least our brave and dedicated NHS staff.
Through our connections with the medical profession that were built up during our involvement in the previous, and truly inspirational, Project Doing a Bit last spring, we understand that the ICU and COVID wards are being overwhelmed.
Doctors and nurses are reporting back to us that it is much worse that it was in April and that they are working double shifts and days off to cope with the demand.
Consequently, the OWA committee is unanimous in its determination to do something to help and show our support and gratitude and we know that you will want to help too in whatever way you can.
What are we going to do?
In consultation with Kingston Hospital, Critical NHS, Dons Local Action and other partners, we want to kick start a new initiative to help Kingston Hospital staff by providing meals to its overworked staff.
We have been asked to provide 460 meals per week, which we will gladly do, but we can only do it with your help.
Our aim is to provide meals for the next 7/8 weeks.
What do we need?
We should be enormously grateful for both your spare time and a donation, however small.
The costs will be approximately £500 per week, but we only have 4 weeks worth of funds. We are therefore looking to raise at least a further £2,000.
In addition to funding, the initiative will require volunteers to prepare, pack and label food.
We will set up a rota which will run between 9:30 am and midday, 5 days of the week.
We would like to have 2 volunteers for each day of production and those days are:
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Sunday
You will be able to sign up to volunteer online (see below for more details).
The first day of operations is hoped to be this Wednesday 13 January 2021.
We would also be very interested to hear from anyone who could provide us with a regular supply of meat (fresh or frozen); chicken, beef, mince etc., ideally for free, but at an attractive reduced price, if not. Please email chairman@oldwimbledonians.com if you can help in this regard.
Covid-Secure Environment
All volunteers must be acutely aware that there will be a rigorous safety and cleaning regime in place to protect you, staff and other volunteers.
We will provide you with PPE but feel free to provide your own mask.
Shielding and/or need a cooked meal?
If you are shielding and cannot get to the shops and/or find cooking difficult during lockdown, please contact us to see if we can provide you with a freshly cooked meal for a nominal donation. Please email chairman@oldwimbledonians.com with regard to this.
Thank you
It is humbling to serve an organisation whose members’ instincts are to help others during tough times, as you all did so magnificently during the first lockdown.
Therefore, in anticipation of you rising to the challenge once more, we thank you most sincerely and in advance for all your help and support.
Best regards,
The OWA Committee
To Donate
19 January 2021
We have now reached our funding target and any money left at the end of the project will be donated to local good causes.
Thanks to everyone who has been so generous.
To Volunteer
You can sign up to fill one or more volunteer slots using the online sign-up page.
Please contact Tim (membership@oldwimbledonians.com) if you have any technical issues in signing up.
Once you get involved, you may be asked to be added to a WhatsApp group to update you on activities and requirements.
Big Prize Club 6th Draw Results
The results of the 6th draw of 2020 were,
First Prize (£980 ) Alan Brand
Second Prize (£110 ) John Simmonds
Third Prize (£80) Andy Salmon
Fourth Prize (£30) Alan Gardner
(due to 8 participants leaving total has had to be reduced by £80)
OWCC Cricket Match raises over £500 for the CLIC Sarjent Charity
Match organiser Tim Richards with Sachin Shah and his dad Manoj,
The OWCC Sunday Campions Team consisted of Tim, Max Jacobs, Jon Ankiewicz, Hiren Doshi, Jay Doshi, Laurence Ghafur, Joe Bell, Anthony French, Andrew Wijayesinghe, Adrian Dawson, Liam Hearty and Kennedy Warwick (many of whom can be seen above)
The cricket match between the OWCC Sunday Campions and a Wallington School pupils and staff XI raised over £500 for the CLIC Sarjent charity which fights to stop cancer destroying young lives, like that of Old Wimbledonian Sachin Shah who is undergoing treatment for osteosarcoma .
By all accounts it was an excellent game of cricket and it was good to see so many of Sachin's friends and OW club mates down at the clubhouse supporting this great cause.
Organiser Tim Richards said "It was a good day and an emotional one for all concerned particularly after Sachi's speech and words of thanks. "
Thanks to all of you who have already given so generously, the Just Giving page is still live and accepting donations if you've not had a chance to donate yet.
Project "Doing a Bit": Preparing and delivering ready meals for NHS Staff, Community Carers and the vulnerable.
The OWA committee working with resident chef Richard Brown have organised a project called Doing a Bit to help provide meals for
Doctors, Nurses and Staff on the Night Shift on the Covid 19 Wards at Epsom Hospital. They are currently staying in a hotel where there are no self-catering facilities, and they really need a supplier of nutritional hot meals while they are doing their 12-hour shifts.
Cairn House In Kingston, which is a 24 hour supported accommodation project which aims to provide a safe environment for adults with multiple support needs to enable them to move towards independence.
A food preparation facility has been set up at the OWA to prepare ready meals. We also have a commitment from a neighbourhood group from Kingston, The Revellers, who have a rota in place for the next 2 weeks to make cakes and cookies, in addition to the meals we are sending out.
The project has been fortunate to get assistance from the Save The Food Club which has been very busy collecting surplus food from Aldi and Tesco to use as ingredients in the meals as well as The Dons Local Action Group who have set up donating stations outside major supermarkets in Merton and Kingston who are also supplying ingredients for the meals.
In addition the OWA's regular suppliers, CF & MF Steer and Hill Park Express, both in Surbiton, have been fantastic in their support for this endeavour.
The project has already expanded to deliver meals to St George's Hospital in Tooting and St Helier Hospital in Sutton - the staff are all working long shifts and these meals may be the only hot food they have all day.
We are committed to be in place for the next 4 weeks (over 4000 meals based on current forecasts), but we will take on new requests and we will stay open as long as there is a need.
In addition to the amazing help above, we have also received donations from Donhead School and the Friends of Donhead and a justgiving page has been set up - please give generously to this not for profit project to enable us to keep providing meals to those on the front line.
You can also help out by signing up to bake cakes and cookies.
Project Doing a Bit Updates
If you can help with Doing a bit:
Please phone Greg on 07971 165990 or drop him an email.
Saturday 18 April
We started on the 6th April and we made and delivered 72 ready-made meals.
Yesterday we opened another satellite operation, which works in tandem with the OWA hub, and we made and delivered 300 ready-made meals.
So proud of the team.
Thursday 16 April
100 vegetable curries and rice donated by staff at Zaika Essence of India Restaurant in Teddington High Street.
Wednesday 15 April
Calling all home bakers
Could you bake cakes, cookies or flapjacks and deliver them to the OWA clubhouse?
If so, please sign up to bake on the Doing a bit of baking.... page. Don't worry, you don't need to open an account - just put your name down against a date and include an email address so we can send you a reminder the day before!
Each slot is a commitment to bake a batch, ideally of 24 portions. So if you see that there are two cupcake slots available, that means we are hoping to have 48 cupcakes in total donated on that day.
Tuesday 14 April
More local businesses getting involved with Doing a bit:
A cornucopia of Lamb Biriyani has been provided by the Princess of India in Morden
Stefano and Naoko of Vallebona in Wimbledon have created 78 meals today for the project
Saturday 11 April
Thank you to the OWA Punters Club whose generous donation takes us to 70% of our justgiving target.
Wednesday 8 April
This fantastic initiative has already delivered nearly 200 meals along with cakes in it's first few days of operation:
72 meals delivered to Cairn House in Kingston
30 meals delivered to the Epsom Hospitals Intensive Care Unit
30 meals delivered to St Helier's Hopsital in Sutton
60 meals delivered to St George's Hospital in Tooting
We have received very generous donations of £300 from Donhead School and the Friends of Donhead, and we always need more help to carry on this great work, please visit our justgiving page to donate and please phone Greg on 07971 165990 if you can provide ingredients or microwaveable containers (these can be dropped off at the clubhouse most days from 3-5 pm) or any other support for this initiative.
OWA Supporting Merton and Kingston with the Dons Local Action Group
The Dons Local Action Group has been set up by AFC Wimbledon fans working closely with the AFC Wimbledon Foundation to help individuals and families across Merton during the current health crisis.
They need volunteers for Food Collection points in Merton and Kingston Boroughs as well as drivers and people to work at the Kingsmeadow food hub. People are being asked to do 3 hour slots.
If you can help then please contact the OWA Committee's Dave Doran on 07866 628198.
You can donate online to the Dons Local Action Group on their justgiving page.
Look out for each other & share these details with friends, family, neighbours & online communities.
If you need help from the Dons Local Action Group:
Call 020 3301 4511 or email dla@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk
WHAT'S NEW
Simon Potter releases "Losing it all" - all proceeds to the Jesuit Referee Service
Cover designed by Wimbledon College Head of Art Nick England. Note the building on it!
Some older Old Wimbledonian's may recall reading The Fate of Glassingall nearly 30 years ago – a comic novel full of the sort of stories which the author used to tell his English classes. Losing It All is a modernised, updated, illustrated version of the old novel – just right for an escapist read in lock-down!
ALL PROCEEDS TO THE JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE
London boy, Anthony, spends the summer holidays of the 1960s at Glenturret, his grandfather’s fascinating haunted Scottish country house. When it becomes a boarding school, Anthony goes into its Sixth Form, and eventually teaches there until a horrifying mystery closes it. With his inheritance after Grandpa’s death, he buys the house, but the dark force has not gone…..
“Whisks the reader effortlessly from a sunny ‘60s boyhood to the present day.” The Hill
“This sort of book is one of the better ways of recording recent history.” BBC World Service
“I was maimed by excessive laughing. Tears blotted out the text.” A. Brook
“Hilarious and touching.” The Month
“Full of such funny stories.” R. Dickens
Available online from Amazon (£4.99 Paperback, £2.99 Kindle) and from Witley Press bookshop.
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation, at work in over 50 countries around the world with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.
JRS UK has a special ministry to those who find themselves destitute as a consequence of government policies and those detained for the administration of immigration procedures.
Check the Events & Bookings page for past and future events
Join the OWA
Come and be a part of the OWA
3 minute film of the grounds circa 1929 . Clubhouse is where the chairs are. Click on image below to see on Pathe site.
Big Prize Club 5th Draw Results
The results of the 5th draw of 2020 were,
First Prize (£980 ) Paddy Weston
Second Prize (£110 ) Eddie Bell
Third Prize (£80) OWCC
Fourth Prize (£30) Becky Dowds
(due to 8 participants leaving total has had to be reduced by £80)
Remembrance Page Now Available
Check out the Remembrance Page which remembers those from the College who died in the First and Second World Wars.
We have also updated the Notable Alumni page
If you have any questions or would like to provide a referral to us in advance, don’t hesitate to get in contact: owrfc.chairman@gmail.com
Friends of the OWA now available
This is a register of local businesses, trades & professional services who offer discounts and reduced rates to OWA members.
If you browse through it you may spot some shops, restaurants, etc that you and your family use on a regular basis during the course of a year.
All businesses on the register offer discounts and preferred rates to OWA members and at present we have over thirty offerings such as:
Click here to see full details on all the great Friends of the OWA offers.
Old Wimbledonians Cricket Fixtures, Results and Tables
Old Wimbledonians Rugby Fixtures, Results and Tables
Surrey 2 Table
24 December 2021
Old Wimbledonians Football Fixtures, Results and Tables
Saturday Firsts Junior Division 4 South
Saturday Reserves Junior Division 6 South
Sunday Firsts Premier Division
Sunday Reserves Division 4
Sunday A Division 8
Next Fixtures
Latest Results
League Table
Sunday B Division 13
Next Fixtures
Latest Results
League Table
Strollers Division 3
League Table
Fixtures
Results
Amblers Division 6
League Table
Fixtures
Results
OWA Notice Board
The October Don is here
The October 2019 edition of the The Don, the monthly newsletter for the Old Wimbledonian, Wimbledon College and Donhead community is now available.
Here are just some of the features available in another packed edition which can be found on The Don page:
A review of the Crooked Billet
An unimpressive roast dinner
View from the Top - Ben Ryan
I got huge satisfaction out of seeing people bloom
The Don’s Don - Graham Turner
It still brings a lump to my throat to this day
A New Season and a new captain
A new era for the OWRFC
Old Boy Greg Barnett (1963 - 1970) releases first solo album at 68
GREG BARNETT
Gold Coast, Australia
Greg Barnett is an Old Boy from 1963-70, who after a career in IT, retired to Australia, and is enjoying being creative at last.
He describes himself as a 'competent but non-professional musician' and already has two co-written albums to his name: Not All It Seems (2002) and Prescient (2015).
The all-new The Flat White Album is his debut singer-songwriter album and was officially released January 1, 2020. It is digital-only - no physical media are available as it is the equivalent of three LPs. Triple albums have always been an extremely rare event in music, even more so for any solo debut, due to recording time, marketing difficulties and manufacturing expense. But it is available totally free on Spotify and his own website. Please consider giving the first couple of tracks a listen … you may like it … it’s relatively gentle and melodic.
Greg says that ‘creating this album has been the culmination of musical endeavour over a long life. The goal was simply for me to scratch a musical itch, meet a challenge and, hopefully, for other people to hear and enjoy’.
All the music was written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered at home. He used a laptop to produce a complete package containing the music, website content, logos, sheet music, the ‘making of’ story, ‘karaoke’ versions, and the first few of many music videos.
Conceptually influenced by The Beatles’ White Album, it also has an acoustic approach, 30 tracks, new and old unreleased material, and simple white artwork. The addition of the word ‘Flat’ in the album title refers to his preferred coffee rather than to the singing! Greg’s musical influences include ELO, James Taylor, Leonard Cohen and many others from the 60’s and 70’s. Styles range from unadorned voice/guitar to orchestral.
Simon Potter’s award-winning poetry has been published in eight anthologies. It draws on the same startling imagination that surprises in his fiction, has mastery of form, from blank verse and sonnet to vers libre and haiku, and exhibits his usual control over word choice and imagery.
“Dark Lines” is an extraordinary collection with themes as varied as demonic possession, abuse, OCD, punishment, adoration, compulsion, childhood whimsy, hauntings, ecology and black humour - what might be expected from the inchoate landscape of the worlds of dream and nightmare.
Available from Witley Press Bookshop and Amazon (£10 paperback, £5 Kindle).
Sacred Heart Church Restoration Fund: Simon Potter has new book of poetry out and was able to donate £1000 from sales of Shooting Europe.
You may recall that back earlier in the year, you very kindly popped an advert for a novel of mine "Shooting Europe" on the OWA site, in case some OWs might be interested. The idea was that a percentage of sales from all sources would go towards the Sacred Heart Restoration Fund which is sore need of money. Thanks to buyers of the novel, I was able to give the Fund £1000 in the Spring.
Although I know that many OWs might shriek with utter horror at the thought of reading poetry (although not, I hope, those who had me for English over the years since 1972!) but I have a poetry collection out in September called "DARK LINES" - poems from the darkness of dream and nightmare.
Also of some interest is the fact that its very scary cover was designed for the publisher by Nick England, Head of the College Art Dept.
I plan to give the Restoration Fund another dollop of cash from sales of this work.
"Shooting Europe" is, incidentally, available via Amazon as a paperback or Kindle, if any of the chaps fancy a solid satirical thriller. Details of both books can be seen on
HALF OF ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE RESTORATION FUND
For information about the need for serious maintenance work on the church, why they have had to make this appeal and for more details please see the Parish Appeal webpage
OWA Big Prize Club
HAVE SOME FUN AND SUPPORT THE OWs, WARRIORS AND CRICKET COLTS
Due to unforeseen circumstances there were only 3 draws last year in 2019. Therefore there will 9 draws this year.
The results of the 1st draw (January) of 2020 (there will be 9 draws this year) were, (due to 8 participants leaving total has had to be reduced by £80):
First Prize (£980) Des Nangle
Second Prize (£110) Richard Travers
Third Prize (£80) Jim Begley
Fourth Prize (£30) Des Hawkin
The OW Big Prize Club, a registered lottery, has six annual draws. The first prize in each draw is £1000 and there are three lesser prizes.
50% of BPC subscriptions is distributed as prizes and the remaining 50% supports the facilities for the OWs, the cricket colts and the rugby warriors.
Total prizes distributed in 2018 were c. £ 7600. Annual prize money increases with increased numbers of subscribers (the annual number of draws has recently been increased from 5 to 6 per year).
New subscribers are very welcome. Anyone can join and you can have as many "tickets" as you wish for yourself, your children or grandchildren. The BPC subscription is £10 pcm.
If you would like others to join the BPC please email owabigprize@gmail.com.
A big thank you to all that give their support via the BPC and good luck in future draws.
Best Regards.
Dave Doran
Big Prize Club AdminTeddy Totman (1952-59) awarded Knighthood of St Gregory
The Old Wimbledonians Association would like to congratulate Teddy Totman (1952-59) on his recent prestigious award from Pope Francis of the Knighthood of St.Gregory. This is a well deserved recognition of many years service and time generously given to the Catholic community of Epsom.
I can proudly confirm that Teddy has received the Knighthood of St Gregory which had been awarded to him by Pope Francis in recognition of the many contributions that Teddy has made to the church over the years – to the parish, the Diocese (of which he is trustee), plus his involvement with marriage preparation and Teams of Our Lady. The award was presented to Teddy by Bishop Richard, who visited our parish especially for this occasion. Celebration of Mass and liturgy was very special, particularly with so many of Teddy’s immediate and extended family and friends.
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Epsom
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election to that seat by the College of Cardinals.
The Order of St. Gregory the Great is one of the five Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See. The honour is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women (and sometimes in rare cases to non-Catholics) in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labours, their support of the Holy See, and their excellent examples set forth in their communities and their countries.