A Message from the Chairman of the Old Southendian Association

The Old Southendian Association has well over 2400 Members and exists in order to sustain friendships formed through the school and the Association for the benefit of past, present and future Southendians.

Each year the members elect a President from within its ranks to lead the Association. The President’s role is important as he represents the members at the many events and ceremonies to which the Association is invited. An Executive Committee and various sub-committees, comprising member volunteers, both men and women, look after the affairs of the Association, seeking to stimulate the Members’ interests and deliver a wide range of activities and events to appeal to all ages – currently our oldest Member is in his 90s!

 

Old Southendian affiliated clubs have traditionally been the start point in the Association for many of our members and they are as strong today as they have always been. The Football Club celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2010 and the Hockey and Cricket Clubs will soon be celebrating their centenaries. Other affiliated clubs include Golf, Arts, Bowls and the OSA Lodge.

 

Communication is key to the OSA and we have a number of ways in which we share information: the traditional annual magazine; text; phone; email; Facebook; the website www.oldsouthendianassociation.org; direct contact; and post! All of which are important to various sectors to keep in touch. 

 

Most recently our strategies have been designed to increase awareness, member numbers and participation, which in turn would allow us to work more closely with the school on opportunities that benefit all Southendians.

 

Historically the Association has always been financially supportive to school projects and notable contributions range from providing the organ in the Main Hall and help with the Sports Hall, to donating prizes for Prizegiving and cups for the annual ‘Cock House’ competition.

 

More recently the Association has added a good number of initiatives which rely on the experience and seniority of our members to pass on advice, help and opportunity to current students and this combined with popular social interaction form a vibrant and thriving organisation.

 

Attendance at the Association’s 2010 Reunion Dinner was a record breaking 250, with half the diners being men and women under the age of 30, a fact not lost on the President who commented ‘Our strength is our self-reliance and our motivation is the value of our friendships formed through the School’.

 

Students are eligible to join the Association on leaving the school and reaching the age of 18 and we strongly recommend membership.

 

 

Clive Shiret

(Athens 1973 - 75)