It’s hoped the dinner  - being held in the School on the evening of Saturday, June 30 and costing £20 per person – will appeal to OAs of all ages.

A booking form, together with a timetable for the weekend’s activties is below. Places for the dinner must be booked in advance.

 Ashvillian Society President David Bulmer said: “We look forward to seeing as many OAs as possible during the course of the weekend.

“I’m delighted that a black tie dinner is a major factor this year and I’m confident it will be well supported.”

 Celebration Weekend at a Glance

Ashville Society Black Tie Dinner – Pre-Order Form

Name:                                                                                                                    

Please reserve me ……… places, priced at
£20 per head for the Ashvillian Society Dinner, being held at Ashville College,
Green Lane, Harrogate from 7.30pm on Saturday, 30 June 2012.

Please make cheques payable to Ashvillian Society and send them, together with this booking form to David Bulmer, Ashvillian Society President, 37 Pecketts Way, Harrogate, HG3 1EW by Wednesday, 22 June at the latest.

Please indicate below if you have any dietary requirements.

 Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern WR14 3ET

 April  20, 21, 22 and 23, 2012

Dear OA

The 2012 Midlands Weekend for OAs, Partners, Guests, Governors and Staff, will be
taking place again this Spring in the Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern.

Once again, the organiser for this auspicious event is Midlands Branch member,
Jeremy Nightingale, who can be contacted on 01527 874 565 for the clarification
of any details.

The proposed programme is that members and their guests arrive on the Friday
afternoon and stay until Sunday for a long weekend break in the good company and
with plenty of local places of interest and good local walks. There is a lot to
do!

On the Monday, a group visit to the Morgan Motor Co has been arranged anyone
interested.

Rates for a double or twin room at the Abbey Hotel are below. Single accommodation is also available and Members wishing to stay locally can book for the Dinner
only.  The dress code for the Dinner, which is black tie, school blazer or lounge suit. Members staying at the hotel are responsible for settling their own accounts.

PLEASE BOOK WITH THE HOTEL DIRECT if wishing to stay in the Abbey Hotel

DINNER ONLY (Saturday, April 21). Please book with Jeremy Nightingale sending payment with the tear off slip. Cheques made out to “The Midlands Branch of the Ashvillian Society”. Please enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope.

HOTEL: Double or twin room including dinner, bed and breakfast
£130 per room per night.  Single room including dinner, bed and
breakfast £120 per night

**Please quote booking reference Ashvillian Society when booking your accommodation.**

DINNER ONLY:  non residents £30 per person

HOTEL DETAILS: Abbey Hotel, Abbey Road,
Great Malvern, WR14 3ET Tel: 01684 892 332, email: abbey@saova.co.uk (when
booking, please quote ref: Ashvillian Society)

………………………………………………………………………………………………

To: Mr Jeremy Nightingale, Sprite House, 58 Stratford Road, Bromsgrove, West Midlands, B60 1AU.                                                                      Tel: 01527 874565

From:……………………………………………………………………………………….

Address:……………………………………………………………………………………

Post Code:………………………………Tel No:……………………………………..…

Dietary Requirement:……………………………………………………………………

 Please reserve………places for me at the Malvern Dinner
on Saturday, April 21, 2012. I enclose payment of £………. Made out to Ashvillian Society Malvern Branch.

Please reserve………places on the group visit to the Morgan Motor Co, Malvern, on Monday, April 23 at 11am. Two hours approx for the
cost of £10 per person to be paid on arrival at the Morgan reception.

Are you willing to come in and talk about your current career, offer work experience, or careers advice?

If so please do send through your details to a.coad@ashville.co.uk.

Ashville Needs You!

Leslie Smith – who was Exams Officer and taught Chemistry at the independent school from 1975 until his retirement last September – suffered a heart attack on December 30 whilst carrying out volunteering duties on the North York Moors Railway.

Leading the tributes to Mr Smith, Ashville College Headmaster Mark Lauder said: “Les was a dedicated teacher who shared his love of science with literally thousands of pupils over the years.

“He was popular with both students and teachers alike, and was at his happiest either leading experiments in the Chemistry department or performing with the school choir or orchestra.

“For many years, Les had taken charge of overseeing the A Level and GSCE examinations, and he did this with his usual zeal and efficiency. 

“His death has come as a great shock to all at the school as he had only just retired. Our deepest sympathies are with his widow Margaret.”

Just before Christmas, Mr Smith – who in his first years at the school had been a live-in house master in Elmfield House – attended an event at the school organized by the Ashvillian Society, where he spent the evening catching up with former pupils and colleagues.

Roger Pygott, a close friend of Mr Smith’s and a former colleague and head of Elmfield House, said: “Les was my house tutor, I was his best man and he is Godfather to my daughter Nicky. Our relationship goes back a long way!

“I remember talking to him when he first came for interview. I didn’t gloss over the commitment required to be a resident master in a boarding school. He accepted the challenge and entered into many aspects of school life and gained the respect of fellow staff and pupils.

“Bureaucracy was his forte. He was always willing to fill a niche. He cut his teeth for me on house bank! He progressed to school plays, internal exams and then of course external exams.

“His musical contributions to Ashville are well known. Less well known was his support of the AMCC (staff cricket club). For many years he was the scorer. 

“His interest in the game was purely intellectual but he would also readily volunteer to umpire junior cricket matches and take various teams away.”

A service of thanksgiving for Mr Smith is being held at Wesley Chapel, Oxford Street, Harrogate, at 2pm on Saturday (January 14). Somber clothing need not be worn.

Leslie Smith, who was Exams Officer and taught Chemistry at Ashville College from 1975 until his retirement last September.

Further details regarding a memorial service will be posted on this site as they become available. If you would like to pass on condolences to his family, please send any correspondence to the school and they will be forward accordingly.

Update Editor David Simister said: “If you have any news you would like to see included in June’s Update, we would love to hear from you. My contact details are found under the Officers section on this site.”

Deadline for submissions is April 10, 2011.

Friday 20th April – Monday, April 23, Malvern Reunion Weekend: Abbey Hotel, Abbey Road, Great Malvern, WR14 3ET Tel: 01684 892 332 (when booking, quote ref: Ashvillian Society)

Friday – A day for those wishing to have a longer break, to investigate and enjoy Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Saturday - To meet up during the day and to take more time to enjoy Malvern and District or relax

Reunion Dinner 7:30pm Reception, 8:00pm dinner

Sunday  - The opportunity for reminiscence, to walk on the hills, or venture out into the country. Activities and Places of Interest • Worcester City The Cathedral The Commandery Civil War Museum Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum • Elgar Trail Tour • The Blossom Trail through the Vail or Evesham • Eastnor Deer Park and Castle • Malvern Hills and the Spring Wells • Hereford • Ledbury • Upton upon Severn • Visit Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb (est. 1905)

Monday – 11am, Group Visit to Morgan Motor Co.  (To book places, please contact Jeremy Nightingale on 01527 874565).