The CCCS OBA was founded in 1933, and exists to keep former pupils and choristers in touch with the School, and with each other. All former pupils of the School, whether choristers or not, may join the Association. 

 

 

The Association arranges Reunions, usually at the School, on a regular basis (usually every two years).  The date of the next one will be announced in due course.

 

Concert at the School in which Members play or sing an item of their own choice.  The next is on Saturday 3rd March at 7.30 pm.

 

Cricket Match on the School Playing Field on the first Sunday in September.  This year's match will be on Sunday 2 September 2012, at 1.45 for a 2pm start.

 

 

In addition, the OBA has joined with the Parents’ Association to form a Trust in June 2006, called the Christ Church Cathedral School Educational Trust (registered charity No 1114828), for the benefit of the School. The CCCS ET exists to provide extra funding for specific projects at the School, but has the long term aim of establishing bursaries and scholarships for talented potential pupils from financially challenging backgrounds a well as support the Outreach programme the school carries out within Oxford itself. Grants of £6500 have been made to date to upgrade the IT system, replace the pre-school play area and provide outdoor furniture for the quiet garden project.

 

The money for these grants has been raised by a biennial Singing Workshop & Concert in Christ Church Cathedral, directed by Dr Stephen Darlington, Organist & Master of the Choristers. The most recent Singing Workshop took place on 9 October 2010. The next is to be held in November 2012, date to be confirmed.

The Cardinal’s Newsletter is sent out to all members in January every year. It contains news of the School, Reports of events, Information about forthcoming events, Articles of interest to former members of the School. Members are invited to send in their own news, and thus keep in touch with former contemporaries and friends. Old Boys are invited to send in their news to the Editor, Mike Ward michael-ward49@o2.co.uk

 

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Saturday 3 March 2012 at 7.30 pm at the School, in the Hall of the Sir William Walton Centre.

Members play or sing an item of their own choice.  An accompanist is provided, and will be available for rehearsal time beforehand.  This is a free event including refreshments.  Please contact Richard Lane richardlane@blueyonder.co.uk if you would like to take part or just come along as audience.

Sunday 2 September 2012 at 1.45 for a 2 pm start on the School Playing Field

 

This is a free event including refreshments.  Please contact Gordon Hughes gordonhughes@btconnect.com if you would like to take part or just come along as spectactors.

 

 Singing Workshop & Concert

Saturday 2 February 2013 in the Cathedral directed by Dr Stephen Darlington

Works to be rehearsed and performed:

Vaughan Williams - Five Mystical Songs;
Faure - Requiem;

Choristers of the Cathedral and Worcester Chapel choirs will take part.
Lunch available in the Great Hall.  Further details in due course.

The rain relented and by the time the cricketers arrived at the field, the wicket had been mown, the boundary flags put in place and the sun was shining.  In time honoured fashion the teams were selected by height - those at the end of the line, should not feel aggrieved, for Sachin Tendulkar would have been with them and he would be in most people's top team of the last twenty years.

It was the Mynheer XI which batted first, but for much of the innings that would be too glorious a verb.  The bowling was varied in all senses and it certainly tested the abilities of the wicket-keeper, who rose to most of the challenges superbly.  This variety did though cause problems for many of the batsmen and it was not until Nick Schneider came to the crease and hit a number of powerful shots that the scoring rate increased.  The most successful bowlers were Reuben Mynheer and a guest, M. Smith - he also batted with ability, was he perhaps a cricketing star, playing for contractual reasons under a false name? At the declaration - something not done in a limited over match since Somerset at Worcester in 1979 - the Mynheer XI had reached 72.

A flurry of boundaries speedily launched the Hare innings and the side was never in any serious difficulty.  Partly this was due to the fact that the bowlers failed to bowl enough dot balls, but, in mitigation, it is always easier to score runs if you can reach the ball, and the batsman also seemed to pick out the senior professional rather too regularly.  The end came with a sweetly struck four through the off side, so victory to the Hares with a number of overs to spare.

It was good to welcome members of the 2011 unbeaten school team, who tried their best to raise the overall standard - thanks are due to Paul Wavell, who has helped to produce a great number of good players and who also prepared the wicket and umpired on the last weekend of the holidays.

The Hughes family appeared to have the largest number of players and supporters, and the Bearn family had the equal highest number playing, but the Family of the Match was the Mynheers, not because of any sartorial elegance when batting, but because of the wonderful food that Lisa provided for everyone at the end of the game - this year electricity in the pavilion - great to see some modern touches to go with the fifty year old photographs - meant that a hot drink could be offered too.  Many thanks from us all.

However the Man of the Match was the enthusiast who, unlike a certain Lancashire captain who won an award for scoring 0 and not bowling, scored all the runs in impeccable style and in a very colourful fashion, Mike Barry, who ventured forth on British Rail on a Sunday in order to score for us.  However even this consummate professional found the pace of Old Boys' cricket with a constant supply of action almost too much to handle and sought respite from the Umpires.  A great afternoon, roll on next year.  I look forward to seeing you on 2nd September 2012.

 

The Hall of the Walton Centre was again required for some lectures as part of the Oxford Literary Festival, but this time we were able to fit in round them.  Practising and refreshments beforehand took place in the Beecham Room, and then we hurriedly moved over to the Hall for the concert itself, making the occasion more informal and Do-it-yourself than ever! Members of the audience had to help push the piano into the Hall and re-arrange the chairs before they could sit down!

As always, performers announced themselves and their own items, and also stated the year they left the School, Adam Smith started the programme by singing two songs by Richard Strauss: Zueignung and Die Nacht.  Next was a piano solo, Venetian Gondola Song by Mendelssohn, performed by Mitchell Keely, who followed this with a very comic song, in which he sang and accompanied himself, entitled "F Sharp" by Tim Minchin.

We then heard a Flute solo by Andy Blyth, playing the Allegro first movement of a Sonata in B flat major by Jean Baptiste Loellet.  Next was John Howarth, who gave us a dazzling violin display, playing the Polonaise Brilliant in A major by Wieniawski.  After this Jamie Blinko sang a Bass solo "Lord God of Abraham" by Mendelssohn.  The last item was Beethoven's piano trio in C minor, Op 1. No. 3, first movement, performed by Myles Hartley (piano), John Howarth (violin) and Richard Lane ('cello).  However, before the concert ended, Mitchell Keely was persuaded to return and accompany himself in another comic song by Tim Minchin, entitled "Peace Anthem for Palestine". Afterwards we were very glad to see KT Bruce, who took photographs, and we then returned to the Beecham Room to finish up the refreshments.

The evening was considered a great success, depending as it does on several who have performed regularly, plus a few new ones each time.  We are also indebted to Myles Hartley, our resident accompanist, and the entire Mynheer family (Nick, Lisa, Gabriel and Reuben) for their great support and preparing the refreshments.

 

The Association has an archive containing back numbers of the school magazine "The Cardinal’s Hat", starting in 1941 (with some issues missing); also some copies of a previous magazine (1918-20), Minutes of Committee and General Meetings, Reunion reports, etc. Any member wishing to inspect the archive or obtain further information should contact the present Keeper: Christopher Franks csdtc@hotmail.com

Members requiring further information, and former pupils who are not already members, are invited to contact the Chairman:

Gordon Hughes: gordonhughes@btconnect.com

Membership subscription is £12 a year, payable on 1st. January to the Hon. Treasurer

Nigel Willis: nigelcwillis@hotmail.com

Instructions for payment will be given when you contact us!

News of members can be sent at any time to the Hon. Editor of The Cardinal’s Newsletter. A new Editor is to be appointed at the Reunion on 18 June 2011. In the meantime, please contact Gordon Hughes as above.