Strong OP element in 2009 Founders' Day
A strong OP flavour was evident throughout a highly successful Founders' Day 2009 held at the College on Saturday July 4.
Five OP-generated prizes were awarded including the Marcus Graham Art prize and the Austin Anderson prize to an extraordinarily talented student from Estonia, Polina Kalentsits.
The Keith Evans prize awarded to the 3rd Form pupil showing the greatest potential for teamwork and leadership was won by Kayleigh Hutchison. Keith was on hand to congratulate the winner.
The Jude Memorial Prize was awarded to Somers Brewin, while the OP Prize awarded to the outstanding ''A' level student was shared by two exceptional students - Adam Kelvey and Edward Nation.
The Queen's Gold Medal was won "on personal merit" by a girl for the first time in Pangbourne's history - Chief of the College Felicity Pollock. The boys (and everyone else present) gave her a standing ovation.
The Board of Governors presented a farewell gift to OP Robin Knight (56-61) who has retired after 15 years on the Board. Robin thanked the governors and remarked that he was retiring "with the College in as strong and healthy a position as it has ever been." Chairman of Governors, Michael Allsop, announced that Robin's next Pangbourne project would be to produce an illustrated history of the College ahead of the school's centenary in 2017.
Finally, many OPs - too many to mantion by name - from the 1970s gathered at Big Side to watch a 20/20 cricket match between an OP XI and the College, while even more OPs of all ages turned up to watch "Beat Retreat" and end the summer term.
LCS adds:
"This was the third year that the College had invited a specific decade of OPs to attend Founders' Day, although all OPs are always welcome. In 2009 it was the turn of the 1970s.
Numbers were boosted by the unexpected appearance of OPs who left in 1984 - 25 years ago. Phil James (79-84) had organised a dinner at the 'Elephant' hotel the night before which about 17 OPs attended. Half of them stayed on the next day. Mark Martin (79-84), who now lives and works in Sydney, later wrote:
It was very enjoyable to come back to the College as the last time I was at Pangbourne was in 1994
Many of the OPs in attendance brought their families and picnics and watched the OP 20/20 cricket match vs the College. The OPs won! -albeit narrowly.