The Society is one of the key places where our past is remembered and the continuity of the institution of the school is safeguarded. Together with others (the Archivist and the Editors of the Haileyburian spring to mind), the Society brings the corporate memory alive so that the ethos of the school, that fragile intangible but crucial thing, can be upheld and develop. In his report to the AGM on Saturday the Master mentioned small children in Kazakhstan singing the school song. Modern English Haileyburians do not sing the Vivat - but they do share the ethos of the place, such that we have a continuity with them. Our links with oneanother and our shared memories help that to be the case.
There is so much going on in the life of the Society. George Staple told us in the report of his year how he had traveled the world, and how in Australia a suggestion to the local secretary of a meet for a drink became a formal dinner in the space of a couple of days. This energy is a hallmark of the Society, and I hope that I can contribute to it. There are plans for the reunion at the National Memorial Arboretum and hopefully there can be a dinner in Oxford next term. Meanwhile OHs are gathering in pubs and on touch lines; contributing to careers fairs and concerts; organizing fund-raising activities and supporting initiatives such as the Haileybury Youth Trust. There will be much more this year as the energy of Haileyburians makes things happen.
It was pointed out as I was nominated, that I am a parent of children at the school and a member of Council. I hope that these links will help to contribute to the work which George Staple has begun, and which he will carry forward, to review for the first time in its fifty three years, the life and work of the Haileybury Society. How does this alumni organization relate to other parts of the Haileybury community? Can or should we do more or do differently? This leads us into the future and will be perhaps even more important in its long term ramifications than the other work of this year, which will be to look to the Society's contribution to the 150th anniversary of the school in 2012.
I am immensely honoured to be your President and thank those whose confidence in me has been shown by this election. George's shoes - and those of his distinguished predecessors - will be very hard to fill. I am looking forward to the attempt.
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