Chester Cathedral Old Chorister's Association
2000 Events

The Association programme for 2000 commenced on Saturday 4th when some of our local members joined in with the Cathedral Boy's Choir to sing Choral Evensong, including the Ayleward responses, Noble in B and The lord hath been mindful of us (from Ascribe unto the Lord) by S.S.Wesley. We were well supported by other members, relatives and friends of the OCA in the congregation. The assistance of David Poulter, the Director of Music, with the arrangements for the service was much appreciated. Afterwards, following a suggestion made at the 1999 AGM, singers and supporters adjourned to the Commercial Hotel for light refreshments and a drink. This "Mini-Social" proved to be an excellent way to round off the afternoon proceedings.

A Treasure Hunt on foot around the City was planned for June, with the aim of bridging the gap between the older choristers of the Choir and the OCA, but unfortunately, the event had to be cancelled due to reasons beyond our control.

Our Annual Reunion held on November 11th Marked the 80th Anniversary of the founding of our Association. It was pleasing that we had a very satisfactory attendances throughout the day, including 26 at the AGM during which a photo was taken outside the West Front of the Cathedral of some of those at the meeting. later in the afternoon during the second part of Evensong, members took part in the usual procession to the Memorial Window in the Cloisters where we remembered the OCs killed in the two World Wars and also those who died in the previous twelve months, including Peter Dryland, whose death on November 25th 1999 was reported in last years report, Arthur Arnold Hogg (1935-39) and J. Alec Rossbotham (1932-37). Also remembered by name were those OCs who because of age or illness, couldn't be with us. 85 people attended the Annual Dinner held in the nearby Moat House Hotel, including 46 members, of whom fourteen were aged 21 or under. We were pleased to welcome our official guests from the Cathedral, including Dean Stephen Smalley, and also to have Michael Lake (OC Chelmsford) with us.

At the end of 2000 membership of the Association totalled 175, including the following new members who joined from the two Choirs: Peter Fayle, Mark Thomas, Rhiannon Pugh and Leo Binks. We welcomed back the following OCs who rejoined us: John Connah (1951-54) Aldeburgh, Tom Hogarth-Jones (1956-61) Leicester, Matthew Buckmaster (1986-90) and his brother Tim (1987-93), and also Gordon Ashford (1928-34) during a visit the City from his home in Bermuda. As reported last year, a notice regarding membership of the OCA has been displayed in the Cathedral for about two years to which, so far, the response has been very limited, but we now have an OCA website and recently this has brought forth three enquiries: two brothers in Houston, Texas, and one from an OC in Ontario, Canada.