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Care Home Visits Christmas 2024Hilary Bastone delivering xmas 2024

Monday 23rd December, the Old Dartmothians' Association President Hilary Douglas Bastone and Almoner Rob Waycott delivered Christmas gifts on behalf of the association, to four of our local care homes - Fleet, Hyne Town, Beacon Court and Northernhay. Hilary seen here presenting some of our gifts to the residents of the Fleet Care home.

MEMBER & COMMITTEE TUESDAY MEETINGS 2025

Next Meeting - March 25th

Future Meeting Dates. 

May 27th; July 29th; September 30th; November 25th; January 27th 2026

Usual 7:30pm time, venue, Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club - All welcome.
Alan Orchard. Secretary.

D-Day 80 years Commemoration - 2024 

Old Dartmothians' President, Hilary Bastone and others, attended the service at the D-Day Memorial on the embankment, and subsequent unveiling of a commemorative carved wooden statue of a commando in the Royal Avenue Gardens. Thank you to all who managed to attend. 

 D Day 80 2024 JH 2(Photo by courtesy of Jonathan Hawkins) D Day 80 2024 JH 6(Photo by courtesy of Jonathan Hawkins)

CENTENARY DINNER 2023

All images supplied by Focus Media Marketing (WEBSITE) thanks to Paul and Anna for generously giving their time and expertise to record the day.

Focus Media Dinner 22

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Centenary Dinner Setup Crew 2023 
Photo Belle Mitchelmore
Focus Media Dinner 1  Focus Media Dinner 2  Focus Media SID 1 
 Focus Media Dinner 14  Focus Media Dinner 15 Focus Media Dinner 16   Focus Media Dinner 20

PRESIDENT FOR CENTENARY YEAR 2023 IS Mr ALAN ORCHARD

The Old Dartmothians President for our centenary year, 2023, is Mr Alan Orchard.

The Old Dartmothians Association (ODA) have appointed, long-time member, Mr Alan Orchard to be our president for 2023, a year that will mark one hundred years since the association was founded.

At the inauguration ceremony, held during the association’s annual general meeting at the Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club, Alan made the following statement to the members.

“My name is Alan Orchard, I was born in Above Town, Dartmouth in 1947, I followed my mother and grandfather by joining the ODA in the late seventies and then moved to the town when I retired eight years ago. Firstly, I would like to thank Gordon Pepperell for such an excellent job he has done as President of the Old Dartmothians Association in 2022. Secondly, I would like to thank the members for electing me as their President for this our centenary year, and I will do my utmost to make it a memorable year for all. Special thanks also go to the townsfolk and businesses of Dartmouth, who dug deep into their pockets last year to raise the funds to repair the fountain in the Royal Avenue Gardens, without their support it would not have been possible for the members of the Old Dartmothians Association to facilitate the repair and return the fountain to its former glory. Our plans for this year will start with the completion of the railings surrounding the fountain, a task that will be completed before the summer season. We will also be ensuring that we celebrate our centenary, which is quite an achievement, with a Centenary dinner to be held at the Guildhall, Dartmouth, on Friday the 25th August, which coincides with the date of the founding of our association. Other events this year are in the early stages of planning and will be announced later. 

We are also continuing our recruitment campaign for new members, so anyone who meets the requirements please contact our secretary Richard Rendle, details of which can be found on this website.”

 

PRESIDENT'S DINNER 2022


The association held a “thank you” dinner evening, on Saturday the 26th of November, for the current president Mr Gordon Pepperell. Association member, Hilary Douglas Bastone, addressed the attendees with a summary of Gordon’s term in office during 2022.

Gordon’s period as President has had its challenges. The issue of the fountain in the Royal Avenue Gardens did put him and the committee officers under pressure.

However, Gordon has been extremely supportive of the officers and members in their attempts to rectify the challenges that were presented, not only with the Police and the Town Council, but also to the ordering of the new parts and pieces, right through to completing the task including the painting of the railings, and the town’s thanks go out to all the membership.

Friday evening, we had the switch on of the town Christmas lights, an event which attracted around an estimated 200 people, with the Old Dartmothians members serving up over 100 cups of mulled wine.

There have been many reports with photos of the event on local social media, and right there on centre stage of the event is the fountain with the Christmas tree in the background, so the target to complete the project in time for Christmas celebrations was met.
Gordon has been fully engaged in all areas of the association’s work during 2022 as well as being instrumental in attracting and enrolling an influx of new members, which is something needed for the Association to continue to flourish.

Next year is the Association’s centenary, and the committee are seeking ideas of how best to celebrate the occasion. Richard Rendle, our secretary, is keen to formulate a list of worthy projects for the town.

Douglas ended the address by asking the assembled members to stand and raise their glasses in a toast of thanks and appreciation for all of Gordon’s efforts.

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