News Emails from Douai
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20th July 2020 Dear All You may have heard that Kevin Murphy-O'Connor (OD 1943-50) died on 11 July - the feast of St Benedict. He was President of the Douai Society and was very much involved in Society affairs for many years. Kevin's funeral Mass is to be celebrated on Monday 27 July at 11.30am: Sacred Heart Church 39 Norton Street Hove Sussex BN3 3BF There will be live internet streaming, which will be available through this link: www.sacredhearthove.org.uk/videos.html The congregation is limited to 30, so those ODs wishing to attend in person should call Kevin's brother, Finbar 01273 706484. The burial will take place directly afterwards at Reading Cemetery All Hallows Road, Reading RG4 5LP that is off the Henley Road near Caversham. The cortege should arrive for the 15.00 slot, the last available time. Other news from Douai The best way to keep in touch with what is going on in the Abbey is to look at our website from time to time: https://www.douaiabbey.org.uk Among the recent items there you will see reference to the fact that we are trying to bring our old bore hole back on stream, mainly to provide water for the garden. The bore oil was at the far end of the monastery, next to what became in more recent memory Fr Wilfrid's radio shack. It was drilled in 1930 and the Abbot's Council minutes record that the estimated cost was £1285 - a huge sum in those days. When we went on to mains water in 1959, it was sealed up and covered over. We have had a specialist company in to find the original hole and they have undertaken what is almost an archaeological dig in their efforts; mainly pipes have been unearthed, but none of them is the crucial one leading to the wellhead. If anyone (of the more senior ODs!) have any memories of this piece of engineering kit, please get in touch. Best wishes and keep safe Oliver 4th April 2020 Dear All I hope you are keeping safe and avoiding cabin-fever. I have to tell you of two recent deaths of Old Dowegians, although neither was a result of coronavirus. Our own Fr Louis O'Dwyer (47/53) died on 31 March in Birchwood Care Home in Newbury where he had been for the last few months. He had suffered some minor strokes over the last few weeks and in the end died peacefully. We held his funeral here on Friday with the resident community present. Unfortunately his family could not be present, but we were able to relay the graveside service to them via Facetime. I find it extraordinary that at nearly every funeral I attend some little detail emerges that I never knew. In Fr Louis' case it was the fact that he went to West Ham Grammar School before coming to Douai and therew developed his ineterst in sport including boxing; apparently he belonged to the same gym as the Kray twins! We have heard that Colin Huntley (51/55/60) also died on 31 March. Over recent years he hosted select meetings on Old Dowegians in the North of England; he lived in Halifax. May they both rest in peace. In my last circular I drew your attention to various churches and monasteries which were live-streaming mass and the divine office. This time I would like to tell you about two rather different things. Abbot Christopher Jamison, Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation has been involved in the production of some videos designed to alert people to a monastic way of regarding the lockdown and its accompanying isolation. Much of the filming was done at Douai where Abbot Christopher has his office and part-time residence. The series called "Alone Together" and can be found here: https://www.alonetogether.org.uk/shapingtheday From a more secular point of view I offer another link which comes from a local charity well known to people who live around Douai: the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. Charlie was a 28 year old who took his own life in 1997; he was known to at least one Douai family. After his death his family set up a trust to support young people suffering from depression. Douai has held a fundraising event for them in the past. They have produced a well-being plan suitable for anyone working at home or self-isolated, whether or not they have mental health issues. I hope you will find it useful: https://www.cwmt.org.uk/working-from-home Best wishes and keep safe Oliver 31st December 2019 Dear Old Dowegian Our Hon Secretary, Richard Sims, has asked me to circulate the following: Winter Lunch The annual winter lunch will take place at The Star Tavern, 6 Belgrave Mews West, London, SW1X 8HT (nearest tube Knightsbridge, Sloane Square or Victoria) on Friday 31st January 2020: 12.30pm for 1.00pm. NB: due to constraints of space, places are only for Old Dowegians (no guests) and limited to 34 on a first come first served basis. If you wish to attend, the preference is for you to pay electronically by crediting £35.00 to Douai Society (Sort Code 60-80-08 / Account number 15675327). Please use your surname as a reference, so we can tell who has paid, AND please email the Hon Sec, Richard Sims, on richardjsims@hotmail.com to let him know that you have made the payment, confirming both the amount paid and any dietary requirements you may have (e.g. vegetarian). If you must apply by post, please print out this email and write any dietary requirements you have on it (e.g. vegetarian) and post it with your cheque for £35.00 payable to Douai Society to: Richard Sims, 8 St Catherine's Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3NF. Either way, all payments and notifications must arrive by Thursday 23rd January at the latest. The payment will include a three-course meal with a half-bottle of house wine (white or red), plus coffee and port. As we will be meeting on a Friday, you will be reassured to learn that the main course will be fish! Anniversary Magazine There are still some copies of the Society's 150th Anniversary Magazine available, should any non-members wish to purchase them for just £15.00 each, inc postage. Please contact the Hon Sec Richard Sims on richardjsims@hotmail.com to request one. Any Members who haven't received their free copy, or would like to buy extra copies for friends or family, should also get in touch. Some personal news I know that various ODs met my mother, Anne Holt, over the years, either at events at Douai or elsewhere. I'm sorry to tell you that she died at the age of 93 on 21 December. She had suffered from various mini-strokes over the last few years but was able to stay in her home until September. She was very supportive of Douai in general and attended many events herself and was always pleased to hear news of the Abbey, the School and of the various Society events in which I was involved. May she rest in peace with best wishes for 2020 Fr Oliver Holt OSB 30th October 2019 Dear All I have to tell you that after many years of bad health, Fr Nicholas Broadbridge died on Tuesday 22 October. Some of you will remember him from the school, both at Ditcham and at Douai. Some may also remember as a very nippy, determined opponent in school v staff football matches. He was on our parish at Malvern for some years, but for more recently he has been for many years resident at the Abbey giving spiritual direction to many people, even though his health never really recovered from a car accident in the 1990's. May he rest in peace. His funeral and burial will be held at Douai on Wednesday 6 November at 2.30 pm. Charles Antelme's lecture reminder On Saturday 9th November, the 2nd annual Basil Gwydir Lecture on military matters will take place at the Douai Pavilion. This annual event is named in honour of Fr Basil Gwydir OSB (1878-84), the first Allied chaplain to fall in WWI. This year, Lt Col Charles Antelme DSO (84 -89) will give a talk on his distinguished Army career entitled 'La Vie Militaire'. His talk starts at 10.45 in the Pavilion, and will be followed by a light buffet lunch at the Angel in Woolhampton. The event is free, but you must please book in advance before 31st October, so we have an idea of numbers for both seating and catering. For more details, and to book, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2nd-annual-basil-gwydir-lecture-tickets-76212161627 with best wishes to you and your families Fr Oliver Holt OSB 11th October 2019 Dear Old Dowegian On Saturday 9th November, the 2nd annual Basil Gwydir Lecture on military matters will take place at the Douai Pavilion. This annual event is named in honour of Fr Basil Gwydir OSB (1878-84), the first Allied chaplain to fall in WWI. This year, Lt Col Charles Antelme DSO (84 -89) will give a talk on his distinguished Army career entitled 'La Vie Militaire'. His talk starts at 10.45 in the Pavilion, and will be followed by a light buffet lunch at the Angel in Woolhampton. The event is free, but you must please book in advance before 31st October, so we have an idea of numbers for both seating and catering. For more details, and to book, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2nd-annual-basil-gwydir-lecture-tickets-76212161627 Douai Foundation The Foundation is now up and running. The launch party took place last month, attended by Old Boys, their families and friends, and visitors from Downside, Worth and St Benet's Hall. The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster was also represented. The first grant (of £2,000) will be soon be made, to provide new laundry facilities to the pupils of the Inkamana Abbey High School. To find out more, visit the website: www.douaifoundation.org. The Trustees are delighted that the Duchess of Somerset has agreed to act as the Foundation's first Patron. Look out for fundraising events, including a gala dinner, next year. Looking ahead... A reminder that the Old Boys' winter lunch will be at the Star Tavern in Belgravia on Friday 31st January 2020. Details to follow in the New Year. Anniversary Magazine A final call to any non-members who would like a copy of the 150th magazine, edited by our Hon Secretary Richard Sims and with contributions from Old Dowegians throughout the years. The cost is just £15, which is coincidentally the same price as annual membership of the Society, so if you join now you'll get membership to the end of 2020 and a free magazine! Please email oliver@douaiabbey.org.uk if you'd like to take advantage. best wishes Oliver 7th August 2019 Dear Old Dowegian 150th
Anniversary Magazine
As promised in my
last circular, I have now sent out copies of the 150th anniversary
magazine to all Subscribing and Life members of the Society. I'm glad
to say that some people have taken up the suggestion that they should
become members of the Society in order to receive their free copy. It's
not too late - we still have plenty of copies of the magazine
available.
Garden Party to launch "The Douai Foundation" I also gave advance
notice of the Garden Party to launch the new Douai
Foundation. Can I remind you of the objects of this new trust?
It will support
Benedictine Education, both in the UK and abroad; one potential partner
is the Inkamana High School in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, founded
by the German Benedictine Missionary Congregation of St Ottilien.
If you would like to
know more about Inkamana High School, the school's website address
is: http://www.inkamana.co.za/
In due course the
Douai Foundation will have its own website.
The Garden Party will
take place at the Royal Overseas League, 6 Park Place, London SW1A 1LR
on Thursday 12 September from 5.30 to 7.30 pm.
Tickets can be bought
through this link to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/douai-foundation-garden-party-tickets-59815147717
Fr
Anastasius, the Mission Procurator of the Ottilian
Congregation, will be present at the launch, as will Andrew Hobbs, the
headmaster of Downside.
Something completely different We (ie the monks of
Douai) are thinking about testing the waters of the world of social
media. I have set up a private Instagram account to begin
with and have started following certain relevant people and
organisations (other monasteries, retreat houses, cathedrals etc) with
a view to getting a feel for this parallel world in which so many
people now find themelves living. From what I have seen already I have
the impression (this is not a unique personal insight!) that social
media in themselves are neither good nor bad, but can be used for
serious or trivial purposes.
My plan is to use
this personal account to post items from time to time on different
subjects and get some feedback from sympathetic followers before
establishing an account for the Abbey itself. We would be using this to
spread the gospel, to share our Benedictine values, to promote our way
of life here at Douai and to encourage people to attend our retreats
and other events. Would any of you (especially those of you who have
experience of using these platforms) be willing to take part in this
exercise? You could just follow me (oliverholtosb) or you might contact
me via e-mail to make helpful suggestions. I am aware that there are
many pitfalls to avoid, but I would prefer to make these in my own
name, rather than on an official Abbey account.
with best wishes
Oliver
30th July 2019
Dear Old Dowegian Firstly I have to tell you the sad
news that John O'Brien (1945-50) died on 27 July. He
was a surgeon in the Birmingham area. His funeral will take place this
Thursday 1st August at 12.00 at the church of the Sacred Heart
and St Teresa of the Child Jesus, 67 Coventry Road, Coleshill,
Birmingham B46 3EA. May he rest in peace.
Those of you who were at the AGM &
Lunch on 28 June were able to pick up a copy of the special magazine
produced to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Douai Society. This
is a magnificent production: 156 pages, packed with articles and a
great deal of material from the archives, lavishly illustrated, edited
with great care and attention to detail by our Hon Secretary, Richard
Sims. It also contains contributions from a large number of Old
Dowegians. Everyone who has seen the magazine has been very impressed.
It also includes a film on DVD called "The Douai Story", made by
Jonathan Kight (1993-98)
The Anniversary Magazine will be
distributed next week (free of charge) to all Life and Subscribing
members. To non-members it is available on request at a cost of
�15. By coincidence (or perhaps cunning marketing?) this is exactly
the
same amount as the annual subscription. So if you are not yet a member,
but would like to have a copy, why not join the Society today? Use this
link Click Here to find a copy of the Membership
application/banker's order.
You will be glad to hear that the
repairs to the Abbey Church windows have been completed and we were
able to take advantage of the scaffolding to clean the windows, inside
and out, and they are now really sparkling. We were very fortunate to
have various donations which have virtually covered the cost of the
project.
Future Date
At the AGM it was decided that a new
Foundation would be launched to support Benedictine Education; one
potential partner is the Inkamana High School in KwaZulu-Natal in South
Africa, founded by the German Benedictine Missionary Congregation of St
Ottilien. Further details will be available in due course but the
Foundation will be formally launched at a Garden Party at the Royal
Overseas League, 6 Park Place, London SW1A 1LR on Thursday 12 September
at 5.30. I will be sending out a booking form for this in the next week
or two.
with best wishes
Oliver
23rd May 2019 Dear Old Dowegian, NB Please note that this message was sent to all Old Dowegians for whom we have an e-mail address. Anyone can attend the events listed, but only members will be able to vote on the Resolution or in the elections. If you would like to become a member, please write to me asking for a Banker's Order form. The Annual Mass for the Douai Society will take place at St Mary's Church (the old school chapel) at 10.30am on Saturday 29th June 2019. This year it will be celebrated by the Society's chaplain Fr Boniface. This will be immediately followed at 11.45am by the Douai Society AGM, which all members are invited to attend. (Link to the Agenda and 2018 Minutes) This will be followed at 12.30pm by a Reception in the Pavilion (to mark the launch of the 150th Anniversary Magazine) and the Summer Lunch. Copies of the Magazine will be available to take home (free to members; £15 for non-members). At 2.00pm, there will be an Old Dowegians Cricket Match against the Melbourne Grammar School, visiting from Australia. Spouses, children and guests are encouraged to attend the lunch. Please follow the instructions on the Booking Form and note the closing date of 7th June. AGM Notice: Members attending the AGM will be asked to vote on the Resolution (to Amend Rule 21) The Council recently met to discuss the legacy which the Society might leave, once there are no longer any former pupils to make up its membership. After lengthy deliberation, the Council has decided to set up a new entity: the Douai Foundation. The charitable objects of this new trust will include the furtherance of education at home and abroad, with special emphasis on Benedictine teaching and values. It will operate independently from the Society, although a majority of its Trustees will initially be Dowegians (two former pupils plus a representative of the Abbot). This will change in time, as the Foundation outlives the Society. The Council’s proposal is for the existing Bursary Fund to be wound up and the moneys therein (which currently stand at around £100,000) to be transferred to the Foundation, to provide a starting balance on which to build. Fundraising will start immediately, and donations are encouraged in the form of both lifetime giving and legacies left in Wills. Bursaries can still be paid, but these will come out of the General Fund. This proposal needs to be ratified by the membership at the AGM by way of the Resolution. with best wishes Oliver Fr Oliver Holt OSB Douai Abbey Upper Woolhampton Reading Berks RG7 5TQ Tel: 0118 9715319 E-mail: oliver@douaiabbey.org.uk 17th April 2019 Dear Old Dowegian As some of you may know, my residence at Downside has been curtailed. I have returned to be bursar at Douai again although I still visit Downside for about one week per month. A great deal is happening there, mainly to do with the separation of the school from the monastery. I am also involved in exploring new ideas for the display and celebration of their wonderful heritage, books, manuscripts, vestments etc. Bach at Douai progress is being made on the Abbey Church high level windows repair - we hope that it will be complete by the second week of June. Richard Sims has asked me to circulate the following: Cricket v Pangbourne College There will be an Old Boys' cricket match against Pangbourne College 1st XI at their ground (Bigside, Pangbourne College, Berks, RG8 8LA) on Saturday 27th April 2019 starting at 13.30 All ODs, wives, families, dogs etc welcome as spectators London Summer Luncheon - Book Now! This year's summer luncheon will take place at the Naval & Military Club, 4 St James's Square, London, SW1Y 4JU (nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus or Green Park) on Friday 7th June 2019: 12.15 for 13.00 Dress code: jacket and tie (preferably OD tie) and the equivalent for ladies Cost: £35.00 to include three courses, wine and coffee If you wish to attend, the preference now is for you to pay electronically by crediting £35.00 to: Douai Society Sort Code 60-80-08 Account number 15675327 Please use your surname as a reference, so we can tell who has paid, AND please email the Hon. Sec. Richard Sims, on richardjsims@hotmail.com to let him know that you have made the payment, confirming any dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian) Alternatively, if you must apply by post, please print out this email and write any dietary requirements you have on it (e.g. vegetarian) and post it with your £35.00 cheque payable to Douai Society to: Richard Sims, 8 St Catherine's Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3NF All payments and notifications to be received by Thursday 30th May at the latest 2019 Annual Mass, AGM & Lunch at Douai - Save the Date Saturday 29th June 2019 (NB not on a Sunday as in previous years) 1030: Old Boys' Mass (NB taking place in St Mary's, the old School Chapel) followed by the AGM 1230: Buffet Lunch for ODs and their families in the Pavilion & long-awaited launch of the Anniversary Magazine (marking 150 years of the Society) 1400: Old Boys' cricket match against Melbourne Grammar School (on tour from Australia) Formal notice (AGM) and Booking Forms (lunch) will be circulated in due course. Final request: some years ago I produced the music and words for "Ad multos annos" - does anyone have a copy, please? with best wishes Oliver 5th January 2019 Dear All Happy New Year to you and your families. I am still at Downside and spent Christmas here, which was a bit different from Douai, but still recognisably the same joyful feast! I hope you all had a happy and holy Christmas as well. We have received the sad news of two deaths in the weeks before Christmas: Tony Flint (1944-46) died on 3 December and Justin Kelly (1951-56) died on 20 November. May they rest in peace and may their families be comforted in their loss. We are coming up to the date of the London lunch, always held on the last Friday of January. Here are the details: The annual Old Dowegian winter lunch will take place at The Star Tavern, 6 Belgrave Mews West, London, SW1X 8HT (nearest tube Knightsbridge, Sloane Square or Victoria) on Friday 25th January 2019: 12.30 for 1.00 pm. NB: due to constraints of space, places are limited to 34 on a first come first served basis. You are reminded that this lunch is reserved to Old Dowegians, but the summer lunch (1st Friday in June) and the AGM & Lunch are also open to wives and partners. If you wish to attend, the preference is for you to pay electronically by crediting £32.50 to Douai Society (Sort Code 60-80-08 / Account number 15675327). Please use your surname as a reference, so we can tell who has paid, AND please email the Hon Sec, Richard Sims, on richardjsims@hotmail.com to let him know that you have made the payment, confirming both the amount paid and any dietary requirements you may have (e.g. vegetarian). If you must apply by post, please print out this email and write any dietary requirements you have on it (e.g. vegetarian) and post it with your cheque for £32.50 payable to Douai Society to: Richard Sims, 8 St Catherine's Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3NF. Either way, all payments and notifications must arrive by 18th January at the latest. The cost has been maintained at £32.50 and will include a three-course meal with a half-bottle of house wine (white or red), plus coffee and port. As we will be meeting on a Friday, you will be reassured to learn that the main course will be fish! With best wishes Oliver Fr Oliver Holt OSB Downside Abbey Stratton-on-the-Fosse Radstock Somerset BA3 4RJ Tel: 01761 235190 E-mail: oliver@douaiabbey.org.uk |