This month's newsletter can be described as 'very much a mixed bag'. One thing we must not lose sight of in the mix is the short survey we are asking you to complete to help inform discussions at next month's face-to-face committee meeting.
We only meet in Oxford once a year, plus Reunion Day. Other committee meetings are held over Zoom.
We are also approaching the final call for the BA offer this month. There's a request for your experience of Discounts for Teachers, and links to the Brookes offers for Alumni, such as ourselves.
OCMCH have some interesting work for LGBTQ+ History Month including an article by Derek Gillard (63-66).
BA (ad eundem) from Oxford Brookes
Last Call for 3-year Cert Eds from the 60s & 70s
We are still seeking Cert Eds from the '60s & '70s who are entitled to request a BA (ad eundem). Are there any College friends you have not yet checked on?
• We have received 68 requests so far.
• Several hundred people who do not see this newsletter would qualify.
Please find the missing Westminster contacts. Why not catch up by email or phone and tell them about the BA offer? Please do whatever it takes to find the missing Cert Eds. Brookes tell us this offer will NOT be repeated
There are full details of how to apply for the BA (ad eundem) in November's newsletter. Here is the link to click on, or to cut and paste:
Please send all info and documents to Peter Steadman at: WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com
Do not assume we know where your Westminster friends are.
We probably don't - but we'd like to!
A National Strategy on Men's Health ?
In December 2021, the UK Government detailed its vision of a Women's Health Strategy for England.
This is to be strongly welcomed, not only because there are many significant health issues that have been neglected over the decades with regard to women and their health, but also because of its implicit recognition of the role that sex and gender play in health policy.
In light of this, the Men's Health Forum has been leading a campaign for a national strategy on men's health (www.menshealthforum.org.uk/strategy) to address the many existing and emerging health issues facing men.
Click here to read the article published in the March/April 2022 issue of Trends in Urology & Men's Health
Ever on the lookout for ideas to save us money, Discounts for Teachers has come to our attention. Have you or a colleague used them? Have they been useful, reliable?
Please drop a line with your views on Discounts for Teachers to Peter Steadman on the usual email address: WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com Thank you.
Brookes Alumni Perks
Whether we studied in Horseferry Road or on Harcourt Hill, we can enjoy advantageous rates and access as alumni of Oxford Brookes. Whatever our view of the history, we might as well make the most of what the University has to offer. Click on the image below to find out more.
With a little exploring of the weblinks you will find that a month's swimming sessions in the College pool could cost just £15.99 - that is both the over 65 rate and the alumni rate. Take your pick. POOL PRICES.
Click on the graphic below to look at the full Brookes Alumni offering.
One of the speakers in the Open Lectures series mentioned above is Westminsterian Imam Monawar Hussain (95-98).
His discourse covers his journey to becoming an Imam, from his degree in theology at Westminster College to his training and making a difference in his current role as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. You can reach Monawar's lecture directly by clicking on his picture here.
Brookes 0 - Worcester 1
After some 10 years working in the Brookes Alumni Team, and being The Westminster Society's main link there, we are sad to see the departure of Alumni Engagement Manager, Mollie Ashley.
We have benefited enormously from Mollie's experience, expertise and guidance over the years and we have much to thank her for.
Do keep in touch Mollie.
You will always be welcome to attend our Reunions, and, of course, we wish you every success as you take up your challenging new role as Alumni Manager at Worcester College, Oxford. (We've clearly shown you that "W's" are the best!)
Here's THE Date for our Diaries:
Save the day - let's get it in the diary - right now !
More information in The Westminsterian
If there is an activity or event idea you'd like us to consider
- please get in touch
If you could be a steward or a runner on the day - we need you too.
We are plan to include a further BA Celebration
for the new BAs, and
for those with the 2020 award
who could not come to Oxford in 2021
whether unwell, shielding, isolating, or cautious, at the time,
you will be very welcome to celebrate on September 3rd 2022
Being Gay at Westminster College, 1963-66:
Some Reminiscences
OCMCH have published an interesting article by Derek Gillard (63-66) on being gay at Westminster in the 1960s.
OCMCH would welcome responses to the article, giving a feel for being LGBTQ+ at Westminster in other decades. You don't have to identify as LGBTQ+ to respond. In fact, it would be more interesting to receive a mix of responses to the article.
It reminded Peter S of when he came out to College friends, one of whom said: "I knew that in the 1st Year." His reply: "Well I wish you'd *****y well told me. I had no idea."
• Alison Rowe69-72, was in the Hereford area in the 1990s, sadly widowed by then and with a son of school age, does this jog any memories?
• Val Green, tutor, 1990s, Ana Bacharach 96-99, would like to make contact
• Andrew Arscott - originally from Carshalton, he and his wife could be back in the South London area
- Martin Lown 68-71 would like to make contact with Andrew
Peter Sergeant is interested in contacting:
• Chris Lawther 70-73 - anyone know her married name? • Lynda Sergeant (Ewart, 70-73?) - Peter's former sister-in-law, who is in contact today?
• Michael Tom Thomas 61-64 - Michael Frost and others, keen to renew friendships
• Claire Brown (Smith, '94) in Wiltshire - Shirley Anderson would like to make contact • Sue Taylor (Hanson, 66-69) - Judy Hurd (Green, 67-70) is seeking contact
If you know any of these Ws, please contact the usual address:
WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com
And the good news is thatMary Burbeck (now Hagell) has been found, and is probably reading this right now!
We have also heard that Ruth Keene, mentioned last month, married Andrew Petherick. They live near Bedford.
We welcome requests for renewed contact between Westminsterians. Where their alumni list entry is up-to-date it can be fairly easy, but we don't mind a challenge if you only have a few clues. Ask Peter S at:WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com
Your Privacy: the Society will not pass on your email address unless you give permission. For your protection, we ask one of the parties to agree to their details being passed to the other even when the Society is in touch with both.
Alumni & former staff of
Westminster College, London & Oxford
Subscribe to
The Westminster Society
If you are not yet a subscribing member of The Westminster Society please consider joining today.
The most tangible benefit of joining the Society is that you will receive a copy of our annual magazine, The Westminsterian, each year.
We have a small stock of magazines put by, and we'll send you a copy when you join The Westminster Society - today.
LIFE MEMBERS:
We do not know how much it cost to join The Westminster Society for life!!! in different decades.
But we don't think our predecessors did too many sums, and they certainly did not invest your subscription money to protect against inflation.
Please ask yourself whether the amount you paid back then realistically covers your membership for this many years.
Any contribution you now choose to make will be put to good use running today's TWS and preparing the Society for the future.
When you click on the instructions above they should expand and tell you how to join (or rejoin) the Society.
If your device does not let you do that, this link will take you to the same information on our website:
and we will send you the new 2022
issue of our annual magazine
The Westminsterian
Subs Paid - but
NO ADDRESS to send The Westminsterian:
We need addresses, please, for these Members who regularly pay their subs yet have not said where to send their magazine.
If any of these names ring a bell with you, even the vaguest hint could help us find them. Peter S would like your info on:
WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com
Do you know any of these Westminsterians ?
• Mr J A Blackhurst, 1997 leaver, was perhaps in Milton Keynes
• Rita (Margarita) Kimberger, 1994 leaver, last known in Banbury
• A M Brett
• Brodhurst
• N F Dias
• S & A DIcks
• S J Dry
• C M Johns
• R G Nye
Thank you.
The Westminster Society Committee to Meet in Oxford
The full committee, including our ex officio members, will be meeting on Harcourt Hill on Wednesday 6th April.
We hold this one face-to-face meeting a year as it helps to build relationships between committee members who may not have been at Westminster in the same decade.
Of course, the last face-to-face meeting was a while back, February 2020, mere weeks before the first lockdown. Since then we have a new committee and a new Chaplain.
To inform parts of this meeting we invite you to complete our short survey, which you will findon this link.
We have questions on how computer literate you are, how you feel about September 3rd, local and regional meetings, telephone calling, and online lists of alumni. All that, on this link.
We hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. We would be delighted to receive your contribution for the next issue. Don't be shy. You know the email address to send it to.
Next month we should be able to tell you more about about our September 3rd 2022 Reunion & BA Day. So start planning your trip, and talking to friends about their plans too.
Very best wishes.
Peter R, Mary, David, Peter S
Liz, Frances Ann, John, Will
Sylvia, Miriam, Mollie, Tom
We often hear about a death a long time afterwards, especially where the alumna/us has not been in touch for a while. A brief mention here will sometimes match with a more fulsome mention on the website, and you are welcome to create or to contribute to tributes.
We have recently heard about the following:
Booton, Catherine Ruth "Clare", (Bradshaw) 64-67, died 16 June 2021, Thorncombe, Chard, Somerset
Bradley, Mark, 1965-68, BTh, died 15th January, aged 74, and is survived by Hazel (Hunt), same dates
Gibbon, Jeff (John Jeffrey), 1959-1961, d. 3 Oct 2019, aged 81, in Yorkshire, (retired from home in Barrow-in-Furness)
Hoffman, Shane A, 1996-98, died 19th March 2020, online tribute link (Fundraising for Coronavirus Research Fund, Oxford University Development Trust)
McArdell, Michael John, 1952, died 1st July 2019, at Maldon Essex
Sweet, Alan Richard Lobb, 1954, died 16th January 2022 aged 89, after a period of ill health.
This email is published by the Committee of The Westminster Society
alumni & former staff of Westminster College London & Oxford
Peter Relf (63-66), Chair Mary Lines* (Schofield, 75-78), Secretary David Gibbs (66-69), Treasurer Peter Steadman (74-78), Membership & Online Liz Stock (Bullock, 72-75), Reunion Rep All of the above form the Reunion Weekend Organising Team
Representing Area Links Coordinators: Frances Ann Johnson (England NE, 75-78) • John Wallace (Cornwall, 65-69)
Committee Members: Will Bissett (86-90) • & a vacancy
Recent Chair: Sylvia Clift (65-69)
Methodist Chaplain to Brookes: Rev Miriam Moul
OCMCH Rep: Thomas Dobson
*Mary Lines is a Director of Westminster College Oxford Trust Ltd, which is the sole trustee of Westminster College Trust, Oxford, Regd Charity 309672
