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                                        THE STERNIANS’ ASSOCIATIONChairman’s LetterSternian Reunion 1962Iam delighted to be back serving my second term as Chairman. As an LWC Governor I have remained connected to both LWC and The Sternians’ Association since my original term ended in 2009. The Sternians’ Association has a rich and wonderful history. Originally known as the ‘Old Wandsworthians Association’ it was formed in 1926 but, sadly, became dormant after 1929. It was revived in 1935 and the first reunion took place at Whitsun that year. The annual subscription at that time was two shillings and sixpence and school ties could be bought for one shilling. Reunions continued until 1939, were suspended because of the war, and resumed again in 1950, when the Association was reborn as the Old Sternians Association. Later the ‘old’ was dropped.Over the years it has evolved. The first reunion at Long Sutton was in 1950, attended by 65 members. Annual reunions continued at Long Sutton. In 1956 the first regional reunion was held in Bristol, attended by 50 members. 1957 saw a reorganisation with a committee including representatives of all the regions, and Rules and a Constitution. Today all former pupils are now automatically members, and it is years since subscriptions were charged for membership. Recently The College introduced a termly levy for current pupils, effectively giving them lifetime membership as Sternians once they leave LWC.The Centenary year was a fitting one for a rethink about how the Association works. The day-to-day administration is carried out by the College, and all the events are planned and run, in consultation with Committee members, by the amazing team in the Philanthropy and Alumni Relations Office.Whilst the Association is thriving, evidenced by the remarkable turnout over the Centenary Festival Weekend and other recent Sternian events, there has been a loss of appetite amongst the Sternian community to participate in the running of the Association in the same way it has been run since 1957. The retirement of John Bacon as your Chair in early 2023 posed a succession dilemma. There was no Vice-Chair to replace John, and a call for volunteers to apply for the post of Chair was unsuccessful, hence my agreement to take on the post as interim Chair.For these reasons your committee wishes to change the way the Association is run, and why the consultation process to achieve this was started in December. Please do support our proposal, a copy of which can be found on the Sternians’ Association website:https://sternians.org.uk/category/news/We think it will be a much more inclusive way of engaging even more Sternians to have a say in how the Association is run, and what events are put on for your participation and enjoyment. SIMON CLEMENTS(1976, Summerfield, A983)11

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