We are delighted to let you know that Vishal Balasingham (OC, 1992) was appointed as President last night. A message from Bally is below;

Dear OC,

It is with great honour and excitement that I write to you as the newly-appointed President of the OC Society. Our Society has a long and proud history of fostering connections among alumni and supporting our school. As we look to the future, I am eager to build on this legacy and explore new ways to enrich our community.

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to my predecessor, Len Collacott, for his dedication and leadership. His hard work has positioned me well to embrace new opportunities and overcome any challenges ahead. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the members and trustees of the committee for your ongoing support and engagement. Your passion and commitment are the bedrock of our Society.

During my two years as President, I wish to encourage further the pursuit of excellence that our school stands for, whether through academic achievements, professional accomplishments, sports or service to the Society. We help by contributing through our bursaries, charitable donations and mentoring pupils. With this in mind I will:

1. Work to provide more opportunities for alumni to connect, network, and collaborate through in-person events.

2. Expand our mentorship programmes and offer more bursaries by fundraising to increase the funds available to help future students.

I am confident that, together, we can achieve these goals and more. I encourage you to stay connected, participate actively, and share your ideas and feedback. Our Society's strength lies in the diversity and dedication of its members, and I am eager to hear from you.

Thank you once again for your trust and support. I look forward to serving you as President and working with each of you to advance the mission of the OC Society.

Thanks,

Vishal Balasingham

We pass our congratulations on to Bally and, at the same time pay tribute to the sterling work of our Past President, Len Collacott, who has been nothing short of outstanding in his dedication to, and support of, the Society. 

Andy Thomas (OC, 1976) becomes our Secretary, taking up the mantle from Doug Lodge after a very successful twenty-two years in this role.

We wish them both well in their new posts and thank Len and Doug for all their sterling service to the OCs.

As well as appointing a new President and Secretary, we had other important business to conduct in reviewing the name of the Society and I can inform you that the vote to change the Society name to “The OC Society” was passed.

Photos kindly taken by Martin Tayler