Our intrepid reporter, Dave Tooze, reports on the recent OC Open Day and cricket match v the school 1st XI

OPEN DAY : 23^rd June 2017
 
Emanating from an inspired idea by Fred Forse, over twenty years ago, Open Day continues to be a very popular event in the O.C.’s year.
 
The appropriate agenda commenced in the Pavilion with a welcoming tea or coffee served by two young ladies from the School’s catering staff, and an opportunity to renew acquaintanceship with fellow attendees.  A number of people have travelled a significant distance and in the past, OCs have visited from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand to name but a few.  This year was no exception and we were pleased to welcome international TV and Film cameraman David Bowerman and his wife, Kay, over from Spain, who we had previously met up with last year on our trip to Newbury Races.  Also from Spain, via his house in Devon, was our old friend and Roundway contemporary Nick (Alfie) Biggs.
 
The O.C.s split into small groups for a school tour; each under the guidance of a very informative and engaging sixth form pupil.  Our guide was interestingly  from the Oasis Academy as one of the recipients of a Jim Tolman bursary.  The itinerary is totally flexible and can be tailored to suit particular areas that the visitors may wish to see.  With two Roundway, and an Aldington, former boarders on our tour we visited the old dormitories, now converted into Common Rooms.  However, on the Roundway floor we located the brackets which held the wooden plinth on which the fire escape housing was located, plus the retaining bar to which entire apparatus was hooked.  Surely future archaeological artefacts !  To the uninitiated our apparent fixation on fire practice (vividly described by John Perry at last year’s annual dinner) was it being Colston’s nearest answer to an Alton Towers ride, invoking excitement and total terror in equal measure.  Also of interest was the Fitness Room (formerly the Fives courts which were donated in the 1950s by Mr Victor Fuller Eberle of the Merchant Venturers) and the Squash courts of which only one of four is still used for that purpose.  In the 1970s and 80s every squash court in Bristol was fully booked week on week.  Quite remarkable how sporting habits change.  The hitherto sacred ground of the old Sixth form Library is now a Chemistry Laboratory, but the delightful stained glass windows remain.  The swimming pool has changed  little but we were assured that it is no longer cleaned by an army of boys scrapping off algae and other winter accumulations with a piece of pumice stone.  The new Playing fields and pavilion adjacent to the river Frome are hugely impressive as are the Hilborne Gardens.
 
During our tour the staff and pupils were very happy to talk and discuss changes and developments and even listen to our anecdotes of times long past.  Many of the changes greeting new visitors, illustrate that the School has successfully steered through the long transition from being a boys boarding, to a co-educational day school,  plus updates and enhancements, some of which are ongoing.  Clearly, standing still has never been an option for Colston’s.
 
On return to the Pavilion OC President, Bob Jennings, welcomed the visitors and invited everyone to enjoy the magnificent buffet that the school had provided.  Lasagne, a wide selection of salads, cheeses,  followed by deserts, were absolutely superb and our thanks must go to Head Chef Andy and his team.
 
There was just time for a quick beer and a short move to the Cricket Field to watch an O.C. XI, put together by George Thomas (he assured me that he had not exceeded the Salary Cap!) versus the School XI.   Batting first, the O.C.s lost two wickets in the first over, but then a determined stand took the score to over 100 before the next wicket fell.   I had to leave for Parkway Station to catch Alfie Bigg’s train to Devon, but  subsequently heard that the match went down to the last ball and ended in a dramatic tie at 210 runs each.
 
Again, a very enjoyable day and I recommend to O.C.s who were not able to make this year’s Open Day that they make an early entry into their diaries to avoid disappointment in 2018.
 
Our appreciation is very much due to Bob Jennings, Tracy Mace, the School for it’,s hospitality, guides and catering staff,  and to our star cameraman, Doug Lodge.
 
Click below for gallery of Doug Lodge's photos