Chairman's Report 2009
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 10th AUGUST 2008-13th SEPTEMBER 2009
Fellow Regentonians,
On a personal note the above period has resulted in what can best be described as a consolidation of our efforts over the past 3-4 years in strengthening our association by a unified team. I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the team including all executive members and all other Regentonians who have contributed in so many different ways to our success.
I would also like to take this opportunity to specifically thank executive members who have all been steadfast and diligent amidst the constraints of this formidable endeavour. Thank you, Carl Hotobah-During, Mike Edwin, Umarr Sesay, Ivor Nelson-Williams, Katib Iscandari Jr, Dr Radcliffe Lisk, Rowland Gordon and Lindsay Benjamin. Special thanks also goes to Walton Shooter, John Peters, Coleridge Coker Jr, Dejean McEwen, Freddy Lawson, Kenneth Benjamin, Jonathan John, Rev. Emile Jones, Ezekiel Tunde John, Johannes Fowler, Vidal Allen, Thomas D. Aitkins, Milton Golley and Abayomi Bright for their commitment, advice and assistance in various ways to date. It is also heartening to know that Cyril Showers is steadily recovering from his illness and we wish him and his family the very best during his training for the priesthood. I have also recently heard from Mohamed Lamin Kamara Kolleh , Assistant Treasurer who has been away in Sierra Leone for most of the year working on a project.
MEMBERSHIP & THE EXECUTIVE
Over this period, we have continued to see new UK based Regentonians adding to the numbers, participating and attending events/meetings. We continue to cleanse our data and update our records and need to be advised of any change in particulars of UK based Regentonians or any new arrivals in the UK. As we continue our vigilant cost cutting exercise, the recent cost of mailing the AGM notice was £60.00 recently as opposed to what would have cost over £300.00 a few years ago.
FUNDRAISING & FINANCE
a) Fundraising Dinner & Dance (FD&D) This highlight of the alumni annual calendar was held at the Metropole London Hotel, Edgware Road W2 on the 2nd of May 2008 following on from our 2008 event which was the start of the reinstitution of this event after an absence of several years.
With reference to ticket sales, an operational profit of a few thousand pounds was made and the estimated projection of 250 tickets was sold. Profit also included income from the sponsors donations, raflle and pledges on the day. An income and expenditure report for this event has been published and I would like to commend Carl Hotobah-During, Vice Chairman for his diligence in this matter. With reference to our guests and the general feedback it was a resounding success and I would like to take this opportunity to thank H.E. Melvin Chalobah and Mrs Dunni Chalobah for their attendance as Grand Chief Patrons. It was pleasant to note that on the night that Mr Chalobah was actually a Regentonian who had an interesting experience attending the school in the sixth form for a short period of time before moving on to the Albert Academy. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Gipu Felix-George and Mrs Harolda Greywoode for their splendid job as MCs on the night. Charles Max-Macarthy & Junior Kallon were excellent DJs, and yet again, I would like to thank Tunji Lightfoot-Taylor/Managing Director Mount Aureol Freight Services for his consistent sponsorship of this event and a raffle prize donor,
b) Thanksgiving Services - March 2009. It is evident to all of us that our annual thanksgiving service is not a commercially profitable activity but serves it’s own unique purpose and inspires us all as we give thanks to God and fellowship with other Regentonians, friends and family for the gift of education and the opportunity of attending our noble institution. I would also like to thank the clergy for their steadfast role in this regard and in particular Revd Ola Crown for his inspiring sermon. In addition, Gipu Felix-George’s reminiscences were excellent.
SLGS FREETOWN
There has been regular communication between us here in the UK and Mr Akinwande Lasite in Freetown either directly or through UK based Regentonians visiting Freetown or through active Sierra Leone based Regentonians visiting the UK for short periods. On behalf of our UK association I would like to thank him for his continued diligence and excellent leadership. The board of governors and staff need to also be commended for their hard work and co-operation. Walton Shooter, Vidal Allen and I met Clifford Roberts during the summer who is a very active Regentonian based in Freetown. He is now back in Freetown and will be informing Fellow Regentonians in SL that we have ring fenced £5000 for the construction of the new block and that we await terms of reference to proceed with the disbursement of these funds. I recently have heard from Mr Roberts who has returned from the USA and whilst there, he had discussions with the alumni association and we are now looking to co-operate and strengthen our ties with them for the overall benefit of our alma mater.
CONSTITUTION
This is a very important and outstanding issue that is still being deliberated and we continue to look to our Vice-Chairman and legal luminary, Carl Hotobah-During for guidance in this matter. Carl made an excellent submission earlier on in the year but the process was then stalled as we then endeavoured to focus on fundraising activities.
VISION & LEGACY
My aim over the past few years as chairman was to strengthen our capacity as an association whilst raising our profile and finances through more fundraising activities. As I relinquish this role having served for the last three years and a year prior to that as Vice-Chairman, I wish my successor all the best and will make myself available to the individual for any advice or guidance required during his tenure. It has been a joy to serve and I have definitely acquired a set of wide ranging new skills in the process..!
I will also be committed to publishing the paper entitled “21st Century Regentonia” as declared in my 2008 report which will require input from UK based Regentonians, our USA branch and the Regentonian community in Sierra Leone including present pupils too. It will be based on our past and unique heritage being transposed into the modern day to ensure that we all are aware of what can be achieved during this present age and for future generations. Areas to be addressed within the document and for implementation over the next 3-5 years incl. more scholarship provision, improved sporting facilities, optimisation of 50 acres of land at the Murray Town site (and Regent Square if it is still available) including the resurgence of the boarding school for sons of alumni in the western world and other parents); technological advancement including the use of solar power and improved lab facilities to name but a few…
It is interesting to note that I recently attended the Bo School (OBBA) dinner and dance in my capacity as chairman where I was introduced as a VIP after the internationally acclaimed journalist Sorius Samura whom I know very well. From my perspective this was a gracious gesture by the President, Mr Joko Macfoy having spent some of my childhood years at Njala, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone where my father was a university lecturer. Njala is just an hour away from Bo by road. In speaking to Mr Macfoy it became quite apparent to me that there were inter-school football and cricket matches between the Bo School and the Grammar School decades ago in Freetown and Bo respectively and I do strongly feel that this is an activity that should be reinstated as a platform for nation building in Sierra Leone. On speaking to older Regentonians, they attested to this fact and said that the demise of the railway in SL was the reason why these type of activities were discontinued which seemed to be a quite a plausible explanation as SLGS pupils and Bo School boys did not benefit from these type of experiences during the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and to date.
WEBSITE
Franklyn Wellington and Michael Bobb-Lucas continue to do a great job and a young Regentonian Arthur Massally who has volunteered his services to the association has approached us. Please visit the website at www.regentonians.org An impending newsletter will galvanise Regentonians around the world and we should be able to raise significant revenue from it through the sale of school ties, bows, caps, t-shirts and other forms of memorabilia and accessories. We look forward to receiving your photographs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would also like to thank the following people that have offered assistance in various ways-
v My wife, Anifa Cole and family for their support during my tenure as chairman.
v The wives and families of all active Regentonians as they allow us to invest time, money and energy in our alma mater.
v Nanette Johnson-Reid Ex-Chair AWOGA (UK) for her sound advice
v Paradise catering for their assistance in supplying tasteful food for our thanksgiving receptions
v Husai John, wife of Jonathan John for her continued record breaking sale of dinner and dance tickets
v Erika Busci Conference & Banqueting Manager, Metropole London Hotel and her colleague Mehdi who was very helpful on the night of our Dinner and Dance.
v Regentonian and Non-Regentonian sponsors, patrons and guests at our Dinner and Dance and all those who attended our --Thanksgiving service and supported us in March.
OBITUARIES & WELFARE
Walton Shooter continues assiduously to ensure that SLGS OBA (UK) is represented at funerals of Regentonians and also where close relatives and family members of active UK based Regentonians have passed away. He also notifies our body about Regentonians who are suffering from ailments. With reference to bereavements, donations of £100.00 are made to families in certain circumstances.
MEETINGS
Our next meeting is on Sunday 11th of October. We now have a regular place to meet on the 2nd Sunday of every month in the Upper Room at the Masons Arms Pub, 51 Upper Berkley Street, London W1H 7QW at 4.30pm. The use of this facility is free of charge thanks to the efforts of Lindsay Benjamin who secured the venue. It is centrally located in the Marble Arch/Edgware Road area of London and very accessible by all forms of public transport. There is also free parking on Sundays in Pay & Display parking bays and on single yellow lines.
Final Submission by Magnus N. Cole – Chairman, 13th September 2009
