Chairman's Welcome

It is with much pleasure for me to say to you all, welcome back and welcome. Welcome back to the many hundreds of Gattonians who are part of the Gatton Association, and a very warm welcome to Mr Morgan Thomas, the newly appointed Headteacher of the School. For those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting him, you will realise that the complex and demanding task of leadership is in sound hands.

It seems like “light years” have passed since I was last invited by Sefora to pen a welcome/introduction for our own communication vehicle, The Gattonian. I am sure that you will all agree that the last three years have been a testing time for all of us having experienced something that hopefully we will not endure again. I have no doubt the bonds of friendship that so many of you have with other fellow Gattonians has been a great support during those testing times. Undoubtedly the bonds of friendship that were developed during school days will still be solid and hopefully helped those in need of solace and comfort during this most trying time.

We will now move into the future with an optimism and enthusiasm that have been the trademarks of the large and ever growing Gattonian family who spent their formative years at Maitland Park, Collingwood Court, Bishopswood Camp and Gatton Park.

So much outline planning was being considered pre-2019; all to be cut short by the disaster that was Covid. Nil desperandum! We still have an agenda that we need to work through such as but not exclusively the following:

•  series of age related Sunday lunches 
•  the annual Gattonian  Day in early September
•  the prospect of another Summer Ball
•  and of course the fledgling Gatton Association Bursary Scheme that was last mentioned in our last newsletter. ( I have added the document, “Just imagine if”, relating to this scheme that was developed and published pre-pandemic for your consideration and more will follow on this matter once we have “found our sea legs again”).

Let us hope that we do not have to put up with any further interruptions and stoppages and we can get on “with business as usual”. In the next few weeks, we hope to firm up a series of happenings and events with an eager committee that I hope will be extended by a number of young, new Gattonians who have the same values and enthusiasm that is common within the Gattonian community.

I could not end this short message to you all without once again offering my wholehearted thanks to Sefora, who as you know, works so tirelessly and efficiently on behalf of the GA.

Watch this space,

Benny