Dover College Association

is hosting a Supper Club at Dover College on 30th August 2024. Award-winning chef Dev Biswal's menu looks fantastic and the College's Refectory is the perfect venue. This is an evening not to be missed! Book your place now: https://bookwhen.com/boutiqueevents

With great sadness, we must report that former staff member, Mr Gary Blunt, passed away on Monday 29th July. Gary became Leamington Housemaster in 1998 and was Director of Sport at the College. He was also heavily involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and outdoor activities. Gary will be fondly remembered by those who knew him. Details of his funeral will be posted in due course.

Current Sixth Form pupils Cameron and Louis were delighted to join Old Dovorians recently for a golf match at Tandridge Gold Club.

Here is the College Refectory, complete with trophy cabinets on the wall at the back. We are currently exploring how we can have the various cups and trophies on show again throughout the year, so that individual and house successes are more prominent.

This photograph of a boxing match was taken when Dover College was removed to Poltimore, near Exeter, for the duration of the Second World War. Boxing was common in public schools back then.

Here is the Dover College Hockey 1st XI in 1902.

Here is the astroturf (formerly the parade ground behind the Refectory), soon after it was installed. Thanks to the generosity of The Dover College Trust, last week the finishing touches were put to the completing surfacing of this facility.

One of the proudest moments in the history of the College - winning the Ashburton Shield, the most prestigious of school shooting competitions held at Bisley. In 1906 all of the top public schools would have taken part. Dover College won by 1 point, beating Wi******er into 2nd place. Harrow was 3rd, Rugby 4th, Repton 5th, and Eton a distant 11th!

This afternoon we were pleased to welcome ODs John Barrs and Klaus Koeneke, who met in October 1958 when Klaus had a one-term exchange at Dover College. John joined Klaus at his school in Hanover the following January for a term. They were accompanied by their wives and were particularly pleased to visit the Chapel and the Refectory.

Here are some photographs from our OD Sports Day event yesterday (thank you to Mr Crockett, staff member, for taking these). It was a wonderful afternoon and we look forward to sharing details of further events for Old Dovorians at the College soon.

Our first Old Dovorian Sports Day was a huge success. It was wonderful to welcome ODs from a range of generations back onto The Close for an afternoon of sport, friendship and reminiscing about the College. Thank you to all who attended and congratulations to the home team, which narrowly beat the OD team! More photographs will follow tomorrow.

Thank you to John Care for this picture of the Menzies House Junior Hockey winners from 1973. Back: Denton (GK), Dawson, Caspell, Frye, Crump. Front: Care, Renwick, Henry, Horner, Nick McConnell, Boyer.

This lovely version of the College crest was lovingly restored by our Art department two years ago. Does anyone know the provenance of it?

Here is a Leamington House photograph from the 1990s. Mr Vanderhoeven is the Housemaster.

Here is a dormitory in 1969.

This is Waiting House in 1977.

Here are some pupils in the school library when it was based in the gatehouse.

The funeral of a much-loved Director of Music, Leo Forsdyke took place at St Saviours Church in Deal. Leo had spent several years as an organist there and was a popular member of the congregation. Leo taught at Dover College for over 30 years, during which time he always tried to bring out the best in every pupil. It was not just talent that Leo was interested in, and many less gifted boys and girls would want to thank him for enriching their lives with music. It was a fitting service, full of music and praise for all that he had done in his life.

Here is the language lab, on the ground floor of the Kent Building soon after it opened.

We aren't sure when this photograph was taken, or who is depicted in it. Any ideas?

Tennis on The Close, in front of the chapel. We are pleased that this is a tradition that we have brought back over the last few years.

The second OD event at the College last weekend was a much more sombre affair, with a group of friends and contemporaries of Leo Leandrous SH 2011 gathering at an olive tree planted near the chapel.

Sadly, Leo died in April this year and the tree has been planted by his friends in his memory. Around 40 of his family and friends shared their stories and memories of Leo and while there were tears, there were also some more joyful memories. All in attendance agreed that Leo was a big character who impacted the lives of all those he came into contact with.

Here are some Crescent pupils, taking lunch in their house. The College later moved to central dining in the Refectory.

On Saturday, we had 10 ODs visit their old school following the wedding of two ODs locally (Ellie Fox and Andrew White). They had booked their visit some way in advance, so the archivist was able to put out a display that was relevant to their period.

In attendance were Margo Mayhew D 76 –81, Jamie Boyd SM 76 –81, Caroline McPheely B 77 –82, Caroline Godfrey (Frith) D 76 –81, Helen Blackwood (Nichols) D+B 75 –80: Henrietta Chennaux PW 75 –80, Inez Fernandez PW 75 – 80, Melanie Roberts B 77 – 80 and Lionel Reynolds SM 77 – 82.

Some of the group had travelled from as far afield as Australia and the USA, having come back especially for the wedding.

Their visit was a great success, starting with them being offered breakfast in the refectory and then spending around an hour in the Gatehouse at the archive pouring over photographs and magazines. They were able to identify several photos from their era and name those on them, which was incredibly helpful.

It was a successful visit with promises of more items sent to the archive, including a blazer from the 1970s.

One last point to note from this visit was the presence of Helen Blackwood (Nichols) who was a part of the first group of girls at Dover College.

Many congratulations to Old Dovorians Ellie Fox and Andrew White who got married at Lympne Castle on Saturday. We wish them many happy years ahead together.

The colourful flower beds on Middle Ground. We are pleased to report that these still look glorious each summer!

The old gym.

Some photographs from the expedition to Norway in 1991.

We aren't sure when this photograph was taken, but it is extraordinary how little The Close has changed over the last 50 years or so.

Here is a boarding room, complete with record player!