2008 Dinner report 1/11/2008
Pictures by Chris Tofalos
Story by Tony Dixon
Don't ask....Just like the playground in the old days!
"I'd like to thank the Architects, the Planners, the Structural Engineers, the Demolition Team and the Builders for all their hard work - demolishing and rebuilding the school in just 12 months, recreating an exact replica of the Old St Ambrose College, correct in every detail. It’s hard to believe we are sitting in it tonight."
So began Pete Riley as he launched the thirteenth St Ambrose Old Boys Dinner, the night after hallowe'en. Spooky indeed, but could it be true? He wasted no time in calling up Mr Michael Thompson to explain exactly what had not happened to the new school and 23 million pounds of taxpayers money. Just as Mr Thompson took the microphone to explain, the PA system failed (some felt the timing was highly suspicious).
"Just run it off, lad" Dr Peter Simpson advises Dave Hallas (he's the one in the centre)
120 old boys were joined by headmasters Mr Michael Thompson and Mr Michael
Lochery, and colleagues past and present for a superb meal cooked on the
premises by Nick Banks of Francs restaurant. Attending teaching staff included
Mr Nigel Handy, Mr Dave Hallas (bravely attending on crutches this year,
supported by Judith, his “carer” for the evening), Mr Tony Furlong and Mr
Fran Coan from the Physics Department (“all the knowledge of Professor Stephen
Hawking, but less clearly explained”), former school secretary Mrs Joan Binns
(now MacPherson), Mr Paul Burns, and Mr Mark Elwell. Newly appointed Deputy
Headmaster Mr Tom Hutchison, and two visiting teaching colleagues from St
Ambrose’s twinned school, the Christian Brother College,
It was officially announced that Mr and Mrs Hallas were celebrating their Ruby Wedding this year, and so they received a big cheer as they have been happily married for 25 years! ...not bad out of 40.
Bernard spots another victim - Tim Wildman, back from Leeds for his first old boys dinner!
Bernard with Tony Dixon, Tim Wildman, Paul Thorpe (all 1980)
The winner of the Heads and Tails game was invited to collect his £50 from Mr John Kennedy, but expressed some confusion as to whom John Kennedy was. “Is he the one in the wig?” he asked, pointing at the wrong person, “No” answered Mr Riley, “Nobody would make a wig like that”. Ouch.
Grace was led by Father David Roberts and this was followed by an excellent dinner, (during which newly promoted School Sound Engineer Edward Thompson repaired the PA system), and proceedings resumed.
Nick McDonald observes as Paddy Kelly confirms that six legs are more stable than two.
Paul Thompson greets members of his table including the Binns brothers
Definitely back!! Joan Binns (MacPherson) with three of her favourite old boys!
Kieran Charleson takes a break from organising with Kevin Quinlan and Martin Southern
Paul Reynolds, Tony Reynolds and Sir Les Patterson
Our special guest speaker was introduced as a St Ambrose Old Boy (1978), who
had trained as an Actor, and appeared in Torchwood, Heartbeat, Casualty, Waking
The Dead,
He had then apparently gone to
Brendan in full flow!
Brendan Charleson (for it was he) took the floor to loud applause and, as if in deference to our South African guests, launched into an official speech of thanks that seemed to come from the mouth of Nelson Mandela himself. He then moved on into a whirlwind tour of names and voices from our collective past including the late N.P.L "Sam" Wilkinson, (a familiar voice and delivery, so full of dramatic power, and still remembered whenever we think of digestion, hormones or DNA), Joan Handford, ( “There are 3 types of people in this world: those who can add up, and those who can’t”), and of course Mr Geoffrey Chilcott, (still so respected as the master who never used corporal punishment, but who could silence a class “with a single flash of his dark, Welsh eyes”). The years fell away as we heard again Mr Chilcott’s distinctive voice from long-past Geography lessons, combining his native South Walian with a hint of West Coast American, from his years spent in San Francisco ).
Accents and impersonations aside, Brendan treated us to an insight into the life of an actor, with all its diverse experiences - illustrated with well-delivered songs and poems connected to his Irish family roots and Mancunian childhood (which many of us shared), but with an added Welsh flavour reflecting his current Cardiff home. It was refreshingly different from the usual After Dinner Speech, was original, respectfully received and shot through with moments of genius.
After the applause had settled down (for the second time) and Brendan had left us marvelling at the diversity his of talent, we were told the serious news of the evening.
Bernard Stafford had finally sold out of ties. After ten years, and approximately 343 of them. Well, not quite. There was just one tie left.....
Peter Riley about to auction the very last tie
Starting the bidding at just £10 (a genuine bargain for the credit crunch from the previous retail price of “£15 each, or two for £30”), the bidding began, and rather like the prices of the VW shares or a Damien Hirst Pickled Shark, it just kept going up. Well, the ties were a limited edition, and this was the very last one.
Most of the audience tried not to blink (or make any kind of sudden movement) as bids appeared from all over the room, driving the price higher and higher. The price passed 100, hit 118, and then settled at £120. Fortunately nobody said “I’m going to 161” at that point, (although some were), let alone “call 999!”
....yours for £118....!!
Bernard was officially thanked and was clearly delighted to be presented with a tankard from the Association, and responded with a short but unforgettable appeal condensing much of a lifetime’s experience - on the merits of neckwear.
John distracts the audience while Bernard deals with a leak from the ancient roof...
Bernard retires from selling ties to concentrate on pewter!
Just like that
It only remained for our “not allowed to retire” Chairman John Kennedy to round up the evening with a vote of thanks before we were able to gradually and reluctantly disperse, taking leave of these school premises for (possibly) the last time, reflecting on another great Old Boys Dinner.
SAOBA would like to thank Chris Tofalos of CTP photos for the above images.
Old Boys "Hall of Fame"
After Dinner Speeches. It should be noted that the Moriarty family still lead the field with four after dinner speeches (Kieran Moriarty, Frances Edmonds, Kieran Moriarty and Brendan Moriarty). They are followed by the Charleson family (Des Charleson and Brendan Charleson), we have had musical entertainment from Martin Toal twice so far, and Peter Riley has spoken twice, and has been our MC every year since 1999.
Other speakers include Shaun Grady, Dave Hallas, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sean Fleming, Wilf McGuinness and Graham Llloyd, all with one appearance each.
1996 - Kieran Moriarty, Peter Voyle Morgan, Dusty Young
1997 - Shaun Grady
1998 - Frances Edmonds
1999 - Sean Fleming
2000 - Peter Riley
2001 - Dave Hallas
2002 - Kieran Moriarty (for the 2nd time)
2003 - Martin Toal and Wilf McGuinness (ex Man United Manager)
2004- Graham Lloyd (England Cricketer)
2005 - Sir Alex Ferguson and Martin Toal
2006 - Brendan Moriarty and Des Charleson
2007 - Peter Riley (for the second time, and assisted by Dave Hallas and Ambrose Henderson)
2008 - Brendan Charleson
Other news from 2008
Martin Toal - England's Winning Tenor
St Ambrose Old Boy and
former St Ambrose schoolmaster Martin Toal is a top class entertainer with an inspirational and uniquely
versatile, operatically trained tenor voice, very much in 
demand
in the UK and Europe for major sporting, concert, corporate, charity and
celebrity events.
Martin is known as "England's Winning Tenor" because his rousing renditions of the National Anthem have inspired the England football team to five wins out of five including last September at Wembley for England's first ever competitive international at the new stadium - the Euro 2008 qualifier v Israel.
His " phenomenal voice” is equally at home on the concert stage, in a sporting stadium or at an exclusive private chateau and his repertoire ranges from popular operatic arias and rousing anthems to songs from the musicals and traditional ballads.
Whatever happened to Pete Lawlor?
Peter Lawlor was at St Ambrose from 1973 to 1980. He has become a Songwriter and Music Producer and is based in London.
Stiltskin were a band put together by Peter Lawlor in order to front the music he had written for the British Levi's advert, "Creek". The resulting single, "Inside," topped the U.K. Singles Chart in 1994. All instruments on the band's hit "Inside" were played by Peter Lawlor; this was also the case on the album track "An Illusion."
The original band released only
one album, The Mind's Eye, which achieved "Silver Status" in
the
Lawlor works for his company Water Music Productions http://www.watermusic.co.uk/
Water Music has produced many award-winning soundtracks for high-profile commercials including Levi's, Bacardi, Lynx, Mercedes, and Orange both in the UK and abroad.
He wrote the music for the BBC One 'Rhythm & Movement' idents. All the teams in the English Premier League shake hands before each match to the sound of his track "My Saturday Self". This same track is also used as the theme music to all English Premier League matches on TV around the world.
Peter wrote the theme music for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He was commissioned by the BBC to write music for the World Service. He wrote and produced 'Under the Tree' for The Water Babies. He has written the scores for five movies and a few TV shows. His Track "All That I Know" achieved first place in the International Song Competition. This track was also used as the theme song for the US Music TV channel "The Tube".
He has won a BAFTA, The Mid-Summer awards for best original composition (on two occasions), the Music Publishers Association award for "Best Original composition", and he has contributed tracks to more than 12 Gold Albums.
All a long way from an amateur school gig on stage at St Ambrose back in 1978 !
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