Text Box: King's Tynemouth Alumni For Former Pupils of The King's School, Formerly Known as Tynemouth School Email UsEmail UsKings School Crest Text Box: Yes, it’s that time of year again, there’s snow lying on the pathways outside, the News, alongside interest rate cuts and the Shannon Matthews kidnap verdict, is focusing on the Peterlee Christmas twig, with 15 lights of which only 13 work. Just before sitting down to write this piece, I walked our dog down through the village and noticed that the Tynemouth Rotary Christmas tree has yet to go up outside the school, so at this stage at least, Peterlee has one. This is a bit of a bitter-sweet piece to write, as I would normally focus on all the great things that are happening within the Association, and our plans for the future. Rather, I want to pay tribute to Karen Bilton who has decided to step down, I dare not say retire, from her position as Alumni Development Officer, Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Lord High everything else. She has been a tower of strength for so many years, and I can do little worse than quote from the draft minutes of our October Committee Meeting to express the esteem in which she has been and continues to be held. “It was announced by Karen Bilton that she has reluctantly decided to step down from the role of ADO at the school with effect from 31st December 2008. A letter of resignation has been submitted to and accepted by the Headmaster. Philip Cantwell thanked Karen Bilton for all her hard work and commitment to the school over the 12 years with the last 9 working with the former pupils…… Julian Brown also thanked Karen for everything she has done for KTA, expressed his sadness that she was relinquishing her role as ADO and commented that she will be greatly missed.” I would like to add that without her, we would not have the Association as we know it today. We only hear second hand of the hours she has spent, both over a hot computer browsing Friends re-united, producing our own website, (amazing!) to match the style, look, see and feel of the professionally developed School’s site, but also with former pupils, taking them for tours around the school, and listening to and joining in with their reminiscences. On a personal note, thank you Karen for all you have done to make my job easier, the emails, the minutes that arrive within hours of every meeting, the annotated crib sheet before every meeting so that I can give the impression of being well informed. (Whoops, I probably should not admit to that). Anyway, now that she is blushing to the roots of her hair, I wish her all the best for the future, and feel sure she will not sever her links with the school and alumni entirely. The search for Karen’s successor will be difficult. The school have been incredibly supportive in employing her for us. The Headmaster has suggested that he believes the best way forward is now to appoint someone with responsibility for marketing and PR within the school as well as for the former pupils and that the post will be advertised in November with the successful candidate starting January 2009. I wish that new person well, and look forward to working with them. On the subject of people moving on, Martin George is also leaving King’s at the end of the Spring Term, to become Headmaster at Durham School. We would like to express our thanks to Martin for all his help and support of KTA whilst he has been on the Committee. We wish him well in his new post. Now to Association business, as mentioned before there will be an Open Evening to view the new Oswin’s building, taking the place of the Reunion Dinner for 2009. Wine and Cheese will be served in the atrium with guided tours around the whole school, not just the new development. The event is advertised elsewhere in the newsletter and on the website, and former pupils will be invited to apply for tickets, with partners also welcome to attend. Members of the whole Tynemouth community will also be invited. This will be held in March. Karen has kindly offered to assist her successor in the organisation of the evening should it be required. The next Reunion Dinner will be held March/September 2010, at the discretion of the new ADO. May I wish you all a Happy New Year, and look forward to your continuing support in the coming year. Julian Brown (1969)

The Chairman’Writes….

Extracted From the January 2009 Edition (Issue 19).  The next newsletter is due January 2009. 
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