Appointments

W. Hopkin Joseph was elected at the AGM 2009 as Chairman of the Old Llandoverian Society. Hopkin attended Llandovery College from 1961 to 1968 and has been on the Committee of the East Wales branch for some 20 years, and a full Committee member of the Old Llandoverian Society for 8 years.

Hopkin succeeds J. Hugh Thomas MA (Oxon), FTCL, LTCL, LMusTCL, ATCL,AMusTCL, LRAM, ARCO who has had a long and illustrious career as an academic ( landovery College 1956-64, Corpus Christi Oxford 1964-7, Trinity Collegeof Music); Master & Director of Studies (Llandovery College 1969-96); Organist and Pianist (playing around the world from Notre Dame to Toronto,  accompanying artists such as Bryn Terfel, and with many television appearances) and as Secretary to the Old Llandoverians from 2001 to 2009. His contribution to Llandovery College, as well as to music, is unrivalled, and we know that this will continue for many years.

Life Patron

Clause 8 of the Old Llandoverian Society reads "in recognition of an individual's outstanding contribution to the School and/or Society, the Society may at any AGM appoint him or her to be a Life Patron."  In the view of the Old Llandoverian Society Committee, J Hugh Thomas has been an outstanding Chairman of the Old Llandoverian Society over a period of eight years, and has also contributed greatly to Llandovery College in many different ways.  He received a well deserved standing ovation at the AGM in October 2009 when he stood down as Chairman.  The committee will be putting Hugh's name forward at the next AGM for members to consider him being appointed as the first Life Patron of the Society.

Election of Old Llandoverian Society Llandovery College Trustee

David Gravell retired as one of the Old Llandoverian Trustees of Llandovery College at the end of 2009 due to ill health, but has been appointed an Emeritus Trustee.  Nominations for a replacement member of the Old Llandoverian Society to succeed David were sought in January 2010.  Tomos Edwards, currently Secretary of the London Branch was appointed and will serve until the AGM on 16th October 2010.  The remaining current Old Llandoverian Trustees are Derry Nicklin who serves until the end of 2011, Shaun Parry-Hughes who serves until the end of 2012 and J Hugh Thomas who serves until the end of 2013.

Hong Kong Branch

Following the initiative of our President Ian Hunt in encouraging the formation of the Branch a Branch Committee will soon be elected. Dafydd Angus commented at the West Wales Branch Dinner last month how much Members in Hong Kong appreciated what Ian Hunt had started, and also the fact that Mandarin Chinese is now offered as one of the language options at Llandovery College, one of the first schools in the UK to do so.

Old Llandoverian Golf Society

Rhian Wyn Thomas, a member of the Society, has turned professional in 2010 and has qualified to play on the Ladies European Tour.

Three Peaks Challenge

Iestyn Thomas (64-70) is organising a team, Llandovery and Brecon combined, to do the Three Peaks Challenge on 3rd, 4th and 5th June and is seeking up to four Old Llandoverian Society members to join him.  Funds are being raised for School Children for Children, a charity administered by Iestyn.  Any members interested in, or prepared to support, should please contact Iestyn for further information.

Old Llandoverians Honoured

A knighthood for D R Hopkin (Deian) (55-62) in the New Year's Honours List for services to education.  Deian was the Guest Speaker at the pre Wales v England Dinner in Cardiff last year.  In the Queen's Birthday Honours List, an OBE for D C Jones (Dan) (59-66) for services to the voluntary sector in Mid Glamorgan and an MBE for D G Lewis (Gethin) (53-59) for services to the community in South West Wales).

                                                                                                    Updated 16th June 2010