Old Bostonian Association Quiz Night 2017 - results

Quiz Master, Richard Anderson

Thanks go to Richard Anderson for continuing his role as quiz master for the 2017 Quiz Night. Scores were ably and efficiently recorded by Harry Hopkins (BGS Year 10). Photographs with thanks to Howard Charlton.

There was a good turn-out at the OBA Quiz Night this year: 11 teams filled the whole Boston and County Club dining room.

Scores were out of a total of 100, so scores are percentages.

Team results:

1st	Urban Bunny	89.5
2nd	Camalamadingdong	88
3rd	Freiston Sure	82
4th	The Cunning Linguists	79
5th	Rennies and Us	77.5
6th	Quiz In His Pants!	72.5
7th	Spaceballs	64
8th	Rose's Rebels	63.5
9th	Mummy's Boys	62
10th	Foundations	45. 5
11th	I thought it was Speed Dating!	36

In the buzzer and light finale Camalamadingdong beat Urban Bunny 240-190, a reversal of last year's result.

Winners: Camalamadingdong - Judy Cammack, Nicola Cammack,
Oli Cammack and Richard Cammack

Runners up: Urban Bunny - Nick Charlton, Howard Charlton,
Pat Everitt and Colin Clark

Walter Burnet - RIP

Walter Burnet (BGS 1937-42)

Walter Burnet passed away 1 March 2017 aged 91. The former owner of a model shop in West Street (see photo), he leaves his wife Sylvia, daughter Heather and son Paul.

For funeral details please contact F.E Addlesee & Son Ltd, 44 Castle Street Boston 01205 311303

Lance Cooper - RIP

Lance Cooper (BGS 1949-55)

Lance Cooper passed away in February 2017 at the age of 78 in Mandurah, Western Australia. After his education at Boston Grammar School he had a career in the RAF, which he completed at the age of 39, then emigrating to Australia with his family.

Thanks and condolences go to his brother Barrie, who informed us of Lance's death.

Alec William Houlden - RIP

Alec William Houlden (BGS 1942-47)

AW Holden died on 7 January 2017.

Bas Rippin - RIP

Bas Rippin (BGS 1943-50)

Bas Rippin died on 19 January 2017.

More details will follow.

Roger Mason - Obituary

Roger Mason (BGS 1979-86)

We have heard that Roger Mason passed away on 23 December 2016 following a short illness.

The funeral will be on Thursday 12 January 2017, 11:30 am at Boston Crematorium. There will be a gathering at The Sportsman Bar, Roseberry Avenue after the funeral.

BGS old boy, Adam Mullen wrote a tribute to Roger...

Roger Mason (photo 1981-82) I was immensely saddened to hear of the passing away of Roger Mason. I spent most of my Boston Grammar School years in the company of Roger. We’d meet at the junction of Sleaford Road and South Parade with Graham Kemp to cycle the two and a half miles to school and then meet up at the end of the school day to ‘race’ home. At the end of the ‘race’ home Rog would turn left and I’d turn right off Sleaford road before we would meet up an hour or so later to kick a football on Roseberry Avenue playing fields or at Roger’s house. Mr and Mrs Mason and Roger’s sister Miche must have had the patience of saints with our games of indoor football with one of those full size sponge balls, using the living room door frames and radiators as goals. Many a toe was bruised kicking those door jambs! ‘Race’ is an apt word for Roger as he was hugely competitive and very good at any sport he chose to partake in. We spent every Saturday morning representing BGS at football from the U12’s through to Mr Dunn and Mr Wainwrights 1st Eleven. If I remember correctly as 4th year boys four of us broke into the 1st Eleven but Roger was the first to achieve this. Rog had a natural ability to play exciting creative football and had that magic which saw the ball ‘stick’ to his feet. Whilst not being the biggest of players, in a 50-50 challenge Rog would always come away with the ball. He had ‘that touch’ and was at the centre of our teams’ creativity, leading the way to victory in the Pitcher Cup final in 1983. Saturdays were for representing BGS football teams and Sundays were spent ‘racing’ in cross-country fixtures under the guidance of Mr Anderson. We regularly won the South Holland championships and went on to represent the school at the first ‘Milk in Action All England Schools Cross Country’ finals in Redditch. After competing in races on a Sunday morning we’d cycle back home to then meet up in the afternoon and kick a ball on Roseberry Ave playing fields. Then there was circuit training, athletics, table-tennis and snooker on Rog’s mini table but football was his biggest passion and he excelled in it, standing out as our year's best player. We shared adventures to the Lake District and cycling holidays, with the likes of BGS old boys Graham Kemp, Shane Wakefield and Mark Hopkins, and Roger joined us on many a family trip to the City Ground. Roger standing with us in the Forest end in matches against his beloved Liverpool. He was one of the first of us school boys to have a car, driving us around to football fixtures in his little burgundy Mini. I left Boston for higher education but upon returning we linked up again playing for the Carpenters Arms Sunday league football team. In my late twenties I left town, later got married had children and regrettably lost contact with my childhood friend, like many of us so often do. Yet when I’d return to Boston to visit my parents I’d always ask them if they’d bumped into Roger and if they knew what he was up to. Little did we know of Roger’s recent illness but that ‘asking after’ Roger was because of that special camaraderie I shared, like so many others, with Roger. Even though he excelled frequently he never boasted or revelled in his sporting successes. Roger lived for his sports; highly competitive, Rog enjoyed winning and did so in the right way. We may move from place to place and experience many changing tides in our lives but its friendships that we remember and I’m glad to have shared my childhood school years and twenties with our friend Roger. A quote from the film ‘Standby me’ comes to mind “I never had friends like the ones I had when I was twelve… does anyone?” Rest in Peace my friend Rog. by Adam Mullen

Old Boys' Cross Country Event 2017

"The Six Knot Sign"

There has been some discussion about a possible Cross Country running  /jogging / walking event involving alumni of Boston Grammar School. Originally it was suggested it might happen in the summer of 2016 but due to lack of motivation / effort / commitment it did not happen. Discussion has recently restarted and there seems to be some enthusiasm to get something organised in 2017.

If you are interested in taking part in the event, please read the rest of this article, then fill in our simple questionnaire to register your interest.

"The Dip", now a model boat marina
and not navigable by runners

Here are some random thoughts that have been expressed:

• Base the course on the 1980s BGS senior cross country course, which was 3.5 miles, mainly on the drain and river banks, though it may be slightly shorter
• Hold the event on 25 March 2017, since this is also the date of the Old Bostonian Association Annual Dinner, and visitors to Boston could combine both events. The weather is likely to be cool, which some consider more appropriate for running
• Hold the event in the summer June / July 2017 since the weather will be warmer, and it gives longer for those taking part to prepare / train
• BGS old boy, Pete Rochford, is now in charge at The Napoleon pub ("The Nap") on Fishtoft Road. This could be a congregation point before the run, and Pete would be happy for those taking part to use the pub for food and drink afterwards 
• While it may be possible to arrange for marshalls to help the smooth running of the event, it must be stipulated that each person taking part is responsible for his or her own safety, e.g. crossing the road at Mount Bridge. The organisers and marshalls are not responsible for any loss or injury incurred (this will of course be officially stated at a later date)
• The organisers reserve the right to place a limit on the number of people taking part in the event in order to avoid issues of safety or public order (or perceived issues thereof)

Here is a first suggestion of a route. Sorry about the quality of the map. An improved map will be produced as things progress. The route shown, according to the route app I have on my phone (I walked the route in March 2016), is 3.10 miles.

The turning point at the south eastern tip of the route is marked by a bench, shown in this photograph.

A suggested route

The turning point