Old Princethorpians

Nick Cahill (1996 - 2002), the newest recruit to the OP Committee, has dragged OPs into the social networking age by linking the Committee and its activities into the already well established Princethorpe College Facebook Group.

Nick now has joint adminstrator status, thanks to the group's originator, Luke Chaplin, and can communicate to the 900+ members at the drop of an email.

Comments Nick, "The Princethorpe College Facebook Group is just huge, many of the members are OPs, so it is immensely valuable to be able to speak to them in such an immediate, convenient and user friendly way. We hope we will start to see many new and younger faces at our events and becoming involved in OPs in the future!"

You can now link to the Princethorpe College Facebook page from the OPs only part of the website or by clicking on this link.

The OP social scene in Hong Kong is well established. Nearly 20 OPs meet on a regular basis and have their own Facebook group to keep in touch. Their last get together was just before Christmas on 23 December, when ten of the group managed to meet up.

OP, Alan Young, reports on the evening,"We had a good time that evening. Most of us graduated from F.7 at Princethorpe between 1981 and 1984 and we now meet about three times a year." 

Pictured from left to right (leaving year in brackets):

Back row

• Bobby Li (1981), Head of Quality Assurance, Hong Kong Housing Society
• Simon Leung (1984), Manager of Financial System, Hutchison Whampo, Hong Kong, with his wife April
• Vitus Leung (1982), Partner, Law Firm
• Chris Chan (1984), Director of a Trading Firm
• David Chung (1983), Senior I.T. Manager, Hong Kong Cyberport

Front row seated

• Alan Young (1981), Head of IT, Caritas Hong Kong
• Summy Leung (1983), Director, Earthling Products Ltd
• Michael Chan (1982), IT Officer, Chinese University
• Peter Lee (1981), Engineer

The Hong Kong OPs already have their next reunion lined up to celebrate Chinese New Year in the next week or so.

If you are in the area they welcome any other Old Princethorpians who are in Hong Kong or passing by to give them a call and join their functions. Alan Young can be reached on his email ayoung@citac.hk

Old Princethorpians are dipping their toe into the world of corporate merchandise with the design of an OPs tie.

The classic 100% silk tie, produced by Smart Turnout of London, will sport a repetitive gold Tower design and thin red diagonal stripes on a dark blue background.

The limited edition tie will be available from March. Price TBC.

To register your interest please email Old Princethorpians.

Plans for the first OPs Clarkson Festival Day on Sunday 18 April are well underway.

The event, inspired by last year's Memorial Service for Fr Clarkson, aims to celebrate his contribution to the College and bring OPs, their partners and families together for an informal, fun occasion.

The event will take place on Sunday 18 April 2010 from 12.00pm to 4.00pm. The day will start with a mass in the Chapel from 12.00pm to 1.00pm, followed by a buffet lunch,  tours of the College including the Tower and sporting/fun activities for all.

All OPs, their partners and families are welcome at the event, which it is hoped will become an annual fixture.

Comments, Peter Rollason, Chairman of the OPs Committee, "We were hugely encouraged by the warmth of feeling at the Memorial Service, and want to give more OPs the chance to come back, have a look round their old school and meet up with old friends, this event will hopefully provide a focus for that to happen".

There will be no charge for the day, but a retiring collection will be made in aid of the MSCs.

Those interested in attending should email Melanie Butler, OPs Secretary by Friday 26 March, indicating the number in their party and the ages of any children.