Retired Chief Superintendent of Police Tony Day will be installed as the new President of the Old Hardyeans at the start of the Annual Reunion Dinner on Saturday 19 March, The event will be held at the Sixth Form Centre at Thomas Hardye School, beginning at 7.30pm. The dinner was originally booked to be at the Kings Arms Hotel, but closure forced a change of venue. The guest speaker is Kate Adie OBE DL.
As well as Old Hardyeans, the invitation includes former scholars of the Green School [Dorchester Grammar School for Girls] and the Secondary Modern School, as well as students of the modern Thomas Hardye School, under the wider auspices of the Hardyeans Club.
Born in Dorchester, Tony Day was a pupil at Hardye’s School from 1957 to 1062. He served for 33 years in the Dorset Police, throughout the county in various operational and command roles. In 1996 he was appointed as the Clerk to the Governing Body and the Trustees of the Thomas Hardye Foundation.
Consequent upon the conversion of Thomas Hardye School to a Multi-Academy Trust, he will continue his involvement with the school as a Member of the Trust. His external interests include playing the blues, leading the Dorchester Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association, and motorcycling.
Tony Day succeeds Peter Foster, who was installed as President in 2013 by Michel Hooper-Immins, who served from 2010. The Old Hardyeans President serves for a three year term.
“The Annual Reunion Dinner on March 19 is a particularly important date in our calendar, when we hope to reunite as many from the old Hardye’s School as are able to get to Dorchester to meet their contemporaries,” says Old Hardyeans Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins. “I left Hardye’s School 51 years ago in 1965, but many of those friendships made a half century ago are still going strong. There will be many in Dorset and beyond who would like to renew many old friendships We would like specially to hear from those who have not yet joined the old boys association- founded as the Old Grammarians 111 years ago in 1905.”
The cost of the three-course dinner is £22. Wives and partners will be very welcome. Bookings must be made by Monday 7 March. Menu and further information at: www.hardyeansclub.com
Enquiries to Alan Brown at 01202 535034 or email: [email protected]
Founded 111 years in 1905 as the Old Grammarians, the Old Hardyeans- also known as the Hardyeans Club- is one of the most successful old school associations in the county, bringing together the old boys of Dorchester Grammar School and Hardye’s School, plus ex-students of the modern Thomas Hardye School.
In the times of Queen Elizabeth I, it was Thomas Hardye [with a final “e”] described as a Yeoman of Frampton, who endowed Dorchester Grammar School in 1569. Hardye’s [shopping] Arcade today stands on the site. The Grammar School moved to Culliford Road in 1928- renamed Hardye’s School from 1954.
The new Thomas Hardye School in Queens Avenue opened in 1992, encompassing the best traditions of the two previous schools- but admitting girls for the first time since 1569! Writer Thomas Hardy OM, who lived at nearby Max Gate, laid the foundation stone of Hardye’s School in 1927. He was no relation to Thomas Hardye, founder of the school, nor of Admiral Thomas Masterman Hardy!
Michel Hooper-Immins
