Tony Day was installed as the new President of the Old Hardyeans at the start of the Annual Reunion Dinner, held at the Sixth Form Centre at Thomas Hardye School. In his address, Mr. Day said it was a great honour to be elected as President and a privilege to work with the school as Clerk to the Governors and Trustees. He said the club existed to stay in touch with school friends and to support the Thomas Hardye School.
Born in Dorchester, Tony Day was a pupil at Hardye’s School from 1957 to 1962. He served for 33 years with Dorset Police, throughout the county in various operational and command roles, retiring with the rank of Chief Superintendent. 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, motorcycling and leading the Dorchester Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association.
“Tony Day was a near contemporary of mine at Hardye’s School and in retirement, has done much to help the school in his unique role as Clerk to the Governors,” comments Old Hardyeans Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins. “We welcome Tony as our new President, who is pledged to continue our support for Thomas Hardye School and to advance the Hardyeans Club, the association of Old Hardyeans with the old boys and girls from other secondary schools in Dorchester.” The club was founded in 1905 as the Old Grammarians.
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.
Past Presidents are now known as Life Vice Presidents and Immediate Past President Peter Foster presented each with a specially produced ribbon and badge to mark their service. The surviving Life Vice Presidents are Don Culver [President from 1988 to 1991,] Gordon Crocker [2000-2004,] Captain John Pearson RN [2004-2007,] Professor Hugh Griffiths [2007-2010,] Michel Hooper-Immins [2010-2013] and Peter Foster [2013- 2016.]
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, with 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!
To join the Hardyeans Club at £5 a year, consult : www.hardyeansclub.com
Michel Hooper-Immins
