EDITORIAL COMMENT

Change is not something that we easily accept, especially as we grow older. When change does occur we either readily accept it for the value it will provide or desperately try to ignore the whole thing in the hope that it will go away.

Changes take place all of the time especially in our own individual working environment where changes take place in working procedures and practices, but more than most, changes take place in personnel albeit within Management circles or general staff. When changes take place at the top, especially when it may have a definite effect on you personally, we all have to take care and relate very quickly to new demands and objectives from "the New Man at the Top".

I am sure that all of the readership will agree with me that there is much sadness in the news that Peter Yarker will be standing down as Chairman of the Old Michaelian Association this year and I know that as many of you as possible will wish to be present at the OMA Reunion in October to collectively thank Peter for his contribution to the Association over recent years as Committee Member and as Association Chairman.

The Old Michaelian Association has been blessed over recent years with effective leadership and my thoughts immediately focus on the immense hard work and success achieved by the late Ian Henderson-Begg, and of Cliff Wallington who, together with many others, helped to stabilise the Association and ensure that it matured and grew.

Since Peter Yarker was elected Chairman three years ago it is true to say that the Association has grown even further in stature and importance.

We have increased the Membership and we have celebrated our 50th Anniversary in real style. As has been said many many times before, the reason for this success is not just down to the Chairman and Committee Members but also down to you, the Members who regularly and consistently support the activities in Hunstanton every October.

On behalf of the Committee Members and all Association Members may I take this opportunity to say an enormous "THANK YOU, PETER" for your Leadership, support, energy and time devoted to the Association during Your involvement.

As I said earlier, now is the time for change and during the AGM in October all Members will have the opportunity to vote for, not only a new Chairman but also all Committee Members.

The AGM is an extremely important part of the whole OMA Reunion Programme when many important matters are openly discussed and voted on. Later on within this Newsletter you will be able to read about the contents of the Reunion Weekend as a whole, but for a moment, may I ask you to consider subjects that you would wish to hear discussed at the AGM. We would love to hear from you.  Also, if you would wish to be considered for election to the OMA Committee for 1997/98, we would also like to hear from you.  As you have heard from Peter Yarker in his letter, being a Committee Member is good fun but also requires commitment.

At the beginning of this Editorial Comment I spoke about "Change".

By the end of October we will have a newly elected OMA Chairman and a newly elected Committee. Let us all wish the new Chairman and Committee "Good Luck" together with our total support.

Lastly, you will recall the article written by David Barry for the Spring Edition entitled "Life after St. Michael's".   During mid-April I received another letter from David expressing his delight that his article had been included into the Newsletter and how much pleasure he had had by attending the 1996 OMA Reunion and meeting, again, so many "old" friends.

David explained to me in his letter that since the last Reunion he had suffered a slight setback with his health, which in turn had forced him to, have to give up his job. However, he sounded in good spirits and was looking forward to progressing his hobby of restoring antique fountain pens, and semi-retirement.

Communication among Old Michaelian's has always been paramount and David Barry is keen to renew old friendships with as many OM's as possible and invites the Membership to exchange letters on a regular basis.  I hope that as many OM's as possible will respond positively to David's invitation by writing to him.