The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place at The Southendian Club, Garon Park, on Wednesday 6th November 2024, commencing at 7.45pm, and all members of the Association are invited to attend and participate.
Apologies for absence may be sent to Keith Spenceley (General Secretary) via
Update 30th Oct 2024: The formal Agenda for the Meeting is available here.
Minutes from the 2023 Annual General Meeting may be found here.
A full pack for the 2024 AGM, including the agenda, minutes from the 2023 AGM, reports, and accounts may be found here ahead of the meeting as part of our effort to reduce the need for printed copies.
As part of the Association’s ongoing efforts to build relationships with current students and help prepare them for life after SHSB, a database is being created of OSA members who are able to offer work experience or shadowing placements to current students of the school. The plan is to share the database with the school and to keep it constantly updated, so that current students who are interested in a particular field or career can be put in touch, through the school’s career service, with OSA members who are able to offer them guidance and/or a work experience placement.
Please refer to the latest news email from the Registrar for further details, or contact Karl Anderson, the OSA’s School Liaison Representative, for more information via via
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the second half of 2024, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
It is with much sadness the Association informs its membership of the passing of Michael Crabb last month.
Michael attended the school from 1949 to 1955 and was a proud Spartan. He returned to the school in 1962, working in the music department until 1965. In 1968 he joined the staff once again, this time as Head of Music, latterly becoming Deputy Head until 1985. He will also be known to many in the Association from his work with the Southend Boys' Choir as its Founding Musical Director for over two decades from 1970 to 1997. For his services to music, including his time as Director of Music for the Borough after leaving the school, he was awarded an MBE in 1999.
For those members wishing to attend, we have been advised that a Thanksgiving Service for Michael's life will be held at St Augustine's Church, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3JQ on Saturday 28th September 2024 at 2pm.
The Association sends its condolences to Michael's family, friends and all who knew him at this time.
As many of you will know if you follow the local news, Dr Robin Bevan is standing down this summer as Headteacher of the school after 17 years in the role.
In the final “Outstanding” Ofsted inspection of his tenure last month, the school was praised for its “culture of excellence” with Robin typically commending the school staff for their continued expertise and enthusiasm.
Robin has been a true advocate of the OSA and the recent growth in new younger members is largely down to his innovative ideas in promoting the Association.
His love for the school has been plain to see by everyone who has attended the Annual Reunion Dinners, where he has delivered his proud and passionate updates on the multitude of successes the students have achieved, all mixed with his dry humour.
I am sure I can speak on behalf of the entire OSA in wishing him every success and happiness in whatever direction the next chapter takes him, and hopefully we will see him at many events in the future.
Members will be delighted to learn that Deputy Head Rachel Worth will become Acting Head of the school from September, while arrangements are made to appoint a successor to Robin.
Andy Crow (Athens, 1974-1981), Chair, Old Southendian Association Executive Committee
Pictured: Dr Robin Bevan (Headteacher of Southend High School for Boys, 2007-2024) speaking at the Association's Annual Reunion Dinner in November 2023.
The Association regrets to inform the membership of the passing of John Meredith (Athens, 1956-1961).
The Association has been advised his funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium on Wednesday 1st May at 1pm, followed by Rochford Hundred Golf Club for the wake.
Our condolences and thoughts are with John's family and friends at this time.
The Association regrets to inform the membership of the passing of Richard Fenn (Tuscany, 1952-1957).
The family have advised his funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Southchurch Boulevard on Tuesday 7th May at 11am. The family would like those attending to wear colour and not wholly black, truly celebrating his life. After the funeral ceremony, celebrations will continue at the Boundary, Garons Park, Eastern Avenue SS2 4FA, to which all are welcome.
The Association's condolences and thoughts are with Richard's family and friends at this time.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the first half of 2024, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place at The Southendian Club, Garon Park, on Wednesday 8th November 2023, commencing at 7.45pm, and all members of the Association are invited to attend and participate.
The formal Notice and Agenda for the Meeting is available here.
Minutes from the 2022 Annual General Meeting may be found here.
Update 2nd Nov 2023: A full pack for the 2023 AGM, including the agenda, minutes from the 2022 AGM, reports, and accounts may be found here ahead of the meeting as part of our effort to reduce the need for printed copies.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the second half of 2023, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the first half of 2023, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place at The Southendian Club, Garon Park, on Wednesday 9th November 2022, commencing at 7.45pm, and all members of the Association are invited to attend and participate.
The formal Notice and Agenda for the Meeting is available here.
Minutes from the 2021 Annual General Meeting may be found here.
Update 4th Nov 2022: A full pack for the 2022 AGM, including the agenda, minutes from the 2021 AGM, reports, and accounts may be found here.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the second half of 2022, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
Please find linked here a letter from your President and General Secretary, Keith Spenceley, updating on the process for appointing a successor to Clive Shiret as Chair of the OSA Executive Committee. Clive concludes his term in the role in November, and the Executive Committee thanks Clive most sincerely for his tremendous service to the Committee and to the Association for over 15 years. We wish him well as he pursues other interests.
Enquiries relating to this process and requests for further information in respect of the role should be directed to
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter with details of the Spring Lunch to be held later in April. The newsletter may be downloaded here.
Details of events may also be found on our Events page.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Association is sad to report the passing of Peter 'Scoop' Butler (Troy, 1960-1967).
The family have asked the following funeral arrangements to be shared:
A celebration of Peter Butler's life will take place at 9:30am on Monday 29th November 2021 at Chelmsford Cathedral, New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1TY.
To attend remotely please go to https://youtu.be/YwVezNa71dM (available from 9.25am GMT).
Following the service, you are all welcome to share further memories of Peter at The Green Man, Main Road, Howe Street, Great Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 1BG.
For those without transport, a coach will leave from Chelmsford Library, Market Rd, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH at 11.10am to The Green Man, and return to Chelmsford Railway Station leaving at 1.30pm.
Our condolences are with his family and friends at this time.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter with details of the London Dinner to be held in February. The newsletter may be downloaded here.
Details of events may also be found on our Events page.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place at The Southendian Club, Garon Park, with remote access available via the Google Meet video-communication service on Wednesday, 10th November 2021, commencing at 7.45 pm, and all members of the Association are invited to attend and participate.
Please find attached a copy of the formal Notice and the Agenda for the Meeting, which includes instructions on how to join the meeting if you are joining online, and the Minutes of last year’s AGM.
All documents pertaining to the business of this year's AGM will be made available below ahead of the meeting:
A consolidated documents pack is here provided containing the Agenda for the 2021 AGM, along with the AGM 2020 minutes, reports from the Executive Committee, and other relevant items in the appropriate order for the meeting (added 9th November)
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the second half of 2021, which may be downloaded here.
Details of events may also be found on our Events page.
Please contact if you have any queries.
We are sad to announce the passing of Cliff Wyatt (Tuscany, 1931-1938; Staff, 1951-1981) who died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday 24th June at the age of 100.
Many of you will have your own memories of Cliff and it would be good to get a few of those together for a longer eulogy, so please send them in to
Suffice to say Cliff's passing brings to an end many personal experiences for the Association, not least that Cliff had met every Headmaster since the school was formed. Cliff's wife Ethel is being cared for by the family and we send our condolences for her loss.
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place via the Google Meet video-communication service on Wednesday, 11th November 2020, commencing at 7.45 pm, and all members of the Association are invited to attend and participate.
Please find attached a copy of the formal Notice and the Agenda for the Meeting, which includes instructions on how to join the meeting, the Minutes of last year’s AGM together with all of the reports that were circulated thereat and the revised Rules and Standing Orders documents that will be considered under item 7 of this year’s Agenda.
Please note the Google Meet call will open from 7.30 pm to allow members to connect ahead of the start time.
Join the meeting from a laptop or PC at this link: https://meet.google.com/nwm-uygo-taj
Apps are available for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. You may also connect by phone by dialing 020 3956 8663; enter the PIN when prompted: 130 884 559#
All documents pertaining to the business of this year's AGM will be made available below ahead of the meeting:
A consolidated pack of items 1-4 and 6-7 is available HERE, aligned to the sequence of the meeting's Agenda, for the convenience of attendees. (added 8th November)
Please note the Lunch at The Casino planned for Sunday 28th June 2020 has been CANCELLED - see the events page.
Please note the Organ Society concert planned for the evening of Saturday 4th July 2020 with John Dixon has been POSTPONED - please see the events page.
Please note the Spring Lunch planned for Thursday 30th April 2020 has been CANCELLED - see the events page.
Additionally, The Old Southendian Organ Society has CANCELLED the concert with Voces Novae planned for Wednesday 29th April 2020. The Committee will host an online update on the evening of Wednesday 29th April 2020 in place of its Annual General Meeting which is deferred - see the events page.
The Old Southendian Association regrets to notify its membership of the passing of Bill Colloby, former Head of Biology at the School, who retired in 1995 after many decades of service to the School.
His funeral will be held on Friday 20th March 2020, 2pm at Sutton Road Crematorium in the West Chapel, and Old Southendians are invited to attend.
Given the present situation with social distancing due to COVID-19, the family also advises that the wake and a memorial service will be arranged additional to the funeral service later in the year.
Our condolences are with his family and friends at this time.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the first half of 2020, which may be downloaded here.
Details of events may also be found on our Events page.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Association's AGM will be held this year at the Old Southendian Clubhouse at Garon Park on Wednesday 6th November 2019 at 7:45 pm. Please see our Events page for details including the formal notice of the AGM and minutes from the 2018 AGM.
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the second half of 2019, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
We are pleased to announce we have upgraded our website! The hope is it should be easier to read on different sized devices, and we will be able to update it more easily with interesting content. Please feel free to pass any feedback on the site to
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the first half of 2019, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.