A message from OSA Executive Committee Chair, Andy Crow (Athens, 1974-1981)
At the Old Southendian Annual Reunion Dinner last November, our now Head Teacher Mrs Worth, spoke of the formation of the new the Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust (SHSBCT) with a mission is to raise funds to help the school to “remain independent and maintain its distinctive identity and provision of high-quality education now and for future generations.”
The Trust is completely separate to the OSA, but I know many of you will be keen to offer support, either financially or with your time.
The Trust is being formed in response to further real terms funding cuts which have made it extremely challenging to meet the day-to-day costs without compromising the outstanding, world class education that is given. In particular, the staff body are predominantly long-term employees, and experts in their subjects which drives the academic excellence.
Supporting the Trust is crucial for maintaining the school’s distinctive identity, the high-quality education and all those traditions (House system as a prime example) that are unique to the school.
Any donations or time will help to secure a bright future for students now and for generations to come, ensuring that the school remains a cornerstone of academic excellence and a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
If you have any questions, you can either ask me or Nicki Weller, Director of Development at SHSBCT via www.shsbcharitabletrust.org
You can also donate now via the Trust's secure donations page. Your support will be gratefully received.
The Charity are holding a launch event at the school from 6.00-8.00 pm on Friday 25th April for a limited amount of people. If you would like to attend, please let me know by reply to ASAP so as not to be disappointed.
Clive Shiret, as your President for 2025, has written his own message of support for the Trust, which you may be interested to read in full. He concludes:
I am wholeheartedly recommending that every member considers the start the School gave them and responds to the messages from the Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust.
We owe it to current and future generations of students to allow them the same opportunities we had to flourish and achieve by supporting the Southend High School for Boys Charitable Trust.
Thank you all for your interest in and support of the SHSB Charitable Trust.
Andy Crow (Athens, 1974-1981), Executive Committee Chair
The Events Sub-Committee has just published its Newsletter detailing events for the first half of 2025, which may be downloaded here.
Please contact if you have any queries.
The Association is pleased to announce that Rachel Worth has been appointed as the new Headteacher at the School.
Rachel has worked at the School for twenty years and has been Deputy Head for the last six. She is only the 8th Headteacher at SHSB since its inauguration 130 years ago in 1895, and the first female Head.
Many of you will have had the pleasure of meeting Rachel either at the School or at the many OSA events that she has attended.
On behalf of the Association I would like to offer our congratulations and I know her appointment will maintain and enhance our strong ties with the School.
An article in the Echo newspaper reporting the appointment is available to read here.
Andy Crow (Athens, 1974-1981), Executive Committee Chair
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.
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