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History of the Old Maidonians’ Association

The following resumé of the history of the OMA is based on the detailed account given in the history of Desborough School by Mr David M Evans in his book ‘One Hundred Not Out’ and on OMA AGM minutes.

In the Autumn of 1924 Mr A E Brooks, the then Headmaster of the Maidenhead County Boys’ School, called a meeting of the prefects at which he indicated that he felt that the school, after its initial formation in 1894, had reached a stage that an Old Boys’ Association should be formed. At a meeting of Old Boys held on 22nd December 1924 it was agreed that an ‘Old Boys’ Association should be formed with the objectives of maintaining a means of communication between present and past Maidonians and to provide social, cricket, football and other pastimes for its members and generally to further the interests of the school and its past and present members’. The colours of the Association were to be black and those of the school, violet and primrose. Ties, blazers, scarves, badges and neckties were produced in these colours.

The first officers of the Association were:- A E Brooks, President, F C Stead (Physics master) Chairman; E K Thorne, Honorary Secretary; A E Richards (English master) Honorary Treasurer; P E Wrench (Latin master) Auditor; W J Lowman, Honorary Secretary for Football. At the first AGM held in January 1925 Mr Thorne resigned, to be succeeded by Mr Wilf Upson who was to hold that position for 25 years after which he served for 20 years as Honorary Treasurer. The Upson Prize, in memory of Wilf Upson was inaugurated by his brother-in-law, Bishop George Appleton (1913/20) to be awarded annually to the Old Maidonian bringing most honour to the School in the year.

In 1929 members of the Association were able to make use of a club room in Grenfell Road. They acquired the tenancy of the facility in 1934, relinquishing it at the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 when all the activities of the Association were suspended until 1946. During the 1930s the Association held a number of sporting and social activities including dinners, dances, whist drives and productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The OMA soccer team achieved a high profile in the inter-war years, winning a number of trophies as well as awards for sportsmanship. The Julian Cup competition for local cricket teams was started by A E Brooks in memory of Lord Desborough’s son, Julian Grenfell, who died during World War 1. The Old Maidonians Cricket team participated in this competition and by 1964 had won it on a record number of 11 occasions.

The Association restarted its activities in 1946 and in 1947 opened a War Memorial Fund to purchase a board to record the names of Old Maidonians who had died during the two World Wars. It also bought a silver Challenge Cup for the House gaining the most points in the School athletic events at Sports Day. Memorial Funds were established for founder President, A E Brooks, who had died in 1956, and for founder Treasurer, A E Richards, who had died in 1949; the Funds were used to established prizes in their names at the School’s Speech Day.

Dances and Dinner Dances were held for a number of years after the end of the war. In 1951 the first Dinner since the end of the war was held and this event has been held annually since then, initially in various hotels, then for many years in the School Hall and more recently at Maidenhead Golf Club. It is the most important social event in the Association’s year.

In 1950 the annual subscription was set at 5 shillings, or 1 guinea for 5 years (currently £5 for 5 years). In the same year a Table Tennis Section was formed and by 1953 the team had been promoted to Division 3 of the local league. The following year teams A and B had been promoted to Divisions 2 and 3 respectively. By 1958 there were 3 teams and team A had won Division 2 and had been promoted to Division 1. In that year the OMA fielded teams against the School in Hockey, Table Tennis, and the 4 x 110 yards relay, later extended to Cricket, Badminton and Rugby, and later still to golf.

The Old Maidonians Football team continued to take part in the Maidenhead and District League until 1964 when the Section was forced to close due to lack of new recruits as for some years Rugby had replaced Soccer at the School. For a few years an Old Maidonians rugby team played Sunday matches. Old Maidonians have played to play a major role at Maidenhead Rugby Club, a number being selected for County and Regional games.

The OMA Golf Section started in 1974 with a match against the School whose team comprised boys and members of staff. This was the start of an annual event, always played around Eater-time. The School is comfortably in the lead in the number of matches won. During the following year the late Eric A S Brooks (1915/21), an Oxford Blue in golf and a former England player, donated a cup to the OMA for a stroke play competition. The Association named this the Brooks Cup, for competition annually by Old Maidonians, Staff and boys of the School. The event takes place after the end of the Summer term and, like the match against the School, is held at Maidenhead Golf Club. The list of previous winners is the attachment.

Until 1991 the Presidents were the then current Headmasters, namely, A E Brooks, A W Eagling, H J C Oliver, C Macdonald, L C Reynolds OBE DSC, D F Miller and M J Oddie. Since then the Presidents have been drawn from members of the Association, namely, F R Shaw, Maj. Gen. P J Bush OBE, A J Bellworthy, L C Reynolds OBE DSC, C Maidment, G R Fisher, G C Cooper OBE, D W D Eyre (Head Teacher 1996/2005) and C A R Cutler.

Over the years the Association has provided the School with Honours Boards, the Memorial Board, grants to School teams and individuals, and, in addition to funding several prizes at Speech day makes a contribution to the School Prize fund.