Old Maidonians' Association
Old Maidonians' Association
Membership
Welcome to the new website of the Old Maidonians’ Association.
Whether you were a pupil or a staff member of Maidenhead Modern School (1894–1910), Maidenhead County Boys’ School (1910-1948), Maidenhead County Boys’ Grammar School (1948-1958), Maidenhead Grammar School (1958-1973), or Desborough School (since 1973), you are an Old Maidonian and eligible to be a member of the Old Maidonians' Association, affectionately known as the ‘Old Maids’.
The purpose of the Old Maidonians’ Association is to provide a link with, and between, former pupils and staff of the School and to further the interests of the School and its past and present members.
The Assocation was founded in 1924 by the Headmaster, Arthur Brooks. The name was originally the “Old Maidonians’ (CBS) Association”, the letters CBS showing the link with the County Boys’ School. The first officers were: A.E.Brooks (President), E.K.Thorne (Hon Secretary), A.E.Richards (Hon Treasurer), F.C.Stead (Chairman), P.E.Wrench (Auditor), and W.J.Lowman (Hon Secretary for Football). Bill Thatcher, School Caretaker for many years was elected the first Honorary Life Member. Its first dedicated club room was opened in 1929 in Grenfell Road.
The Association publishes a periodic newsletter with news of the School and of the Association and its members. It organises an Annual Dinner during March/April at Maidenhead Golf Club, an Annual Reunion in December at Maidenhead Rugby Club principally for those who have left the School in recent years. and also organises matches against the School in rugby, hockey, and golf. In golf, it also organises an annual competition for the Brooks Cup, open to its members, pupils, staff and Governors of the School. The Association provides a number of prizes for Speech Day.
The membership of the OMA has risen from under 200 in the 1960s to over 500 in 2009. While the majority of the members live in the UK others are spread across the world in the Republic of Ireland, Austria, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.