The Old
Pocklingtonian
OP Social Events and Reunions
John Dowman
Quincentenary Requiem Mass
The Reverend Bruce Bridgewood (51-57) and
Geoffrey Cox (51-59) organised a solemn sung Mass
of Requiem for the repose of the soul of the School’s
founder, John Dowman, and for all Old Pocklingtonians
who had died in active service or otherwise.
The service took place at St Vedast’s Church in Foster
Lane, just around the corner from St Paul’s Cathedral,
on Saturday 22 November 2014 at 11am. Amongst
the congregation were several OPs, the Headmaster
Mark Ronan, and Past President of the OP Association
Tom Nash (68-77). Following the service there was
an informal gathering at a local café for refreshments.
20 Year Reunion for 1995 Leavers
Richard Southcott (88-95) contacted the OP office for help organising a reunion of his contemporaries to
celebrate 20 years since leaving School.The reunion took place on Saturday 27 June 2015 when around 20 OPs
from Richard’s year group enjoyed a night out together in York. Prior to the celebrations, a smaller group visited
School for a pre-arranged tour of the campus and a trip down memory lane before heading into York. Based on
the photos, a good time was had by all!
Dowman was a leading churchman, Archdeacon of
Suffolk and a canon residentiary of St Paul’s Cathedral.
For a time he worked for Cardinal Wolsey as Auditor
of Causes. He died in November 1526 and was buried
in the Chapel of St Catherine on the south side of old
St Paul’s. In the codicil to his will, dated, strangely, the
same day, he asks for ‘a solemn requiem mass’. We
know that on the 8th and 9th of November 1553 –
almost thirty years after his passing – John Dowman’s
death was solemnly remembered in St Paul’s
Cathedral: ‘Vpon Wednysday ye viij. of Novembar an
obyt was kept in Poules for doctour Dolman, & vpon
Thursday ye ix. Of Novembar ye byshope of London
songe ye masse hymselfe’.
The Requiem Mass which was sung in St Vedast’s was
almost certainly the first to be celebrated openly for
him since those celebrated by Bishop Bonner during
the Marian Counter Reformation between 1553 and
1558.
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Mini Reunion for ’79 Leavers
An impromptu gathering of ’79 leavers took place in Allerthorpe in August 2015 taking advantage of the fact Jeff
Guillen (76-79) was in the Pocklington area on tour with a cricket team from Trinidad. Left to right are: Jeremy
Saunt (70-79), Mark Longley (69-79), Jeff Guillen, Looby Atkinson (not an OP but a friend of their year back in
’77-’79), Steve Hare (72-77), David Nuttall (Former staff 63-02), Yolande Nuttall and Paul Edmunds (73-78).