A Walk Down Memory Lane: ESOBGA's Moments from The English School Magazine
E.S.O.B.A - Old Boys Association formed in February 1928
At last the greatly needed Association has been formed, and was inaugurated in February last. So far the results are quite satisfactory, but there are of course very many Old Boys who have not yet enrolled in the Association, and the Committee are very keen on getting a very much larger Membership list than they have at present.
As a Club House, the premises of the Sports Club (which, by the way, were a portion of the old School), have been acquired, and this makes a convenient meeting and resting place for Old Boys visiting Nicosia, and a place of refreshment and recreation for the Nicosia Old Boys.
The subscription for Country and Foreign Members is 5/- a year, payable annually in January. For Nicosia members the subscription is 1/- a month, and there is for them an entrance fee of 3/-. Membership Badges are now available, price 12cp. Application for membership, together with subscription, should be addressed to the Hon. Sec. E.S.O.B.A., Nicosia. Canon Newham is President and Captain Lawton Vice-President. The Committee for this tear are Messrs. G. Rossides, S. Sergides, C. Stephani. Mr. V. Bairamian is Hon. Sec and Mr. J. Greenwood Hon. Treas. A list of Members, with addresses, will be published annually.
The English School Magazine, Issue number 25, August 1928
ESOBA Again Reforming the Old Boys’ Association, Founder’s Day 1960
At a meeting on Founder’s Day steps were taken to reform the Old Boys’ Association. A provisional committee was set up with Mr. A. Ioannou as secretary, and Old Boys were circularized. Subsequently a permanent governing committee was elected on December 19th, but this was unfortunately too late for details to appear in this issue. Any Old Boy, however, who wants details of the association only has to pick up his telephone receiver and ring 4000/2219.
The English School Magazine, 1960
Fun at the ESOBA Dance The Acropole Hotel, 6th of May 1961
The first reunion dance of the English School Old Boys association was a great success. The Acropole Hotel lounge, where it was held on May 6th, was filled to capacity by Old Boys who turned out in hundreds. The Organising Committee apologises to all late comers who were turned away at the door and promises a more spacious hall for the next dance. There was dancing, fun and games until 3 o’clock in the morning, and especially successful was the fashion show by Marvella Modes arranged by Old Boy John Mihranian and presented by Lana Matoff, wife of Old Boy George De Partog.
The English School Magazine, 1961
ESOBA
Two dances were held last year, the most recent being one at the Chaglayan in October. We have had several sports meetings against the School, and held a highly successful reunion dinner in Alks on November 12th.
Whilst the Association began on sentimental grounds more than anything else, it has a useful role to play. It has, for example, approached the government on matters concerning the employment of Old Boys, and has petitioned the UK High Commissioner on the question of the future of the School. The Society has now decided to award four scholarships to diligent but needy First Formers, based on the results of the Christmas class examinations.
I wish to thank all my colleagues on the committee, particularly the overworked Secretary, Mr. Lysandros Avraamides; the Treasurer, Mr.Sermet Mustafa; and Takis Pantelides who made his house available for our meetings. Ch. Papadopoulos (Chairman)
The English School Magazine, 1961
The Reunion Dinner, November 12th
Following the success of the 1960 reunion at Makedonitissa, it was decided to repeat the event. This year’s gathering, however, was of a more ambitious nature. It was attended by over 50 Old Boys, with graduation dates ranging from 1917 to 1961, and by several young and charming Old Boys’ wives.
The dinner was held in Alks Boarding House . . . And I must admit that these newer graduates carried themselves exceptionally well through several bottles of wine, an achievement all the more astounding seeing that wine did not form part of their official diet during their school years . . .
Andreas Ioannou (1951)
The English School Magazine, 1961
ESOBA becomes ESOBGA Annual General Meeting 1962
The Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys Association this year was attended by six ‘old’ girls as well. The main topic for discussion was the modification of the constitution to extend membership to old girls. The ESOBA was accordingly renamed ESOBGA although there were dissentient voices who insisted that the old name should be retained ‘‘since the term ‘boy’ embraces ‘girl’. ’’ The members of the new committee are : Mr. P. Zachariades (1943), President; Mr. Sermet Mustafa (1947), Vice President; Miss M. Stylianaki (1961), Secretary; Mr. M. Sinanian (1962), Treasurer; Miss E. Kenkdjian (1959); Mr. M. Adiloglu (1958); Mr. G. Michaelides (1957). The committee has had numerous meetings and is busy collecting and compiling a list of names and addresses of old boys, and organising social activities; a successful afternoon tea dance was held at the Ledra Palace on January 12th and a dinner dance is being planned for March. We appeal to all old boys and girls to give the association their full support by enrolling as members and by showing an interest in the social and athletic functions that the Association organises.
The English School Magazine, 1962
ON TELEVISION BBC Television
On the 5th of February a B.B.C. television unit visited the Middle School and took photographs of the students leaving Assembly. The film was shown on B.B.C. Television about a week later.
The English School Magazine, 1963
Guardians of Tradition
‘‘A School is an Organic Entity and must change. But some things, the really essential things, must remain the same – and that is where Old Boys and Girls come into the picture. For they are the guardians of tradition. Teachers will come and go; pupils come and go every six or seven years; so the ultimate custodians of what is essential in the nature of a school are those who learnt the essence of the School’s philosophy 75, 50 or 25 years ago ’’. These are not my own words but those of Mr. D. H. Humphreys, the Headmaster of the School, at a Reunion – Dinner Meeting organised by the 1957/58 graduates on the occasion of their Silver Jubilee Anniversary.
On the same occasion a distinguished teacher of 1933 – 1962, Mr. Sophocles HadjiJoseph, had this to say : “Where there is an Old Boy in charge, you know you will find prompt service, efficiency, coordination and above all fair treatment, and that is what we need in these hard times in Cyprus”.
And if I haven’t bored you, let me tell you how Mr. Ohannes Shoehmelian, another distinguished teacher of 1950 – 1972, described the Old Boys of the school. “ I remember,” he said, “ most of you as shy schoolboys. Today, those shy boys have become architects, engineers, teachers, company directors, business administrators and above all sterling charactered men and citizens ready and willing to help anybody in need, with that noble spirit of fellowship they have acquired from the English School. Whose heart wouldn’t leap up with joy and pride at such a sight of love and sincerity ? ”.
These words which I have quoted may sound a little exaggerated, for not Old Boys and Girls are all that perfect, but it is heart-warming to hear our past teachers speaking with such admiration. The respect Old Boys and Girls earn throughout the world is truly a matter of pride, and we look to the present students to work hard to preserve that good name. Our tradition of integrity and selfless service is surely the most valuable tradition of all.
Of course, keeping the good tradition is not at all an easy task. Intensive and continuous efforts must be exerted to achieve such lofty targets and we realise that one of the paramount duties and objectives of the English School Old Boys and Girls association (ESOBGA) is to assist in maintaining these high standards. We, therefore, invite all of you to join the ranks of our association after you graduate in order to expand this ‘network’ and strengthen our bonds even further. The solemn promise we give you all, nothing other than “we shall spare neither time nor sacrifices in order to promote this sacred objective”.
Needless to say, the School and its future is our main concern. So, whatever we do is for the School, in the true English School fashion : “ Non Sibi Sed Scholae”.
Dinos Ioannou, Chairman ESOBGA
The English School Magazine, 1982
The English School Old Boys and Girls Association
In the field of sports, ESOBGA teams have done well. In particular, our Hockey team has had another successful year, having also regained the Salakian Trophy defeating the School team by a score of 4 – 2.
Our volleyball team did extremely well, winning the Nicosia Old Boys 4 – School Tournament. We do hope to do somewhat better this year than we did in the previous two years in the Nicosia Old Boys 4 – School Basketball Tournament. Dinos Ioannou (Chairman of ESOBGA)
The English School Magazine, 1987
The English School's History.
The English School was founded in 1900 by Canon Frank Darvall Newham, a young man of 36 who had just arrived on the island, which was to become his home for the rest of his life, as an Instructor of English to government clerks. He subsequently became Director of Education under the colonial administration but was also Headmaster of the English School until his retirement in 1936.
The School began with 13 pupils but rapidly grew to become the premier English medium school in Cyprus, drawing its students from a range of cultural communities both locally and abroad.
The School changed its status in 1936 when Canon Newham gave it in trust to the colonial Governor, however the School continued to be an English-medium, inter-communal school of Christian character with facilities for all pupils to practise their own form of religion as defined in the English School Management and Control Law of 1935 and its amendments.
. . . See more here http://www.englishschool.ac.cy/schools-history
Division of the school into four competitive houses 1936 Editorial.
Several innovations have been made this term. One is the division of the school into four competitive houses. Newham house is named after the founder of the school, Beaconsfield House after the first Lord Beaconsfield who was Prime Minister of England when Cyprus came under British rule, Wolseley House after the first Governor and Commander in Chief of Cyprus and Kitchener House after Lord Kitchener who spent some time in Cyprus.
The English School Magazine, 1936
ON TELEVISION BBC ‘Panorama’
From the Headmaster’s Report In October the School was twice visited by B.B.C. ‘‘Panorama’’ team, who were making a special programme on Cyprus, and what was seen on B.B.C. T.V. of the English School (including a discussion among senior pupils) attracted very favourable notice.
The English School Magazine, Vol 62 No 2, June 1972
