We Are The Old Dovorian Club, The Alumni of Dover College.
THE HISTORY OF THE OLD DOVORIAN CLUB TO THE PRESENT DAY
The Club was established on December 10, 1887, during the annual winter visit of the Old Boys to the School, primarily due to the efforts of R. Norris, who started organizing a team to play against the School in 1876. Its inaugural President was Canon W. Bell, the first headmaster.
Among other objectives, the OD Club aims to benefit all former students and current and past staff members. As stated in one of the Club’s original goals at its inception in 1887, it seeks “to maintain friendly relations among Old Dovorians” and “to keep members informed about matters of interest to Old Dovorians.” Additionally, it oversees the “Dover College War Memorial and Endowment Fund (1926).” In accordance with the Royal Charter of 1922, subsequently updated in 2022.
Since 1876, Old Boy teams have taken to the field to compete against the School in Cricket, Rugby Union, Football, and Hockey, with Tennis, Squash Racquets, and Golf being added at a later date. Tours have also been organized for these major sports, initially known as “Dover Wanderers,” then as O.D.R.U.F.C., and later, between the wars, as “London Old Dovorian R.U.F.C.,” whose tie has become the Club’s Town Tie. The Cricket tours in Sussex and the Hockey tours across Europe and the Channel Islands, expertly arranged by R. Heathcote Hacker, deserve recognition. Post-World War II, reviving these traditions proved challenging, yet the O.D. Hockey Club persisted at the Folkestone Festival until 1965 and continued to play Sunday matches against other Old Boy teams in Bromley.
The Club has experienced three interruptions in its meeting schedule. The first hiatus spanned from the AGM on 11th July 1914 to the AGM on 29th November 1919. The second break occurred from the AGM on 2nd July 1939 to a committee meeting on 12th September 1946. The third gap extended from the committee meeting in November 2019 to the AGM in July 2021, due to the national lockdown imposed by the government during the Covid pandemic (as recorded in OD Club minute books).
Following the First World War, the OD Club initiated the War Memorial and Endowment Fund, which successfully raised funds to purchase the College from its original owners, transforming it into a charitable organization under a Royal Charter granted in 1922, which has been subsequently amended in 2022 a status it retains to this day. According to this newer Royal Charter, their must be a minimum of 5 ODs and no more that 7 ODs on the Governing body of the school, replacing the original condition of no less than one third must be ODs.
In November 1947, following World War II, the Club reactivated the Fund to raise money for a War Memorial and the restoration of the College buildings. The Fund continues to support various College activities. Notably, it financed the acquisition of the Capt. Billie Neville statue which stands outside School House on the College Close, which was unveiled on Armistice Day 2018, and the refurbishment of the Gate House to accommodate Dover College’s archives.
The College transitioned to a co-educational institution in the 1970s, prompting the Club to evolve accordingly. Consequently, all College members gained the right to join and benefit from the Club’s offerings.
On the 10th of May 1980, the Club established the OD Trust to bolster education, particularly within the College. The Trust was set up as an alternative to the War Memorial Fund, whose stringent regulations limited its practicality for everyday use. With the aid of initial bequests, the Trust strives to augment its resources and support the College’s endeavour’s. Notable contributions include funding refurbishment projects of the school boarding houses, renovation of the Cricket pavilion at Maxton and the refurbishment of the 12th century College Refectory, as well as funding bursaries for pupils attending Dover College.
In 2023, the Club joined “AROPS,” (The Schools Alumni Association), and also became a member of the “ICO” (Information Commissioner’s Office), an independent authority in the UK that oversees the use and storage of personal data in accordance with GDPR.
Old Dovorian Club today
Today the Clubs “Core Principles” remain the same as when the Club was founded on the 10th December 1887, which are :-
- The Old Dovorian Club serves as an inclusive association, managed by Old Dovorians for the welfare of its members.
- It stands on the Club’s three foundational Pillars of Principle, established on 10th December 1887.
- The Club is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the traditions and history of both the Club and the school.
- It supports various OD Club groups across the UK and globally, all created for the advantage of every Old Dovorian.
A former President once penned the following sentiment, which captures the Club’s ethos for both the present and the future: “Reflecting on the past can evoke nostalgia and pride, yet each generation should strive to sustain a present and forge a future that honours our history.”
The Club continues to support, inform, and entertain its members through “The Dovorian News,” which is usually published just before Christmas.
Over the years, the Club has evolved to accommodate changes within the College and society at large, becoming a “facilitator” that helps members stay connected and supports the various independent OD groups.
To this end, the Club organises the annual London Cocktail Party, an event attended by club members, their families, and friends, hosted at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, London, every January.
The Club lends its support to both the Old Dovorian Cricket Club and the Old Dovorian Golf Society, which assemble teams of ODs to compete against the College and other teams across the South East of England and London.
Regrettably, the Cricket Club has had to limit its matches to encounters with other cricket clubs and alumni teams. In contrast, the Golf Society continues to compete against mixed teams of parents, teachers, and students, whose team is organized by the College, as well as against other Golf Societies primarily located in the South East of England and London.
Numerous OD Groups exist within the UK and abroad, notably in Hong Kong, Nigeria, and Singapore, established by Old Dovorians who share the connection of being alumni of Dover College.
The latest addition to the Old Dovorian community is the “Old Dovorian London Social Group,” created to organize social gatherings, activities, and excursions for ODs in and around London. This group is accessible to all ODs, regardless of their residence or workplace, while upholding traditions dating back to the nineteenth century when Old Dovorians were among the first Public Schools alumni to host annual lunches in London.
The Club also operates its own website and social media platforms on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and “X” formally known as Twitter to keep members informed and engaged. Communication primarily occurs through these online channels, along with direct email to members. Nevertheless, postal communication is still available for those who require or prefer it.
To find out more about the Club, you can reach out to the Club via contact@olddovorian.com
TO STAY CONNECTED
Subscribe to get the latest updates on events and news from the Old Dovorian Club, and to receive the electronic version of the Dovorian News. Register your details using the secure link provided.