Choice Cuts 14

ODE TO A DINNER. Newsletter No. 27, 22nd May 1972

The annual assault on O.M.T.
Meant the 0.B.A. Dinner was here,
Once more men of note from that wonderful school,
Joined together for suppage of beer.

Each Old Boy had orders from General P.F.,
Where to rendezvous - time and what date,
But as usually happens on events such as these,
Most members turned up somewhat late!

At last we arrived after crashing of gears
In a coach that was on its last leg,
Ran into the bar through a long corridor
To be greeted by a barrel of keg.

The wetting of palates had barely begun,
When at last we were summoned to eat,
And led by the Head, Dr. R.F.E.,
All members made haste to their seats.

With Newcastle Brown playing a prominent part,
Backed up by the flow of much wine,
"Benny" Goodman the speaker reminisced on the past,
Which for records was way beyond mine.

Speaking pure St. Nick's English and Shakespearean wit,
He proved that he still was no fool,
(I wonder if Dothie of athletical fame
Was the reason for him leaving school!)

Frivolities ended with a speech by M.S.
After Money had made it quite clear,
That his target for the evening with melon and roll
Would be Burrell's protruding right ear!

"Adjourn to the bar" was the 0.B. demand
"After all that's the reason we're here,
Forget the good speeches, the wine and the food,
Carry on with the songs and the beer".

No sooner 'twas said, no sooner 'twas done,
In a fashion we've learned to enjoy,
For history has shown that with drink we are best
At portraying St. Nicholas Old Boys,

All in all a success was the 0.B.A. feast,
Regardless of food and the cost,
But without the support of the Head and his Staff
The night would have surely been lost.

On a sad note I end the attendance was poor,
Inexcusably bad I might say,
So all of you Old Boys who failed to attend,
Ask yourself "Why did I stay away?".

K.R.W.