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It is with a\u00a0poignant\u00a0mix of melancholy and\u00a0optimism\u00a0that the 1850 Society hands over to a new President following the sad passing of Simon Dixon (C 58-61) in late April this year. As Simon was in many ways the model Bradfieldian, he was also the model member and therefore model leader of the 1850 Society. Genial and humorous, his opening addresses at events could always be trusted to set the tone, underscoring a genuine affinity for the College and a bonhomie with his fellow Bradfieldians. This deep accord guided an active involvement in the school for over 40 years,\u00a0expressed\u00a0not only with his coaching\u00a0of the\u00a0shooting\u00a0team\u00a0but\u00a0also his involvement in the OB Masonic Lodge and of course\u00a0his engagement with\u00a0the 1850 Society.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Society was created in 2005 as an expression of gratitude to our legators, an engaging forum which allows those who have left a gift to see the immediate impact of their legacy through a varied events programme. Simon became president in 2017 and oversaw the re-invigoration of the Society, including the\u00a0instigation\u00a0of the\u00a0Annual Gathering. He felt, rightly, that what legators would enjoy would be a privileged \u2018behind the scenes\u2019 insight, an opportunity to see what really happens day-to-day in the College. This\u00a0attuned\u00a0perception\u00a0was responsible for\u00a0creating some truly memorable events in recent years. Indeed, 2018\u2019s inaugural Annual Gathering at the newly refurbished science centre provided some amusing flairs of competitive spirit, with legators engaged in a lively\u00a0laboratory practical. The following year\u2019s gathering was a\u00a0less competitive\u00a0but no less\u00a0engaging\u00a0affair;\u00a0held at the Greek theatre, legators\u00a0were\u00a0treated to a\u00a0sneak preview\u00a0of that year\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Alcestis\u00a0<\/span><\/i>and\u00a0pre-performance conversations with cast\u00a0members<\/span>.\u00a0When the planned\u00a0physical gatherings were cancelled due to the pandemic,\u00a0Simon agreed to host an online gathering.\u00a0Despite\u00a0the\u00a0pre-meeting technical nerves\u00a0of\u00a0the participants, the gathering proved to be most entertaining, teed up beautifully by\u00a0Simon\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0characteristic\u00a0verve.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>A varied calendar\u00a0has\u00a0certainly played a significant part in restoring\u00a0the Society to its current health.\u00a0Perhaps the\u00a0most important contribution that Simon made to\u00a0the association, however, was\u00a0his\u00a0keenness\u00a0to include\u00a0legators\u2019\u00a0families\u00a0at 1850 Society events, allowing them to enjoy being hosted at the College and to see the impact of donations\u00a0first-hand.\u00a0The College is extremely grateful to the Dixon family in allowing Simon to be such an active and engaging member of the school for so long. His open guidance shaped the Society into the engaging forum it is today and in doing so greatly influenced a school he loved so much.\u00a0This involvement\u00a0is very much a characteristic that he shares with the 1850 Society\u2019s new President.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, we are delighted to announce that Richard Butler (G 52-56) has kindly agreed to become the new President of the 1850 Society. Richard has been actively involved in the College since his time as a pupil,\u00a0as an active\u00a0member of the\u00a0Waifs\u00a0and\u00a0shortly\u00a0after retirement\u00a0he\u00a0returned to working\u00a0alongside his\u00a0de Beers\u00a0colleague,\u00a0George Burne (A 48-53),\u00a0when\u00a0raising\u00a0funds in support of\u00a0the 2001 renovation of the Music School. In this\u00a0time,\u00a0he experienced\u00a0first-hand the importance of legacy capital in\u00a0bringing a financial confidence to the project,\u00a0crucial\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0the project the impetus it needed to get underway.\u00a0Allied to his wealth of\u00a0expertise, this recognition places him in great stead to advance the Society beyond its current health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk\/bradfield-for-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/www.bradfieldcollege.org_.uk\/bradfield-for-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/0F2A6086-1024x683.jpg\")
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