Page 4 - OM Newsletter - Issue 44 - 2020

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2020
Alumni Engagement
In early 2020 we hosted eight events at College with over 500 attending, including pupils; three further OM events off-site drew some 130 OMs. More recently, it has been good to note that the sporting season has allowed the OM clubs to return to a degree of normality, with healthy enthusiasm.
We were pleased to invite OMs back to the College to speak to the pupils about their areas of expertise or interest. In January, Hannah Campbell (8.04-09) spoke about her bid for a seat at Westminster in the 2019 General Election, and on the eve of the annual sports fixtures against the College, some very recent leavers came back to speak to pupils in ‘their’ Houses about life at university. More OMs came back to speak to the Hundred and Lower Sixth at the annual careers seminar in March.
In February a group of 14 OMs and guests visited Andalusia, enjoying the delights of Seville, Cordoba and Jerez, as well as a memorable return flight and landing at Gatwick during storm Dennis.
We are looking to mitigate the restrictions on face-to-face contact by improving our digital engagement. We were pleased that Andy Molloy (3.86-91) was able to deliver his Lucretian Society lecture in November, and we are working with the College to stream more events.
New Engagements
We are pleased with the progress to welcome alumni from Malvern College’s wider family of schools: in June, those leaving Malvern College Chengdu were enrolled into the Society. It is hoped that we will initially be able to support those who are attending a UK university.
Career-mentoring
Registrations on OM Connect continue to grow: we now have over 2700. We monitor traffic between OMs (and parents) to note the levels of engagement, so we know how well the platform is being used, but, of course, once OMs ‘connect’ the mentoring is often progressed ‘off-site’. Please let us know of mentoring relationships, not least so that we can publicise to everyone else the effectiveness of the service.
We use the data to suggest OMs for careers talks at College, such as the careers seminar (March). More usefully, careers department staff now have access to our directory, so that they can see which OMs work where and who is available to help pupils; we hope that this facility will be used substantially and coherently for the benefit of pupils.
In the summer, we uploaded resources to support those on furlough and in the autumn we drew up plans to introduce a Career Experience Initiative, to support OMs of all ages looking for insight into a (new) career. With the active support of trustees, OMs and parents, it is hoped to be able to post a range
of over 20 placements each year. If you can support us in this ambition, please contact the office.
Clubs and Societies
You will see later in this Newsletter (pp.30-33) that the sports clubs remain in good heart. Of course, some have been less active than others, but it has been heartening to be able to watch OM cricket, football, chess, golf, netball, men’s and women’s hockey, court games and shooting. In 2021 we hope finally to host the fly-fishing match against the College, and to attend the Arrow Trophy regatta.
In March 2020 about 70 OMs returned to the College to take part in sports fixtures (3 football teams, 2 netball teams, men’s and women’s hockey, fives, squash, rackets, chess and shooting). This proved once again to be a thoroughly enjoyable day. The veterans’ football XI have reached the final of the Derrick Moore Veterans’ Cup, beating Eton in the semi-final to face Forest in the final in early December. Clive Edginton (3.64- 69), appointed Captain of the R&A for 2019- 20, will remain as Captain for a further year, becoming only the third in history to do so.
Communications and Profile
You will know that there are daily posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as a fortnightly Newsletter via OM Connect. We currently reach about 3000 OMs every day.
In March we hosted a lunch for the Upper Sixth leavers to explain the work of the Malvernian Society; their enthusiasm for membership was perhaps indicated by the purchase of some £4000 worth of OM merchandise in the 15 minutes after the lunch!
Finance
Work on fund management has been substantial. Sarasin & Partners, our investment managers, reported to the Investment sub- committee (September) on a (surprisingly) promising 2020.
Merchandise sales continue to be healthy.
Archives
As part of the improvements to our website, OMs now have immediate access to all past copies of ‘The Malvernian’ magazine dating back to 1869. On the site you will also find links to the OM Newsletter archive.
Indeed, we are hoping to improve access to our archives: ideally, we would have a permanent archive room on the main College site, allowing OMs and pupils to learn more about the history of the College and its alumni.
Staffing
Over the course of the last year we have welcomed several new members of staff.
As an Ellerslie Old Girl, Theresa Newnham has a long association with Malvern College; some of her Sixth Form lessons were taken on our campus and her brother is an OM. After a
period of travelling and working in London for institutions such as Imperial College, M&S and BT, she found herself back at the College as PA to Headmaster Antony Clark for six and a half years. She also spent time in Admissions as Deputy Registrar before joining the Society in November 2019.
Following a career in hospitality management, Debs Parcell retrained as an accountant, continuing to work in the hotel industry as a Finance Manager for 25 years. She joined the Malvernian Society in March 2020 as Finance Officer.
We also have three new Development Managers. Jane Rogers brings extensive experience in all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations, gained at the University of Oxford, two leading UK independent schools and at Worcester Cathedral, successfully devising and completing campaigns to support major capital projects, bursaries and scholarships, expertise which served her well as a Trustee of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education. With a Music degree and ten years’ teaching experience, Jane also regularly attends the Malvern Winds chamber music Summer School based at the College. Jane will work on our fundraising programme for major projects.
Suzy Hillier brings to the Society a background in commercial marketing and partnerships acquired in the field of international sports travel and major UK events. Her roll-call of overseas events includes several Rugby and Cricket World Cups and British & Irish Lions Tours and, in the UK, Cheltenham Literature Festival and RHS Malvern Spring Festival. Suzy joined the Society in June 2020 and is currently fundraising for the new cricket nets due to be completed ready for the 2021 season.
Anne Ballantyne joined the Society in 2019, bringing her relationship-building and organisational skills from her career in hotel management, recruitment and communications. Having gained an Open University Degree and obtained a Motorsport race licence since her half century, Anne is our main contact for the Regular Giving and Legacies Programmes.
This seems an opportune moment to thank all the OMs who contribute financially to the College through the Society. In the ‘Development Impact Report’ of this edition (pp.8-11) you will discover how the College is benefiting from your philanthropy. You will also read that the focus of our fundraising efforts in the coming years is to ensure, by the provision of assisted places and bursaries, that a Malvern College education is available to talented boys and girls who might otherwise not be able to come to the College.
I hope you find plenty to interest you in these pages.
Paul Godsland
4 | Old Malvernian Newsletter