Derby School - Old Derbeian Society

Old Derbeian Society

The Old Derbeian Society (ODS) was formed in 1911 allowing all pupils of Derby School, who had left their full time secondary education, to enrol as members for life. On Saturday 28 October 1911 the President of the OD Society, Dr. R. Laurie, had invited its members to a smoking concert to inaugurate the birth of the Society for which the need had long been felt. The full report appears in The Derbeian (the school's magazine) for December 1911 and includes a statement from the Rev. A.C. Knight "that a loyal and patriotic Old Boys' Society (now known as OD Society) would inspire confidence in the town and in this way help the school itself."

The aims and objectives of the Society are threefold:

• To foster the memory of the old Derby School and to support the new Derby Grammar School; also to further the interests of the School's past and present members.
• To keep Old Derbeians in touch with one another and with the School.
• To organise Old Derbeians for social purposes and for the purpose of cricket, football and other games.

An interesting rule of the O D Society states "Any Old Derbeian, any past Head or Teacher of Derby School, also the Head for the time being, any past Head and any past or present Teacher of the Derby Grammar School, shall be entitled to become a member."

In June 2010 the OD Society presented 'The Alan Sanders Memorial Cup' for the very first time to the winning team at the resurrected annual cricket match played between the ODS Team and Derby Grammar School First XI team. Alan Sanders had been the OD Society's secretary (from 1997-2006), archivist and committee member.

Commencing in October 2011 the Society started celebrating its Centenary, as in October 1911 the Society was formed and was officially launched with a 'Smoking Concert'. From October 2011 and throughout 2012 special celebrations will be held including a special OD's Cricket XI match versus Derby Grammar School 1st XI cricket team; a President's reception; concluding with a special Annual Dinner in November to be held in the Derby Grammar School main hall.