Rev Fr Francis Sutherland SDB - RIP
We heard the sad news of the death of Fr Francis Sutherland on Saturday 24 September. He died peacefully but unexpectedly in hospital in Glasgow.
There will be a Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Francis Sutherland SDB on Saturday, 8th October at 11.00 am in the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Queen's Road, Farnborough GU14 6JS. Everyone is welcome.
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21st January 2016
Sadly, Fr Paddy Gillen, known to many of those educated in the 70s/80s, has passed away in the last 24 hours.
More recently the Parish Priest in Church Crookham, he will be remembered fondly by those he attempted to teach woodwork in an early introduction to the modern curriculum.
Funeral details are as below:
Requiem Mass on Wednesday, 27th January at 11.30 am.
Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Queens Road, Farnborough
May he rest in peace.
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Our House
Over the last few nights the school has put on an excellent production, "Our House", based on the music of Madness.
Pupils from 11-18 imbued the performances with huge energy, enjoyment and a level of professionalism that would not look out of place in London's Theatreland. All of this was done against a tremendous stage setting, as you can see in one of these photos, and with the faultless support of the backstage team.
Photos courtesy of Matt Link Photography
Talking Heads
In the First of our "Talking Heads" interviews, Mr Gerard Owens talked to OSAF about his aspirations in the new role.
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There is no better way to launch the new Old Salesians Association Farnborough (OSAF), than to meet the new Head Teacher, Gerard Owens, who joins the school during the academic year in which we celebrate the 200th Anniversary of John Bosco's birth .
Ged succeeds Patrick Wilson (1997-2014) as the second Lay Head, and is the latest in a distinguished lineage extending back from Brother Michael Delmer (1983-1997) to Fr Stubbings just after the Second World War.
Ged, who arrives from the "outstanding" Haberdashers Aske school in Lewisham, is delighted to be joining a school of equal standing and heritage. "In the Independent Sector you are often privileged to take on new responsibility from predecessors who have done an excellent job. This is exactly that situation and I now want to evolve the school and continue to enhance the excellent reputation that we enjoy in the region".
Aspirations
"Evolution not revolution" is the phrase that the quietly spoken, but determined, new Head uses to describe his thoughts for the future. Recognising that the School cannot stand still, and needs to continue to enhance its reputation, he specifically lists three connected objectives:
• Maintaining and developing the unique and distinct ethos of Salesian College Farnborough, and thereby enhancing its position in the competitive regional educational market
• Developing the School's estate; including classrooms and sport facilities
• Embracing technology as a vital part of the modern educational experience
"The reputation that the school enjoys is excellent across all the disciplines: Sport; Music; Drama; academic achievement; behaviour and attitudes," says Ged, "My job is to work with the Governing Body and Academic Body to seek further enhancement. In particular, I see technology and the Estate as integral to that objective".
The Salesian Family
Ged was first aware of the Salesians when growing up in Liverpool. Salesian Bootle was on his radar, as he attended nearby St Edwards; however, the two schools' paths rarely crossed.
As an active Alumnus of both St Edwards and Haberdashers, he is totally supportive of the need to have an active and vibrant OSAF, saying, "The broader Salesian Family is very important to the current school and reflects well on all that has gone before. It is an integral part of our modern educational establishment, from our school chaplain, Fr Pat Sherlock, to the Fathers and Brothers who live here in retirement, and to the thousands of ex- students who have passed through Farnborough."
Last Word
I am sure we all wish Ged well in taking on the baton from Patrick Wilson, and continuing the evolution of Salesian College, Farnborough. Perhaps we should leave the last word to our new Head; "Salesian is a well cherished and much respected school which it is my great privilege to guide into the coming years. As long as we stay true to Brother Hubert's courtesy points the college will stay true to the core principles which have kept it in good stead so far."
