New head for old boys

VIP runs the new Discovery Centre

By TERRY SUTTON

    ROGER Gabriel, the project manager for the £2.2million Discovery Centre in Dover's Market Square, is the new president of his school's old boys association.
    Mr Gabriel, the new president of the Old Pharosians' Association, was first a student and then a teacher at Dover Grammar School for Boys, where his wife still teaches.
    Mr Gabriel, the regional curriculum manager for Kent Adult Education, will be responsible for establishing a range of educational activities at Dover Discovery Centre in the now-closed White Cliffs Experience.

    "It's a fantastic project for the people of Dover," said Mr Gabriel, who broke new ground in his presidential speech at the annual dinner by showing a film about adult education.
    The Old Pharosians' annual meeting was held on Saturday  morning when McCabe Ford Williams chartered accountant Ian Pascall of Bewsbury Cross Lane, Whitfield, was elected vice-president. He has been the association's treasurer for 20 years, a pose now taken by Neil Beverton: Phil Harding was re-elected secretary.
    At the annual dinner in the evening headmaster Neil Slater reported there were 681 boys at the school with numbers expected to, increase next year.
    He added that the school was thinking of applying for specialist status for business and enterprise. He also reported the discovery of a diary, kept by first headmaster Fred Whitehouse, which cleared up the mystery of the date of the foundation of the school.
    This showed the first boys were admitted on September 12, 1905 - giving the precise date of when the school will celebrate its centenany.

    TICKETS are now available for a charity music and dance event to be held in November.
    The True Colours Foundation is holding the event at Dover Grammar School for Boys on Saturday November 16 at 7pm.
    Tickets cost £4 for adults and £2.50 for concessions in budget seats or £5 and £3.50 for standard seats.
    To reserve seats telephone 01304 331411.