Meeting: 28th September 2013 - Luton UK

28/09/2013

After all this time how do you see your old school mates or indeed anyone who went to the same school as you? I would like to say that this was business as usual for QCOGA (UK) but this was the first meeting in absolutely ages, but the screeches and yelps and the desire to hug was all there as loud as ever. To be honest, this was one of the best meetings we have had. Its always great fun when the QC girls get together, but to have so many ladies come to the meeting that I had not met before was so exciting, that before it even started I felt it was a success.

One of the key themes running through the meeting was the desire by all present  to improve the attendance and participation in the association, we know there are lots of OGQCs living and working in the UK, and its interesting that many of them do not know about this association, we had two attendees who live in Nigeria and another who heard about the meeting from someone in Nigeria. So if you are QC girl reading this, please pass it on to other QC girls that you many know, please ask them to register so that we can keep in touch. One of the actions that I took was to look into the possibility for teleconferencing as it is believed that this would improve participation. I am no enemy of progress, but a bit of me worries that we may lose some of the sociability of the association by doing this.

The great thing I personally enjoy  about these meetings are the numerous trips down memory lane, who can remember this teacher, who remembers senior so and so: well one such trip had us singing an old a familiar song that goes something like this:

Can a picture talk oh no

Can a picture walk oh no

Can a picture do what your love has done for me  ha ha how funny is that? Or even funnier is a group of women in their mid 40s singing at the top of their voices in a 16x 18 foot room!

One of the other things we tried to ascertain at this meeting is what you want from the association. These are things that we need to know about  or that we can improve  and make sure that there is a mantle to pass on. Please be sure to email us using the contact form, or directly to qcoga@yahoo.com.

A particular resolution was made, and this was to endeavour to ensure that our subs are paid regularly. They were increased to £50 and for pensioners or unemployed members remained at £20.  Pls click here, for details of how to pay your subs. 

if you want to see more pictures from this meeting Click here
To see the minutes from this meeting Click here

Nike Akiti 

(Morenike Davies, 1980 set!)

KCOBA Dinner Dance 20th July 2013

QCOGA Girls at the Dance!

Ladies I have to tell you about this event, The King’s College Old Boy’s Association Inaugural Dinner Dance that I attended.  It was indeed a very well attended event, with it appears nearly 250 attendees and it was so nice to see them in all of their finery. and what finery it was.  

The point I wanted to make was that after having been shocked when my presence as the President of the QCOGA (UK) branch  was acknowledged, the shock pretty soon gave way to humility and if I am honest with you my fellow QCOGs   felt more then a little red faced! I felt acutely aware of the inactivity of QCOGA ( UK) of recent times, of which I must shoulder the Lion’s share of the blame, not to detract from the good work of the individual sets, but clearly I have to look at the wider picture on alumni of an illustrious school such as ours. 

I have to say that listening to them sing their school song, with so much gusto I was quite in awe, and they all knew all the words to all the verses! It really is a fabulous song, befitting, but I was particularly stirred by verse 3 that went as follows

‘Present, past and future form one mighty whole

Shining forth emblazoned on the muster roll

When the call is sounded all must answer “here”

Voice and bearing showing neither shame nor fear

Pointing to our honour which stands bright

As when we took it from our founder’s hands’

It’s there, in the ‘from one mighty whole’ the idea of unity standing and working together, it’s almost a lion’s call. At least that is what i was hearing, the display of comradeship amongst the men who were but boys in KC was incredible, the hailing of each other, the old school rituals all there, present, ticked and marked off.  I feel that its pertinent that we sing 

‘Pass on the Torch, still brightly gleaming, ....’ in our school song, another call to arms, pass on to the next generation, a similar pretext all very stirring. 

It was interesting to hear of  the challenges  faced by the alunmni of King’s College, the broken kitchens, the over crowding, the annexes, falling standards and so on and so forth.   How similar they are to ours! Having attended this event, I am feeling extremely invigorated and a quite a bit nostalgic, remember our dinner dances and all that went into planning and executing them in trying to raise funds for our alma mater! So now I am heeding a call and i am extending that call you my fellow QCOGs.

I have to say that I was surprised at how many ladies went up to have their picture taken as being part of Queen’s College- knock me for six call me a snob, but i do believe that that Queen’s college, Yaba is the Queen’s College and our only true affiliation is with Queen’s school Ibadan! Please do correct me if I’m wrong, but i do find it rather irksome that others like to ride off the back.

Then there is the issue of the standard of the school in present times, I have had people tell me, that we are feeding off our past history and that we are not that good, which in effect may be true, but people need to understand that history cannot be re-written, we learn from it, we improve on it but re-write it? Thats not possible. we do however have an opportunity to be part of those that chose to learn from history and work to secure a better future for our alma mater.

RIP- Mrs BIsi Abe

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs Bisi Abe.  Mrs Abe was a former QC girl. We wish her family sympathy in this sorrowful moment. May God bless them.

On behalf of QCOGA (UK) We wish her family  God's Grace and strength to comfort them in this time of loss.

Dear all   You probably have heard about the above event. www.nssff.co.uk           In line with the theme and spirit of the Olympic year a group of schools have got together and are hosting their own mini Olympics. The events on the day  include team/individual competitive events. In addition to athletics and fun day events , there will also be music/picnic/food/ BBQ and  a Marquee with stalls for exhibitors. The  team events will have competitive and valuable prizes for the schools.   Though not actively involved in the planning process so far, we have agreed to participate on the day.     Current list of participants can be found here:     http://www.nssff.co.uk/nsf/registered-participants     FAQs   1)      One off Collaboration of Organisations for 2012 2)      Collaborating organization must have a link with a Nigerian school (product of Nigerian school). 3)      Collaborating activities must be non-political 4)      Non commercial/Non profit making activity 5)      A token amount of £100 contribution per participating group to cover costs and for unlimited number of attendees 6)      Representatives of schools on the day can be anyone (kids, adults even Usain Bolt). It will be competitive and fun     The planning committee sends out detail periodical updates to all schools. They have indicated that they require support and assistance in the following  areas:     +Donation in Cash or kind +Corporate Stall hire on the day (£500)- 500 mixed age groups will be attending (target group for businesses) +Advert placements-the Advert rates are:- - Inside Front/ Inside Back/ Back cover: £200.00 - Full page: £100.00 - Half page: £ 60.00 - Quarter page: £40.00    

More News Posted on Facebook by an OGQC

It is with heavy hearts that I on behalf of OGQC81 SET announce the passing of the following OG's and their family members on the ill-fated DANA MD83 crash : HADIZA OTEGBEYE (nee THOMPSON) - 1984 set MAIMUNA ANYENE (nee MIJINDADI) - 1996 set. She died with her husband, 3 kids and mother and she was pregnant. AYOOLA SHOMOLU - 1998 set DUNNI DOHERTY - 2000 set Relatives: EHIME AIKHOMU - Husband of Titi Oladitan - 1984 set. AMAKA OJUGBANA - Sister of Ebele Mgbor (nee Awani) 1998 set IJEOMA ONYIUKE - Sister of Chika Ikemobih (nee Onyiuke) 1982 set MARIA OKWULEHIE - Mother of Chinemerem Okwulehie 2000 set May the Almighty God grant those loved ones left behind to mourn the fortitude to bear this tragic loss. God bless us all and God bless Nigeria.

Sad News

I am very sorry to bring the sad news that  3 OGQCs were on the DANA plane that crashed in Lagos. They were Amaka Ojugbana, Mainuna Ayene and Kemi Somolu. Please pray for them and their families at this difficult and sad time.  God bless.   =

Picnic 3rd July 2010

Well we planned and planned then the day arrived and we executed on the day..what a fabulous day it was. It is always a laugh when OGQCs get together, and laugh we did! The park was a very lovely venue for a family day out. We were sat behind the children's playground, this in turn really leant itself to the occasion, as it meant that the kids had a great time, to be honest we hardly saw them. They were free to do as they pleased and they did just that. We had a fantastic raffle draw which raised over £50.

I have to say a big thank you to all of you who attended, and I hope that we see you at next years event. No doubt it will be just as fabulous.