In my first update as your new President, I am pleased to begin by thanking James Ovenden (7671) and Steve Sharman (7555), two of our most dedicated committee members who have contributed so much to the OEA.  For more than a decade, James, as Hon Secretary and then President and Steve in his role in the development of OEA sports, have been instrumental in shaping the OEA, and finding ways to ensure that we stay connected with the College and our members.

By way of introduction and to give you some context of who I am, I attended College from 1977 to 1983 before entering a career in banking. For twenty five years of my working life, I was based in Asia, and I returned to Guernsey in 2016 with my wife Jane and two sons, Max (11494) and Sam (11602). 

Ten years before returning to Guernsey, I reconnected with the College through the OEA London Dinner; I loved the experience of meeting peers and teachers and finding out about our latest victories over Victoria College. Since then, I have always tried to attend at least one of the dinners each year.  In 2013, the College’s 450th year celebrations, the then President, Mike Eades, asked if I’d arrange a dinner for OEs living in Hong Kong – it was a great occasion!  It's important to mark these events, and I look forward to attending the OEA dinner next year in London to mark the 200th anniversary of the College’s rechartering in 1824.

During my tenure as President and in a world that is becoming smaller, more connected and where information flows seamlessly across borders, I’d like to find ways where we can build upon our OE Network.  We have 5,700 Old Elizabethans registered on our portal, and I want to find ways to provide value to our Network's connections.

I often think of the OEA in terms of the wonderful annual dinners where we meet and catch up with friends from school. The OEA is already so much more than that. We have the opportunity now to build a proposition where we can share experiences, ideas and opportunities more regularly. I look forward to exploring this and updating you along the way.

As OEs, we have a shared ethos that enables us to engage with fellow OEs wherever they may be with a mutual expectation of integrity.  This is so important. In many ways, this network has worked and functioned successfully for generations in Guernsey. I want to work with my fellow committee members to develop this to provide better connectivity outside our island.

Although the College was founded 460 years ago, we continue to develop as a school, enhancing our campus, playing fields, and academic offerings. In the same way, I’d like to continue to enhance the OEA incrementally so that parents and students see the value earlier and more regularly.

Andy Niles (7423)

President