The following Old Dragons received awards in the Queen's Birthday Honours:

Recent Election Results

50in50 Marathon

Hugh Williams-Preece (OD 1983) ran his way into the history books by being the first person in Europe to successfully complete 50 marathons in 50 days. Setting out from Lisbon in March, he ran across Spain and France before taking part in the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 18th April. Averaging around four and a half hours per marathon he then ran on to London where he was joined by family and friends in Hyde Park for the final day. Five current Dragons ran with him for his penultimate two and a half miles before cheering him in to Trafalgar Square, his mission accomplished. Along the way, he has raised over £30,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. For further information please go to www.50in50.co.uk.

London 2 Paris Row

James Datnow OD 1982 and father of Ellie who is in Reception at Lynams, is in training to row from Westminster to Paris to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. As part of a crew of six and racing against another boat, they start on 9th May on the Thames by the Palace of Westminster. They then cross the Channel and row up the Seine from Le Havre to Paris. They finish opposite the Eiffel Tower at Pont d’Iena. The course covers a distance of 420 nautical miles, including almost 150 miles of open sea. For further information please go to http://www.london2parisrowing.com/ or www.justgiving.com/JamesDatnow.

For Poulton and England by James Corsan

A biography of England's Grand Slam winning captain in the 1914 season, published by Matador and available for £15.00 from the Rugby Stores at Twickenham Stadium. Ronald Poulton (OD 1903).

During the 2009 Varsity match a presentation was made to mark the centenary of the famous 1909 game which Oxford won 35 - 3. Ronald Poulton scored five tries, a record for the series which still holds today.

During the ceremony, on behalf of the RFU and World Rugby Museum the RFU President, John Owen, was presented with a cabinet containing the match ball from the 1909 game together with Ronald Poulton's Oxford and International caps which are on loan from Oxford University RFC.

The following Old Dragons received Honours in the New Year Honours List:

Prof. Michael Richards (OD 1964) Knighthood
Prof. Michael Prestwich (OD 1956) OBE
Cressida Dick (OD 1974) Queen's Police Medal

Nevil Shute

The complete works of Nevil Shute (Nevil Norway OD) are to be published by Vintage.

Military Knight of Windsor

On Monday, 30th November 2009, Lieutenant Jolyon Willans (OD 1958) was installed as a Military Knight of Windsor (No. 649). Jolyon was commissioned on 14 February 1963 into the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers, a regiment merged in 1968 into today's Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. After 36 years with the Regular Army, during which time he commanded the 3rd Battalion of his Regiment, he spent the last 12 years as the Regimental Secretary for The Fusiliers. With their Headquarters inside Her Majesty's Tower of London he can claim to have moved from one Royal Palace to another! Married for 41 years to Bibi, whom he met in Gibraltar, they have two married sons and 5 grandchildren.

London Venues Needed

Calling all ODs and Dragon parents working in London! Do you have access to conference facilities at your workplace that you may be able to offer to the Dragon? Every year we look for a suitable venue for our London Lecture which can to hold up to 100 guests or more. Previous venues have included Lovells and UBS Investment Bank. If you can help us please contact the Development Office on 01865 315414 or please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Latest update on Rory Stewart (OD 1986)

Selected as the prospective Tory parliamentary candidate in Penrith and the Border - Read the full Telegraph article here.