Old Oswestrian Society
Objectives of the Old Oswestrian Society
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To support the charitable objectives of Oswestry School.
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To maintain, promote and facilitate means of communication and to form a bond between the School and OOs.
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To assist where possible the continuing camaraderie amongst OOs.
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To maintain traditions and help promote the interests of the School.
| Position | Name | |
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| President | Naomi Gilchrist (1979-1987) |
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| Chairman | James Lloyd (1974-1987) |
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| Hon Secretary | Clare Bebbington (1983-1998) |
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| Hon Treasurer | Rufus Malim (2008-2014) |
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| Hon Mens Sport Co-Ordinator | Edward Ellis-Cooper (2006-2015) | |
| Hon Womens Sport Co-Ordinator | Laura Kendall (2006-2015) | |
| Alumni Relations Manager | Victoria Evans (2016-) |
If you would like details for Committee Members of the Society, please contact:
Alumni Relations Manager
Oswestry School
Upper Brook Street
Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11 2TL
Email: oldoswestrians@oswestryschool.com
Tel: 01691 655711.
Old Oswestrian Society AGM 2022
Please click below to download the agenda for the Annual General Meeting to be held at The Wynnstay Hotel, Oswestry, and virtually on Saturday 26 November 2022, 9.00am.
Old Oswestrian Society AGM Summary 2022
Please click below to download a summary of the Annual General Meeting held in person and virtually on Saturday 26 November 2022, 9.00am, at The Wynnstay Hotel, Oswestry.
History of the Old Oswestrian Society
Oswestry School's founder, a local wealthy landowner, lawyer and politician, David Holbache, together with his wife Guinevere, put into trust some lands, the rents from which would pay for a schoolmaster. This far-sighted man, friend of Owain Glyndwr and war treasurer for the newly-crowned Henry IV, had the kind of vision and love of learning which characterized this early period of the Renaissance. Taking advantage of a gradual loosening of the restrictions imposed by the Feudal System, and perhaps hoping to heal some of the wounds and bitter feelings amongst the local people following such an unsettled period in the Marches region, Holbache’s new school made provision for the teaching of Latin, Greek and English grammar.
A brief Biography of David Holbache: (cited History of Parliament).
Holbache, was the son of Welsh parents, coming from Dudleston in the Fitzalan lordship of Oswestry. It is recorded that he became a highly competent lawyer. His services as legal adviser to the Fitzalan earls of Arundel began as early as 1376. By the following year Holbache had also entered royal service as King’s pleader and attorney for the whole of Wales.
Holbache’s life for the next twenty years involved being appointed, joint justiciar of south Wales, associations with Earl Richard, imprisonment in the London Tower but soon followed by release and pardons for wrongful imprisonment from the archbishop of Canterbury. Holbache was soon afterwards confirmed as steward of the now forfeited Fitzalan lordship of Oswestry.
In 1406, possibly through the influence of the earl of Arundel, Holbache secured election to Parliament for Shropshire, and immediately turned this event to his own advantage, for he then obtained the Commons’ support for his petition for denization.
In this petition he asserted that he, like his ancestors, had always been a true and faithful subject. Henry IV granted the request and so, on 19 October, did he another petition of Holbache’s, one which asked for a grant of the estates late of David ap Yonet of Iffnal in the lordship of Whittington, North Wales, worth £20 annually; and only a week later, in compensation to the true heirs, Holbache secured for them royal pardons for having taken part in the rebellion. Holbache’s own reinstatement was complete: on 19 Dec., three days before the dissolution of the Parliament, he was one of the few Members of the Lower House to be appointed as auditors of the accounts of the parliamentary treasurers for the wars, Thomas, Lord Furnival, and (Sir) John Pelham; and at the very end of the session he was among the 12 MPs assigned by the Commons who, along with some of the Lords, were to witness the engrossment of the Parliament roll.
Following this, Holbache very frequently received appointments to royal commissions, particularly relating to Wales and Shropshire. From early in 1407 for over 13 years he was a member of the Shropshire bench,
Holbache himself had inherited or acquired by marriage lands in Sweeney, Treflach and Maesbury, in the lordship of Oswestry, and to these he added lands in Worthenbury, Flintshire and Croesmere by Ellesmere, as well as property in the Welsh borough of Mawddwy and the English one of Shrewsbury. Holbache is now best remembered for his foundation of the grammar school at Oswestry.
Holbache is last recorded on 19 Dec. 1421.