A Presidential Function

From time to time, the President arranges a gathering for past presidents and secretaries to thank them for their contribution to the ongoing success of our Association. At the end of June (2026) such a function was held at the Coopers Inn in the city for the above reason, and for an additional and significant purpose. Tony Gaynor has been a constant presence among SPOCA committees for over 70 years and it was thought time to give some special recognition of his contribution. Although he hasn’t been a ‘formal’ committee member for a few recent years, he has nevertheless kept in touch with committee business, and been a source of advice and historical information whenever it was required. A particular task which he carried out lately has been his careful attention to newspaper obituaries and grapevine messages to advise us of Patricians who had passed on. (Subsequently, they have then been duly announced elsewhere on the website).

But, more significantly and over the decades, Tony has diligently carried out the roles of secretary and/or treasurer – the former for 31 years, 26 of them continuous. He began his committee membership in 1955, just two years after leaving school. His recent entry into another personal ‘decade’ made the presentation of a framed citation recognizing his outstanding contribution to the Association all the more appropriate.

Some photos of the occasion can be seen below (click each for a larger view), along with a picture of the citation – with apologies for the less than perfect quality of the reproduction due to reflections from the warm sunlight coming through the windows at the very appropriate venue! The details of the citation wording can be read below the photos.