UCH Whales - An Introduction

The Whales (the Sharks Oldboys and OldGirls Association) began in 1986 when the first of the Sharks and Sharkettes to have graduated came back to Hull to help out with pre-season training. Until the early ‘90s the Oldboys WeekendTM came at the start of the academic year, in October, to whip the new boys and girls in to shape, but mostly to see old faces and enjoy a weekend of cheap beer. Those first intrepid few had such a good time that they decided to come back the following year, and in no time at all the annual WeekendTM in Hull was born. Those first few years were rather ad hoc, with returnees dossing on students’ floors, and basically meeting up with whoever turned up wherever they might bump in to one another. A few years later the now-infamous pact was made with The Marlborough Hotel (on Springbank), and that became the home of The WeekendTM until 1996 when the Whales finally rejected the squalor and relocated to The Weekend’sTM current base, The Royal. Anyone graduating from the Sharks - be they player or cheerleader - automatically become Whales (like it or not!) and are instantly entered on to the now-huge mailing list for such gala events as The WeekendTM (or email charlie - see below) in January and the newly-arrived ‘FUGLYBUPID’ Summer Ball. Beyond these two formally organised events, former Sharks will agree that The Whales provide a great means of keeping in touch with people who may otherwise have drifted out of one’s life forever! Contacts: Any Sharks graduating this year who want more information on, well, anything concerning The Whales are more than welcome to contact me (Colin) on (01274 619551), or can email me at: Colin_Hancock2@Yahoo.co.uk or Tom Slocombe(0208 5197141) at: Tom@InItGroup.com for Blubber related stuff. For anything relating to the Old Boys Weekend or being added to the blubber mailing list contact Charlie King at: Charlotte.King@dds.co.uk.

07.02.10