The Annual Reunion Dinner, 2006 | Home | Index | Guestbook | | Home (Aston) | Index (Aston) |

Brian Roberts AEA President	The present generation Christopher Cooney (Left) and Sam Curry	David Roberts Master of Ceremonies

This year's dinner had been billed as 'the beginning of an era' because it was to be the first at which David Roberts, son of AEA President Brian, would officiate as Master of Ceremonies. So, would it be the 'Roberts Family Show'?

As soon as I saw that I was to be seated at the 'Martin Leigh' table I knew what was to be the theme for this year's table names. Eight of our departed old boys were to be thus honoured: John Murray, 'Sid' Brown, Andy Sherlock, Eric Collis, Roger Weetman, Dave Yeomans, and Don Checkland.

So I sauntered over to find familiar faces from previous years - and a great delight to see, for the first time, Graham Birley (1956) and Les Woodhall (1951) who had driven for seven hours from Luxemburg to be here.

But it wasn't just us 'oldies' who had made the effort. Behind us, at the 'Don Checkland' table seven lads who had left school in July had returned from their widespread universities to meet up with their contemporaries. Last year Rajiv Nathwani had been on the 'top table' - now he was to be down amongst the lower ranks, but obviously pleased to be so. Rajiv is now at Manchester University reading English Literature before taking up law. So it won't be long before he will be able to afford to buy drinks for all of us! One of Rajiv's fellow diners and contemporaries, James Cross, currently studying politics at Leeds (I thought they just made it up as they went along!) is a former school 1st XV player and AOE 'grandson'.

Next to appear, clutching his generous contribution for this year's auction, was that stalwart veteran of 32 years' teaching at Aston: Harold Jessop.

Harry Grove (1960) turned up with his School House tie secreted about his person. If you asked him nicely he would give you a 'flash' of it!

To complete the spectrum, spied in the distance was Tom Smith of the class of 1928 and his young counterpart John Castle of the class of 1929!! It was great to see these two senior AOEs here once again.

Familiar faces Harold Jessop	The 'Martin Leigh' table Standing (L to R): Les Woodhall, Colin Payne, Ken Smith, Graham Birley Seated (L to R): David Sinclair, Peter Cross, Peter Band, John Blease	New faces Rajiv Nathwani

The dramatis personae thus assembled, it was time for this year's 72 diners to be summoned to their tables by our new MC, David Roberts, flanked by this year's guests. After a briefing about procedure father Brian pronounced Grace in an almost unintelligble Scots tongue, for that was the origin of his Burns like choice.

Dinner was served and my digestion thereof aided by the amiable companionship of fellow physicist Graham Birley on one side and Colin Payne the other. The formalities of Loyal Toast and 'The Immortal Memory' were introduced by the MC reading out the citation for Lt. Phillips's World War I Victoria Cross and carried out sensitively in time honoured and solemn tradition by - respectively - Christopher Goldsmith, AOE 1st XV Captain, and Alan Haynes - this year elevated to the status of 'Retired Estate Agent'!

Before the 'business' of the evening began David Roberts introduced our guests including the four speakers, of whom more anon, the Secretary to the Foundation, the past Chairman of the Parents' Association and, particularly welcome every year, the present generation represented by Christopher Cooney (School Captain, Temperley House) who hopes to read Biology at university and Sam Curry (Captain of Rugby and School Vice Captain) who wants to study History. Good luck to them both.

With the change of MC one might reasonably have expected the demise of Bob Simpson's beloved anagram challenge. As he was sitting at the 'John Murray' table, right under the nose of his successor, perhaps this was too much to hope for! So the efforts of the more dyslexically challenged diners to make sense of 'Apple, Blackberry and Cinnamon Crumble with Custard' were read out for all to ridicule.

The raffle followed, during which Les Woodhall 'won' an AOE Rugby shirt. He was later told to be available for next week's fixture as a result! Alan Haynes was called out of 'retirement' to auction the wine decanter and glasses engraved by Harold Jessop, thus generating £155 for the Association's funds.

By way of introduction to the speakers David treated us to a rapid fire stream of witticisms about Association members. Getting mentioned in these particular dispatches (as I was) is a dubious honour!

First up was Ian Robinson (1964), former Rugby player and property developer of distinction, now preparing himself for the priesthood. Ian proposed the toast to the 'School and Foundation' with vigour, wit and sincerity. The Headmaster, Colin Parker's, response was equally witty and thought provoking. He reported with understandable satisfaction that, this year, Aston had done better than Handsworth in the much maligned league tables. According to Colin it is well known in educational circles that 'girls perform better than boys in everything except breaking wind'! He went on to refer to the Service of Thanksgiving for Mrs Brandon earlier this year, and her example of life long service. He was able to avoid the usual detailed report of school activities, which now appears instead in the Winter Newsletter* which we had found awaiting us at our seats.

For the same reason Brian Roberts was able to eschew the need for a detailed report and quickly give the floor to Mankit Yau (1974), who spoke with great affection for the Association and what it had meant to him as an immigrant to this country.

Despite everyone's best efforts there was no-one to play the School Song this year. A recording from a ghetto blaster had hardly started before the throng picked up the familiar chords, even humming the recitative between verses!

And so my fourth consecutive Annual Dinner drew to its close. Perhaps because of the events that had preceded it for me that week, I found it hard to tear myself away. The long suffering Les Woodhall had to wait for me to return him to his hotel while I made a round of farewells to both new found and old friends. It was interesting to see how the different generations congregated around the teachers from their era. Terry Finn (1986), present tonight, is one of two current AOE teachers - maintaining the remarkable tradition that stretches back unbroken to 1896 and Frank Jones via Martin Payne, Brian Roberts, Jim Hyde, Tony Cooke, 'Froggy' Fenton, 'Hairy' Hothersall and 'Billy' Chivers.

Every year Martin Studholme works so hard to make this event a success. It is a real pleasure to be able to acknowledge this on behalf of all those who came this year.

* Copies available from Brian Roberts.