The Annual Reunion Dinner, 2008 | Home | Index | Guestbook | | Home (Aston) | Index (Aston) |

Three senior AOEs
L to R: John Castle (1929), Phil Malins (1930), Geoff Cope (1933)

The present generation
L to R: Tom Husted (Captain of Cricket), Ethan Davies (Captain of Rugby),
Thejasvi Subramanian (School Captain), Peter Robertson, Sanjay Patel (School Vice Captains)

Although this was my sixth consecutive Annual Dinner (and my ninth in total), I approached it with very mixed emotions, only to discover on the night that veteran Past President Brian Roberts was feeling much the same. This came as something of a relief to me. Being involved in the planning for the event I was aware, for a second consecutive year, of the woefully small number expected to attend. Though that was true - 67 of us in total - I need not have worried: the atmosphere quickly became as convivial as it had been at previous, larger, gatherings.

Also reassuring was to see some 'new' faces. Not only three of the youngest AOEs, who had left school as recently as 2007, and had come home from university for the occasion, but also heroes from my youth, Jim Hullah and Brian Hill, who had travelled up from their homes in the West Country. But I find it especially moving to meet the 'senior' AOEs who turn up. They are quite frail now, but once you get them sat down they soon get their second wind and delight us with their reminiscences of an even earlier age at Aston.

Awaiting us on our tables was this year's edition of 'The Record', which contained a photograph of the 'Class of 1950' reunion at Woodstock in March, and my attempt at what the Editor entitled The "very-hard-know-your-history-of-Aston" Quiz!

My enjoyment of the evening is always greatly enhanced by my table companions. Peter Band and Chris Willliams were old class mates of mine 58 years ago, though we had seen little of each other until recent years. Colin Payne was a year ahead of us, but shares many of our memories of people and events from the 1950s. Harry Grove joined us once more with his School House tie secreted beneath his jacket, ready to 'flash' it at the slightest reference to a house which sadly disappeared forty years ago. My immediate neighbour was fellow physicist Graham Birley, son of an AOE who lives a little too far away in north Wales to join us.

But it was a particular delight (for us, if not for them!) to be joined this year by the youngest AOEs present: Gareth Leyshon, Ben Jones and Joe Hollywood. Their presence was down to the efforts of Gareth, who has had for many years a fine sense of the history of the institution he joined in 2000. They put us to shame with the smartness of their dress (black tie). We enjoyed their youthful enthusiasm, and the patience with which they answered our questions about their studies. They are convinced that they will fill two tables next year - anything to get away from us!

Brian Hill, with his Navy background, was a most appropriate choice to pronounce the Act of Remembrance which traditionally follows the meal.

After this always moving tribute to the 193 AOEs lost in 'two terrible wars' (Churchill's description), the mood lightened with the announcement of anagrams of 'braised shank of lamb', one of this year's main course options.

Bill Clarkson, from the 'Class of 1943' proposed with great affection the toast to 'The School and Foundation', referring to the story of 'Hairy' Hothersall, the classroom door and the magnet. The Head responded, first with great sadness at the terrible events which had affected the school during the summer holidays, but later with his characteristic humour reporting on the school's cats. After an account of performance in all areas, he concluded by saying how proud he is to be Aston's eighth Headmaster.

For reasons which escape me, the AEA President - its first non AOE - was absent, so the toast to 'The Association' was proposed, with merciful brevity, by Immediate Past President Brian Roberts.

Martin Green, Rugby playing son of the late AOE Norman 'Pinky' Green, responded with tales of his experiences as a player with Moseley and a coach at international level, before the days of professionalism in the game.

The evening ended, again traditionally, with Harry Grove's not so traditional playing of the school song, interspersed with snippets from other schools' songs. The only one I could recognise was the Eton Boating Song!

But my lasting memory of this year's dinner has to be of that consummate salesman, Bob Simpson, selling copies of 'Big School', believing it to be 'Salvoes from Lapworth', which has not yet been released!