In 2008 we were a bit more adventurous. We went to Woodstock - no, not THE Woodstock (no hippies in our year!), but the one in Oxfordshire. Fifteen lads turned up, accompanied by seven wives and sweethearts (but not both!). Despite our best efforts, the 'Class of 1951' found out about the event, and sent Bill and Pat Cooper as their representatives.
Our reunion was held at The Bear Hotel, and started with an excellent meal in the Newbold Room, accompanied by lively conversation and an impromptu display of chair gymnastics by a sartorially challenged gymnast. This was followed by a mercifully brief, but nonetheless heartfelt, vote of thanks to our organiser, John Donnelly, and an opinion survey on 'happiness at school' at the request of Bill Cooper.
After a quite spontaneous toast to 'King Edward's, Aston', we repaired to the Churchill Lounge (where else?) for further reminiscences and laughter. Let your mouse hover over a person's face (or back of head!) on either photo, and their name should appear.
As we returned to our four corners of the country the next morning, the general consensus was that this had been a good 'do', and further reunions are enthusiastically anticipated. Guildford was added to the growing list of venues available!
The following June, nine of us gathered for a reunion at New Hall, Sutton Coldfield. As well as organising the event, Peter Cross managed to get us a tour of the older part of the hotel, and we can be seen below in the Great Hall.
L. to R.: Dave Sinclair, Selby Betts, Peter Cross (with tie!), Ken Smith, Dennis Herdman, Chris Williams, Derek Kershaw, Peter Band.
Apart from the 'usual suspects', it was a great pleasure to meet, for the first time in 50 + years, Derek Kershaw who had made the journey from his home in Somerset.
