Whither the Annual Reunion Dinner? | Home | Index | Guestbook | | Home (Aston) | Index (Aston) |

2007 saw eighty years since these dinners started - and it very nearly didn't happen.

With less than two weeks to go, only 24 people had indicated their intention to attend. Without the sterling efforts of two members of the organising committee, who 'phoned round, these numbers would have led to its cancellation. As it was, only 57* came, which was sufficient to ensure that the dinner 'broke even' financially, though this is far from being the main criterion for success.

Over the seven years of my regular attendance, I have seen an inexorable decline in the numbers attending, and so the question has to be asked 'Whither the Annual Dinner?' In those years some 200 different AOEs have attended. Just imagine if all had continued to do so! Some, inevitably, are 'sweet voices silent now', but sufficient remain to enable attendances to break records set in the 1970s though, again, this is not a criterion for success.

In a departure from past practice, it has been decided to run future dinners 'by committee'. It has also been decided that the committee will meet throughout the year, and not just in the weeks preceding the next dinner. The first point to be made about the committee is that the majority of its members, including me, are far too old**. We intend to stand down as younger AOEs are recruited to replace us. As the youngest of the 'old brigade', I would urge any AOE under the age of 70 to consider taking over from us!

The first task the existing committee set itself was to seek the views of those eligible to attend, particularly those who have done so recently, but stopped coming. This has now been completed via a questionnaire, the results of which can be seen here.

Although not a requirement for eligibility to attend the Annual Dinner, it would be of enormous help to the committee if interested parties could join the Aston Edwardian Association. This would make communication with you so much easier. Membership of the Register (i.e. 'country' membership), currently at £5.00 p.a., would be sufficient for this purpose. It would mean that you will receive notification of the dinner, as well as the biannual Newsletter. If you feel able to do this, please contact the Membership Secretary, Annette Brazell, or - by 'snail mail' - c/o Memorial Ground, Sunnybank Avenue, BIRMINGHAM B44 0HP.

Many ways will be considered for boosting numbers. One that appeals to me is for AOEs to try and recruit their own table (of, say, ten). In 2009 I managed eight for 'my' table!

Amidst all the ideas which are swirling round, one thing stands out clearly: the 'status quo' is not an option.