On a bright, cool September morning, sixty years and eleven days after they had first done so, eighteen members of the 'Class of 1950' turned up at King Edward's, Aston to celebrate a rather special anniversary. In the finest Aston tradition, we were joined by a gatecrasher from the ‘Class of 1949’ - Geoff Badham. On this, our Diamond Anniversary reunion, we were accompanied by nine wives and sweethearts, and were received in the school's magnificent Recital Room by Aston's genial eighth Headmaster, Colin Parker.

With his customary good humour Colin welcomed us to the school and outlined the programme that was to unfold: we were to be shown round the school, both old and new (at least since our time!) by members of the Sixth Form. This was absolutely excellent, and everyone commented on the cheerful courtesy of our guides, in my case Omar and Suleiman. As Sixth form entrants, Omar had been at Aston for a year - and Suleiman two weeks! But already he was a member of the second Hockey XI. After that we returned to the Recital Room for coffee and biscuits and, to our great delight, presentation of ties!

We were all given a Sixth Form tie. Here Chris Williams receives his from School Vice Captain James Florance, proud grandson of a former school captain, while the Headmaster looks on.

For us there could be only one place for the obligatory group photograph: the playground or, as they now call it, 'The Quad'.

The 'Class of 1950' with the Headmaster - and a gatecrasher from the 'Class of 1949'!

L. to R.: David Sinclair, Peter Kilingback, Jim Perkins, Chris Williams, Alan Guthrie, Ken Tickle, Peter Band, Geoff Badham (gatecrasher!), John Blease,
John Kinning, Peter Cross, John Bowles, Headmaster, Bill Barnhurst, Ken Smith, Mike Jarman, John Walker, Selby Betts, John Knightley, Richard McAllister

We then adjourned to the Lea Marston Hotel for lunch, where we were joined by three more contemporaries - and another gate crasher from 1949: Colin Payne. Our guests were AEA Past President Brian Roberts and his wife, June, and veteran teacher Harold Jessop and his good lady, ‘Shush’. Here we are, with our guests, wives and sweethearts:

By common consent it was a good 'do', thanks to its indefatigable organiser, Ken Smith.