Two former SGS staff were present: Mr
Dick Bozeat (Woodwork 59-72) and Mr
Chris Wain (Maths 66-70).
Mr Peter Scott (Maths 60-72) had
booked but was unwell. We were very pleased to see Mrs Judith Wood
whose late husband Gareth
taught Chemistry 1964-72. Judith was the guest of Ed Reed SG67.
This year seven (not six as we thought on
the day) new faces were booked to come: Brian Ashton '59'-66 (he
arrived in the Fifth Form at SGS in 1963), Kenneth 'Sam' Clift SG51,
John 'Jake' Coleby SG50, Garry Crisp SG70, John Middleditch SG53, John
Webster SG59, Martin Wilkins SG'59' (he arrived in 1963).
Our MC this year was
again John Dimmock SG59. John is also our Box Office manager:
he also purchases bouquets, drink,
obtains the necessary licence and is our book-keeper. Mrs
Sue Dimmock and daughter Emma again assisted with the drinks.
Guests of Honour
Dr Carin Taylor - Executive
Headteacher of The
Staploe Education Trust, who has not missed any of our
events during her tenure when she began as Principal of Soham
Village College in 2006.
Mrs Ann Jarman - daughter of Mr CJ Ford
Mr Michael Rouse - our speaker. Mike is
an Honorary Grammarian, a former member of staff at the Village College,
a founder member of Ely Museum, local historian, photographer and author
- and three-times Mayor of Ely.
L-R: John Dimmock SG59 - Mike Rouse, Hon SG - Dr Carin Taylor - Frank Haslam SG'59'
image via Mike Rouse
The Grace was given this year by Donald
Monk SG50:
In a world where so many are lonely, May we share this friendship with joyful hearts.
Amen
| Welcome: John
Dimmock SG59 John welcomed Grammarians, their guests and our Guests of Honour. He later reminded us of our reunion tradition of passing the Rose Bowl to collect for the serving team made up of senior SVC students. Later he made a presentation to Sara Coutts who so ably again managed our catering (see right). John later presented pot plants to Dr Carin Taylor and Mrs Ann Jarman and a bottle of wine to our speaker, Michael Rouse. |
 |
The Roll Call - we stood in turn
to state our name, years at SGS, where we lived then and where we live
now.
Peter Nicholls SG37 reminded us that he was the first Grammarian
to win a State Scholarship, to Oxford University, and that he would
shortly be 91.
MENU
Starter
Cream of mushroom soup with homemade bread roll
Main Course
Five-spiced beef with rice and fresh broccoli
Pudding
Lemon Tart
Cheese and Biscuits
Coffee or Tea
Fast-forward ten years to 1952 and we 39 boys had gone our separate ways, equipped with a good education. We were making our way in the world, many, including me, having got the obligatory National Service behind us. In that year King George sadly died and Princess Elizabeth became our Queen.
Now 67 years on, of we original 39, I can only hope that many have been as fortunate as myself to be still around and making the most of our lives. In that time many Prime Ministers have come and gone - some quicker than others. The changes we have seen in those intervening years are almost too much to comprehend.
One thing has not changed but has given us all a thread of welcome continuity and a fine example of a life well-lived. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Therefore I ask you to charge your glasses and be up standing for the Loyal Toast - The Queen.
Dr Carin Taylor said: I am pleased to welcome the Grammarians to Soham Village College for your annual reunion.
It is my 14th with you!
Once again it has been a successful year at Soham Village College with outcomes which will put the school in the top 20% schools nationally –no mean feat for a non-selective comprehensive school.
There are many public events in the school year which celebrate the talents and success of our students. Frank is kind enough to post notice our Christmas Concert at Ely cathedral and our Art Exhibition every June. I would be pleased to welcome Grammarians to those and other school events for those interested to see what goes on.
As ever, it is a privilege and pleasure to join this Reunion Lunch. You are an important part of our community, and clearly yourselves feel that same sense of community, borne of pride in your education and respect for your roots. There is no doubt that this is a strength and legacy for us all.
Thank you once again for including me in your gathering and I wish you a very pleasant afternoon.
Frank Haslam SG'59' gave the Toast To Absent Friends:
You will, I
hope, have seen the list on screen and in the Foyer of those who
have told us they were unable to join us this year.
Many are regulars.
Sadly we have had a crop of last-minute no-shows. We wish them well:
| Owen
Barber SG50 Chris Bent SG53 Mike Bunting SG53 Mark Curtis SG'66' |
Roger
Johnson SG59 Alan Parish SG54 Michael Payton SG51 Mr Peter Scott, Maths 60-72 Albert Ware SG52 |
There of
course also many other Grammarians who you remember from your time
here.
And there are those we shall never see again, listed in your
booklet. We remember them:
| Sidney
Cox 1947 Ivan Cox 1964 Alan Cross 1950 Cyril Eden 1942 Geoff Griggs 1960 Herman Kon 1940 John Leonard 1956 |
Anthony
Merry 1946 Dennis Merry 1946 Brian Miller 1950 John Peters 1944 WJ Bill Smith 1940 Gary Stimson 1962 |
Bill Smith's
widow Christine told me that one of the readings at Bill's memorial
service was Joshua Chapter 1, verses 1-9. Bill remembered it being
read at the end of year services while he was here in the 1940s. He
took it to heart and it was his mantra for life. It can be seen via
Bill's In Memoriam entry on our website. I give you the last verse:
