Old Lawrentian News 2010/11

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HONG KONG REUNION Our first reunion! A small but very successful ‘firstof-many reunions’ for OLs based in and near Hong Kong. The evening on December 17, <strong>2010</strong> was kindly organised by Henry Chan (Manor ’78) and was held in ‘Jimmy’s Kitchen’. With lots of laughter • From left, Vinod Mahtani, Sunil Mohinani, Hemmon Tseng, Ricky Yue, Sunil Daswani and and reminiscing, the Henry Chan. Jeffery Chan also attended group shared a strong later in the evening. common bond of having attended SLC which brings good friendship, even between those who weren’t there at the same time. It appears that the world is very small indeed – Hemmon Tseng was Sunil’s landlord for three years - though they had never met earlier (Sunil was relieved to have paid his rent on time)! Another surprise that evening was that for the past 20 years Sunil and Vinod have been good friends - yet neither knew they were at the College at the same time. Vinod had been in the Junior School when Sunil was in Cameron - so their paths never crossed. If you would like to know of (or help Henry organise) future Hong Kong reunions, in the first instance, please contact Kerry Brown, OL Secretary, at kerry@olsociety.co.uk to ensure she has your current contact details (especially email). Currently our database shows we have 123 OLs in Hong Kong - but we only have 23 email addresses. In the South East Asia region, we have more than 300 OLs listed – but again, hardly any current email addresses. If we don’t have your email, please get in touch as many of our communications now go out as emails rather than via post. Thank you. We left in the summer of 1980 in our Minis, Alfa Suds, parents’ cars and British Rail amidst the soundtracks of Madonna, Genesis and Michael Jackson. Adorned in our preppy fashion and flowing Laura Ashley dresses, (and that was the boys!) we ventured forward into university and employment, to begin the next phase of our lives. We returned, in the wet and windy autumn of <strong>2010</strong> - 30 years had passed in the blink of an eye. The reason for the true making of our 1980’s reunion was twofold. The first, was Marie Winter 1980’s REUNION (nee Blair), and the second technology. Marie set about tracing people on Facebook, emails flew back and forth, people were tempted by the promise of a reunion. My wife Heather and I met up for pre-dinner drinks with other 1980’s OLs in the Pegwell Bay Hotel, where we were staying. Paul Price (Head Boy 1980), David Ryan, John Rayner and my dear friend Basim Said, who had flown in from Jordan, were the first to toast the ‘80s. After an hour of reminiscing in strolled Johnny Marchant. More warm hugs, smiles, laughter and ale aloft. Paul Price, organised as ever, 14 15
1980’S REUNION THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES arranged taxis to ferry us to a pre OL Dinner drinking venue, the one and only Honeysuckle Inn. On entering we were reunited with Marie and Andy Winter, Alison Pailing (nee Hope), Stuart Jepps, Sarah George (nee Thomas), Amanda Hills, Bridget Greenhalgh and John Egan-Wyer. And so to Saint Lawrence, the taxi dropped us at the Green Door. Where else Inside the reunions continued with Stephen Billings, Tim Dodd, Nick Marchant, Pro Jones, Paul Bailey, Claire Hills, Pete Gayne, Nick Kenton Jeremy Blackhurst and Ian Wagland joining and adding to the laughter and smiles. Cameras flashed as we rolled back the years, spoke of what had come to pass, our partners, many present, families, careers and cares. We had a wonderful meal in the school dining hall. All the old boards had been relocated and replaced by portraits of those that had gone before us. All too soon we were saying good night, and what a good night it had been, the rest of the evening blurred as fatigue set in, some retiring as late as 0530 the next morning. As we said goodbye with promises of a reunion in Jordan in 2012 (Basim what have you let yourself in for), the year London hosts the Olympics and we all turn 50, the last line of the school song rang in my ears from the thundering rendition the previous night - ‘Gratias Agamus’, let us give thanks. Chris Taylor, Manor Chris Taylor’s full round-up is on the OL website - www.olsociety.co.uk Reunion The College looks the same now As I climb down from the car, And follow all the others To an obviously makeshift bar. So here I am all tarted up In posh frock and high heels, And I’m just beginning to remember How being sixteen feels. I scan across the crowded room, A nervous smile in place, Searching, hoping, praying To see a familiar face. The captain of the rugby team Now he would be a sight. Or the cute one from English Would really make my night. That tall dark good-looking one, Who played for the first eleven, The way he kissed as I recall Was something close to heaven. But what I see before me In their bow ties and DJs Is just a bunch of middle-aged men To show me how much I’ve aged. Alison (Hope) Pailing, Bellerby 1978-80 “That was one of the most memorable nights of my life.” Johnny Marchant “What an evening, we rolled back the years, the careers, the commitments and the crumbling health to enjoy love and laughter with friends of old.” Chris Taylor “Not a bad looking bunch after 30 years.” Paul Price “It was just great to see everyone on such sparkling form and looking well ... just as gorgeous as ever.” Amanda Hills “Special thanks go to Marie, but a heartfelt thanks to everyone for making it such a wonderful event. I really loved seeing my old (but young at heart) friends.” Basim Said “There was much fun, laughter and - after a few too many ... hugs and promises not to leave it another 30 years.” Marie (Blair) Winter “The weekend was all I hoped it would be and then some!!” Stuart Jepps 16 17
Page 1 and 2: St Lawrence College Ramsgate, Kent
Page 3 and 4: PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE • Top, we a
Page 5 and 6: HEADMASTER’S UPDATE remains stron
Page 7: HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY’S MEMORIES Hump
Page 11 and 12: PRAYER FELLOWSHIP The OL Prayer Fel
Page 13 and 14: MEMORIES OF COURTEENHALL Northampto
Page 15 and 16: FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS FAMILY ANNOUNC
Page 17 and 18: FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS under the watc
Page 19 and 20: BARON RICHARD DANNATT R ichard Dann
Page 21 and 22: OL ARCHIVIST ANDREW BROWN My roots
Page 23 and 24: We were pleased to welcome Richard
Page 25 and 26: professional this would have earned

Old Lawrentian News 2010/11

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