OSAmag78

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 8
REuNioNS
CLASS oF ’44 – July 2013
On the middle Wednesday of July, the sun shone brightly on the
British Isles, and warnings were issued that elderly persons going
out of doors were a danger to themselves and a potential nuisance
to the emergency services.
Nonetheless twelve representatives of the class of 1944 arrived
safely, punctually (and in some cases rather early) at the RAF
Club in Piccadilly. This group of octogenarians were all in
reasonable shape both physically and mentally, and rejoiced in
the annual renewal of friendships first made sixty-nine years ago.
They made short work of a splendid terrine of mozzarella cheese,
smoked ham, Mediterranean vegetables and olives. They then
enjoyed some excellent roast lamb with all the trimmings and
concluded with strawberry pavlova, coffee and petit fours. It was
a meal of high quality accompanied by some excellent wines of
which the star was the Savigny-les-Beaunes 2009, and the buzz
of happiness around the table never ceased.
This was the eleventh reunion in a series begun in 2001 at the
suggestion of David Mariano on the back of some astonishing
success by Gordon Rose in tracing so many of the boys who had
arrived in 1944, far as they had roamed, and organised so well in
recent years by Antony Tight. The RAF Club welcomes us
each year through the good offices of club member John Miles,
and we all find reunion day one to mark in ink in the diary. Next
year we propose to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our first days
at the school. The lunch will be on Wednesday the 16th July
2014 and the regulars all plan to be there. We hope that anyone
and everyone who joined the school in 1944, whether or not they
have been in the habit of attending, will put that date in their
diary for 2014. All will be welcome, whatever the weather.
John Sparrow
CLASS oF ’54
Once again the 1954 intake held its annual reunion at the
Cheshire Cheese pub just off of the Strand near Aldwych.
The 20 who attended on the day are listed below (in alphabetical
order and not order of arrival or departurel). There was one
newcomer, Roy Stevenson, who had been traced through an
Internet search. He was delighted to have been "found" and will
soon become a member of the OSA. This was the 1st time we
had assembled 20 since the 1st reunion 9 years ago.
Our singing started early with a chorus of happy birthday for the
daddy of us all- Geraint Pritchard. Deutchers IPA was the real
ale on pump upstairs, which few of us were able to pronounce
properly even early on. It was though in excellent condition and
enjoyed by all of us who like our ale. After most people had been
fed we drank the usual toast to "absent friends". Alan Williams
and Nigel Chamberlain had sent apologies for absence and there
were no known deaths during the year to report.
A discussion then followed about how we can locate any more of
those we have had no contact with at all and whether we might
do something different next year. 2014, of course, will be the 10th
anniversary of our 1st reunion, or our "diamond reunion" of
joining Stationers' for those who prefer to think that way. There
wasn't a lot of interest in doing too much differently although if
we can attract back some ofthose who made the long journey the
first time as well as some newcomers a buffet style meal, perhaps
back at the Melton Mowbray in High Holborn, might suit us
better. A tour ofthe archives at Stationers' Hall could also be
organized for that morning if there was sufficient demand.
It was agreed that we would continue to hold the event on the
1st Tuesday of September, being 2nd September 2014.Continuing
REunion of the Class f '44 – Standing from left : David Mariano, Brian Kill, Stanley Ward, Ernie Stone, John Blakely, Arthur Field
Seated from left : Gordon Rose, John Sheen, John Sparrow, Antony Tight, Bill Croydon, John Miles
13