THE BULLETIN
of
THE CIRENCESTER OLD GRAMMARIANS 1940s ASSOCIATION
The Association was formed in 1988 with the object of ‘keeping alive the spirit of the pupils who attended the Victoria Road school during the 1940s’. Former pupils from other decades are also welcome and the Association already has on its books members from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. The ‘spirit’ is kept alive by quarterly lunches in and around Cirencester and these are well attended by members and their guests.
Those for 2016 were as follows:
Spring: March 10th 2016 at The Highwayman (46 attended)
Summer: Wednesday 15th June 2016 at Minchinhampton Golf Club
(Marking 50 years since the ‘closure’ of the school. 70 attended)
Autumn: Wednesday 5th October 2016 at Corinium Court Hotel. (50 attended)
Winter – Thursday 8th December 2016 at the Crown of Crucis. (59 attended)
The venues and dates for 2017 were:
Spring The Highwayman 9th March 2017 (58 attended)
Summer Minchinhampton GC 8th June June 2017 (64 attended)
Autumn Corinium Court Hotel 4th October 2017 (37 attended)
Christmas: Crown of Crucis 14th December 2017 (61 attended)
Forms on which to indicate interest in the lunches are forwarded to each member with The New Cirencestrian in December each year. To receive details please make sure you return the form together with the appropriate number of SAEs. No additional places can be guaranteed without such prior notice. It’s important to send the form in early and sometimes space is an issue – and we hate to disappoint.
In addition to the quarterly lunches, members are kept in touch by means of this website and our annual magazine The New Cirencestrian.
The dates and venues for 2018 are as follows:
Spring The Highwayman 8th March (48 attended)
Summer The Corinium Court 6th June (35 attended)
Autumn The Crown of Crucis 20th September (34 attended)
(Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the 1940s Association)
Finally
Christmas Minchinhampton Golf Club 4th December.
(Please note that this date is different from that originally planned)
24th OCTOBER 1881 – 14th JULY 1966
CIRENCESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Victoria Road
Cirencester
COMMITTEE
President – Dr Brian Gegg
Vice-President – Peter Rowe
Chairman – this office rotates amongst the committee members
Hon. Joint Secretaries – Ann Green (Da Silva) & Pauline Parker (Sampson)
Hon. Treasurer – Pauline Parker (Sampson);
Members – Michael Rose, Malcolm Whittaker, Isabel Pitts (Beale),
Daphne Lissimore and Ralph Wilkins.
(The Committee meets on a quarterly basis and the next meeting will be held on 22nd December 2018).
OLD GRAMMARIANS NEWS
This slot is available for any news concerning Cirencester or Old Grammarians that comes to light during the year. In particular, we are interestefd in anniversaries and general family news.
TRYING TO TRACE
Does anyone remember these names from the 1940s? MARY ALCOCK and MARION PLANK ? Marion was believed to have come from North Cerney. Any information to your editor – Peter Rowe
Margaret FRENCH
Margaret was born on 14th January 1917 in the shadow of the Parish Church and grew up in Gosditch Street. She attended the Grammar School in a Class of the late 1920s and on leaving became a teacher before attending a missionary training college.
Margaret became a missionary being posted to Egypt and returning to Cirencester in 1969 fluent in both Arabic and French. She is long serving member of Cirencester Baptist Church and often played the organ during services. Margaret lives in the Watermoor Road almshouses. Many congratulations Margaret!
Sadly, Margaret passed away on 11th January 2018.
John LIGHT
John, who is an Old Grammarian, is one of two new columnists on The Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard.
Incidentally, The Standard, which has been based in Dyer Street for 114 years, is moving to Stroud.
DIAMOND WEDDINGS
21st May 2016 – OGs Tony FREEMAN and Rosemary (Haile)
who are both resident in Australia.
28th July 2016 Sheila (nee Hill) STRATFORD and Eric
RALPH & MARY WILKINS (Lock)
BRIAN & ROSEMARY GEGG
GOLDEN WEDDINGS
September 2014 – Tony and Margaret CLACK
6th August 2015 – Bill Wheeler and Jean WALKLEY
65th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
July 2017 – Peter and Pamela WEBB
66th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
5th February 2016 – Robert William George CURTIS and Lena
Robert went to Powells School then to Cirencester Grammar School (Class of 1937). He became an apprentice at Dowty’s before being conscripted. Robert and Lena ran a guest house in Cheltenham for 30 years before retiring in 1998.
Many congratulations.
Malcolm WHITAKER
During 2016, during a special ceremony at Syde, the Gloucestershire High Sheriff, the Countess Bathurst, presented Malcolm with the High Sheriff’s Certificate (the first she had awarded), in recognition of ‘his great and valuable service to the community’.
As Chairman of the Gloucestershire National Farmer’s Union in 1989 he saw at first hand the changes that were taking place in farming. Importantly he recognised the problems these brought to the farming community who then had little chance of being able to discuss their difficulties and worries with people in a position to properly equipped to advise them. Malcolm recruited a group of farmers to bring their special talents to the task of helping farming communities.
This led to similar groups being formed nationwide under the umbrella of the Farm Community Network supported by other charities and is there to help and advise members of the farming community.
Congratulations Malcolm – job well done!
HELP PLEASE !
On page 74 of Looking Back At Cirencester Grammar School there is a picture of a mid 1950s Class 5c which includes Brian Russell MYLES. If anyone has any other photo including Brian – please contact Peter Rowe.
Searching for any information on Hugh Philip RICHARDS, born 1905, pupil at CGA about the same time as Walter Hammond. Contact Peter
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Like most similar organisations we occasionally lose contact with members. Especially those who either live abroad or spend a lot of time out of the country. No-one has to keep in contact, of course, but it is nice to know how people are getting on, where they live and so forth. This is a plea to people who have not been in touch for a while or able to attend quarterly lunches etc. So please get in touch with us, let us know you are alive and kicking. The contact email is:
peter.rowe137@gmail.com
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THE ‘NEW CIRENCESTRIAN’ MAGAZINE
The Association’s annual magazine, The New Cirencestrian, for 2017, was completed and published in December. Contributions for the December 2018 edition will be welcomed.
CIRENCESTER NEWS
CIRENCESTER ABBEY – 900th ANNIVERSARY
Cirencester Abbey was founded as an Augustinian monastery in 1117 on the site of the oldest known Saxon church in England. It suffered under Henry VIII in 1539 and the area which contained it is now the Abbey park grounds. Only the Norman arch, an original gateway to the abbey and parts of the precinct walls remain visible. But well worth a visit to get an idea of the scale of the original building. Anniversary celebrations are planned. See: abbey900ciren@gmail.com.
If anyone has information on Bertram Hibbert (an OG who was killed in action in 1918) the editor would be interested to hear. Especially if there is news of any extant relatives.
Similarly, if anyone has memories of air raid procedures when we were at school (The Grammar School or a catchment school) please contact the editor.
This slot is available for Cirencester news concerning residents. Don’t forget that the Wilts & Glos Standard is published weekly and a certain amount of its news can be access via:
wiltsglosstandard.co.uk
The Old Grammar School in Park Lane, Cirencester, has been sold on.
SNIPPETS
Roman Cirencester
In the course of building operations at the St James’ Place site, Old Tetbury Road, archaeologists uncovered 55 burial sites including an intact Roman gravestone with body of a young woman and other bones nearby. The gravestone, its inscriptions, decorations and details of the deceased, are as clear as they were in Roman times. It is regarded as a unique find of its type.
Potholes !
The state of the roads in and around Cirencester varies. Parts feel a bit ‘third world’ where potholes have either not been repaired or repairs have been badly done. Allegedly a lot of money was to be thrown into road repairs. Don’t hold your breath
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Use it – or lose it!
It is 50 years since Cirencester’s Old Railway Station closed down. Steam was replaced by diesel in an effort to increase the amount of passenger traffic. There were not that many extra passengers and the line to Kemble was closed.
Use it or Lose it
Now most of us have cars, but Cirencester’s bus services are at risk.
Skate Park
A state of the art skate park opened at Kingshill Lane in June
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Building at Chesterton, or will it be Kemble!!
Land at Chesterton has been identified for a future possible new neighbourhood involving 2,500 new houses and a revised planning application submitted. Trenches for archaeological investigation purposes have already been dug.
In January 2018 we found out! Cirencester District Council approved the plan, by 17 to 9 (3 abstentions), to build 2,350 homes in the Chesterton area.
Planning permission has been given in respect of Stratton Place (later Le Spa) which being demolished and replaced by a large retirement complex.
Cirencester Amphitheatre Masterplan.
The Town Council has been working with various organisations to develop a masterplan to reconnect the amphitheatre with the local community and make it a regional and national destination. The area includes not only the amphitheatre but Querns Wood, Four Acre Field and the Obelisk. Planning permission is being sought for enhancement works around the entrances to the Obelisk from Cotswold Avenue and the Scout hut, including insertion of a bridge, staircase, steps and a toposcope. Interesting aerial photograph of the area in the Wilts & Glos Standard of 25th September 2004 at page 63.
See latest news section at www.cirencester.gov.uk.
The Humpty Dumps
Remember the Humpty Dumps. The grassed area at Stratton with humps and dips ideal for sledges etc. For some time a company has wished to use it for housing. Their planning applications have been rejected on appeal. The next stage is awaited.
Ciren to Kemble rail link after 50 years?
There are early discussions on the possibility of re-opening the rail line from Kemble to Cirencester! One possibility would be for the line to run from Kemble to the edge of a 2,000 plus new estate at Chesterton with a coach link to Cirencester town centre.
OBITUARIES
Cynthia BELLAR (nee Curtis) Class of circa 1940
Ruth Jenner (nee Woodhouse) Class of 1959
Dorothy GRINNAL (nee Harding) Class of circa 1936
Peter MORGAN Class of circa 1939. In Australia
Michael J DENNIS. In Australia. Class of circa 1939
Robert (Bob) WARREN of Poulton. Class of circa 1950s
Margaret HENMAN (nee Stott). Class of 1947
Ann Margaret WEBB (79). Wife of Old Grammarian Arthur Webb.
Margaret ‘Meg’ MORGAN. Class of circa 1942.
John WHITAKER (84) Brother of Malcolm. Class of 1941.
Audrey VINER (94) Mother of David.
Donald Major SLINGSBY. Aged 94. Class of circa 1930. 19th June 2014. At Hunters Care Home.
Chloe DANCE – widow of our last headmaster.
Frank GOODALE. passed away in a Nursing Home in Sussex during August 2014. Many Old Grammarians will remember Frank as a member of a an early 1940s class. He was an excellent all round sportsman. His passing breaks one of the few remaining links with the past in the sense that he attended Old Grammarian functions in the old days – both dinners and Old Boys sports events. He was chairman at one point in the 1950s. In more recent years he joined us at 1940s lunches and Grand Reunions.
Gordon TIMBRELL (81) Class of circa 1943
Gordon, of Poole Keynes, brother of Freddie, passed away on 28th August 2014.
Yvonne MACDONALD (Gough) Class of circa mid 1930s.
Yvonne, sister of Joy, passed away on 15th September 2014 at Cape Cod, USA. Joy was a few days short of her 93rd birthday. A memorial service for Yvonne took place on 7th November in Stratton Chruch.
Jeanne HURST (Biggs) 83
Jeanne, who lived at Poulton, was a teacher at the school 1950s to 1960s. No further details.
Marilyn WELCH (Smith) Class of 1959.
Marilyn died in late May 2014. No further details.
Margaret HENSON (Stott) Circa 1947
David SPECK (Circa 1944)
Madeleine DIBBEN Circa 1935.
Janet HARROLD (Ryland) (76) Class of 1949.
Janet passed away early on Boxing Day morning. Information from her husband Cec. Janet will be remembered as a very good hockey player at school.
John GEGG (93) Class of early 1930s
John, who was a cousin of Dr Brian Gegg, lived at Ampney Crucis and died on Boxing Day 2014. He was commissioned in the Royal Glos Hussars during WWII and later became prioprietor of Walter Bull’s, the jewellers in Dyer Street. John’s funeral took place at Ampney Crucis Church on 26 January 2015.
Mary DAY (86) Class of the late 1930s
Mary died of smoke inhalation as a result of a fire at her home in Purley Road.
Josie CLARKE (81) Class of 1944
Josie, who was the sister of the late Mary Peddle, died in March 2014 after suffering a stroke. She passed away in a nursing home where she had been for some time.
Frederick (John) ROBERTS (83) Class of circa 1943/4
Husband of Tessa (Hughes). On 9th January 2015 at his home in Cheltenham.
Peter HARDING (82) Class of 1943
Peter passed away, after a long period of illness, on 18th January.
Freddie TIMBRELL (83) Class of 1943
Just learned that Freddie. brother of the late Gordon, passed away on 23rd February.
Henry ARCHER (83) Class of 1943
Henry passed away, peacefully at home, in the early hours of 16th April. He leaves a widow, Jean, who was also an Old Grammarian.
Stanley Neil CARRUTHERS (About 78) Class of 1946.
The Association has just learned of the death, in late 2014, of Professor Stanley Neil CARRUTHERS who was resident in Christchurch, New Zealand. Stanley’s young brother Malcolm also passed away recently.
Roy TOWNSEND
After a long illness.
Edna IRELAND
Edna was the widow of John Ireland, a teacher at the school in the 1950/60s. John was the author, with Edwin Cuss, of ‘The History of Cirencester Grammar School’.
Colin OCKWELL (About 83) Class 0f 1943
Colin passed away on 20th June 2015. The funeral service was private. He died on the morning of St Austine’s Concert which became a celebration of his life. No further information on Colin. However, it is remembered that he lived in the Harnhill area. He was a talented musician at school and music probably became a lifetime interest. He travelled to school by train, often carrying what was either a cello or a double bass. Any further information on Colin would be appreciated.
Doug HUGHES (76) Class of mid 1950s.
Doug passed away on July 11th 2015. He attended the Grammar School in the mid 1950s and became sports editor for the Wilts & Glos Standard in 1966. He remained there until 1977 when he moved to Lincolnshire where he again worked on various papers.
Barbara Joan THOMPSON (91)
Barbara, the wife of Old Grammarian Maurice Thompson (An OG from the early 1930s), passed away at Paternoster House on 6th August 2015.
Jennifer LETHBRIDGE (Tyreman) Class of early 1950s.
Jennifer, of Plymouth, passed away in early 2015 after a short illness.
Philip LISSIMORE
The husband of Daphne (Teed). Philip passed away in October.
Eric ‘George’ BUNYAN (87) Class of late 1930s
Originally lived in Watermoor Road.
Betty ROMANS wife of teachers Mr Romans.
Gerald MILLS (85) Class of early 1940s
Brilliant cricketer. Gerry died peacefully in Gloucester Royal Hospital on 12th January 2016.
Cozy POWELL (1947-1998) Class of 1959
Colin Trevor Powell (‘Colin Flooks’) was born in Cirencester and, in due course, went to Cirencester Grammar School circa 1957/8. On 7th Janauary 2008 he was honoured by a blue plaque in his name being unveiled at the Corn Hall in a ceremony attended by civic dignitaries and the great and good of the music world.
Whilst at the Grammar School he joined the school orchestra and became proficient on the drums and other percussion instruments. He went on to play with a number of well known bands and personalities. In particular he played with Black Sabbath and Suzi Quatro which will give an idea of his music genre. At the unveiling Brian May described Cozy as being of a generation that created a new way of drumming that was completely different. He was one of the greatest.
Cozy died in a car crash on the M4 at the age of 50.
RIP Cozy.
Donald HIETT On 16th January (Aged 83). Funeral Wednesday 3rd February at All Saints, Leigh.
Wendy THOMPSON (Stansfield) 1959-65 (Aged 68). Peacefully at her home in France.
David REYNOLDS (Class of circa 1944)
Robin Luther WALKER (Class of circa 1946)
Bryan Edward BENNETT (87, former proprietor of Bennett’s Garage) Class of circa 1940/1, passed away on Saturday 5th March. Bryan had been unwell for some time. His Service of Thanksgiving took place on Thursday 24th March 2016 at Holy Trinity Church, Watermoor, Cirencester, church full to capacity, OGs well represented.
Sir Peter MAXWELL DAVIES. (81) Sir Peter, composer, teacher at the Grammar School in the early 1960s and, for a period, Master of the Queen’s Music, died on 14th March 2016 at his home in Orkney. He had been suffering from leukaemia. Whilst at the Grammar School he formed a school choir and a full orchestra which performed several of his symphonies on the BBC.
There is to be a Memorial Concert for Sir Peter in St. John’s Smith Square at 11.30am on 27th June – entry by ticket only apparently. No further details at the moment.
John WEBB (85) (Class of early 1940s). At Nottingham.
May Kathleen PITCHERS nee Johncey (94)
May passed away in the Great Western Hospital on 11th April. One of our ‘most senior’ Old Grammarians May was a teacher at Powells School for 46 years. May will be cremated on 4th May, a private ceremony for family and close friends. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at Watermoor Church on Friday 13th May at 2pm .
Roy Anthony DOWDESWELL (84) (Class of 1943)
Roy’s funeral service will take place at Cheltenham Crematorium 10.30am, Wednesday 20th April.
Bernard (Bob) BENNETT
Bob passed away on 6th April. His funeral service will take place at Kingsdown Crematorium, Swindon on Tuesday 19th April at 10am.
Joan and Betty CLEMENTS.
Information from sister Primrose Croteau (nee Clements) New Hampshire, USA.
Dorothy WELLS (nee Cole) Class of 1935
Dorothy passed away on 24th April 2016 at Chelmsford. Sister of Peter who lives in Watermoor.
Dick BUSHELL (84) Class of circa 1944)
Just received an email from Margaret Bushell (Rossell) OG to say that Dick passed away on 19th June. He had been unwell with heart trouble since Christmas 2015 and died suddenly at home in Kings Lynn.
William John DAY (82) and Christine DAY (76)
William and Christine were involved in a road traffic accident on 14th November near Kemble airport. William was pronounced dead at the scene and Christine, who was badly injured, was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where she passed away on 23rd November. They were not Grammarians but will be known to many. In fact, Christine was the sister of Betty Gowland (Spooner) who is resident in Australia. No further details at present.
Robert (Bob) CURNICK (96)
Bob, who passed away on 16th January 2017, farmed with his brother at Ogbourne Maisey on the Marlborough Downs.
William (Bill) WORLD (96)
Bill passed away on 3rd February 2017.
Margaret THORN (Maulden) (83).
Margaret, whose parents ran The Falcon at Poulton during the war years, went to Poulton school and was in the CGS Class of 1943.
Ann HOOKEY (79) Class of 1949.
On 13th February 2017. Ann lived at Cheltenham.
Frederick Colin LEA (Class of circa 1946}.
Richard (Dick) BUSHELL (Class of circa 191946)
Dorothy WELLS (Nee Cole) (Class of circa 1936)
Robert (Bob) LIGHT (Class of circa 1956)
John PONTING (Class of circa 1949)
Sheila RICHENS (nee Hunter) (Class of circa 1959)
Sheila passed away on 8th March 2017.
Ted WHEELER
Margaret BOWN (nee Petrie) (97) Class of circa 1930.
Margaret was born in Thomas Street. She met her husband during the war years when he was a member of the New Zealand Foresters stationed in Cirencester. After the war she moved with her husband to New Zealand and they were involved in farming. She died at the end of April 2017.
Peggy ELLIOTT (Weekes) (80) Class of 1948
Peggy passed away in the early hours of Wednesday 21st June in the Great Western Hospital.
Peggy, a student of the late forties, was a pupil for about eight years (including time spent at the Kindergarten) a great hockey enthusiast and a member of the Reunion Committee for many years.
Brian MARSH (78) (Class of c1949)
Brian passed away in late June.
Peter Alexander GRACZYK (63) (Class of 1963)
Peter passed away on 15th April 2017.
Peggy OSBORNE
Peggy, the soulmate of Peter Rowe, passed away on 15th September after a short illness.
Pam WEBLEY (nee Gearing)
Pam passed away during September.
Rosemary KING (nee Bolton)(89) Class of 1940
Rosemary passed away during September.
Peter Harold WEBB (92) (Class of circa 1937)
We have just learned that Peter passed peacefully away on Thursday 19th October at Elm Lodge Nursing Home where he had been resident for some time. Peter leaves his widow Pam.
Peter was an extraordinary Old Grammarian. He was a member of the Old Boys Association after World War II and a Life Member. The Old Boys and Old Girls Associations merged in the late 1950s and Peter became the Secretary. The joint Association was disbanded in the mid 1970s.
When interest in the Association resumed in the early 1980s Peter and Pam were amongst the first to offer help and assistance in forming the new Reunion Committee which, between 1993 and the present has organised ten reunions bringing together many hundreds of Old Grammarians.
Derek WARING (88)
Derek was the husband of Rosemary Waring, Chair of our Reunion Committee.
Derek passed away on 3rd November.
Wendy VEITCH (82) (Class of circa 1948)
It is with great regret that we have to announce the sad news that Wendy, who was the Secretary of the 1940s Association, passed away on 10th November in Southampton Hospital.
Joy LOFTHOUSE (94) (Class of circa 1933/4)
It is with great regret that we announce the sad news that Joy passed away on, 16th November 2017. She had been suffering from pneumonia.
Janice SAVAGE (Nee Lea) (87) (Class of circa 1942)
Janice, sister of Eldon and the late Delmar, passed away in November. She lived in Cumbria.
John DYDE (86) (Class of circa 1943)
John passed away during December 2017.
Margaret Evelyn FRENCH (100) Class of the late 1920s)
Margaret, who spent some time as a missionary, passed away on 11th January a few days short of her 101st birthday.
Geoff SIMPSON.
A pupil of the late 1940s.
ROBIN WALKER
Robin passed away in February 2016.
Bob FLEXEN (Class of 1934) (Aged ? early 90s)
Ruth EVANS (nee Jenks) At school 1940/50.
No further details available
John PITMAN (aged about 77) Class 1951)
Pamela BLOWING (Late 80s)
Pamela, the wife of Rodway, passed away on 14th March 2018.
Elizabeth (Betty) WEYMAN (91) (Class of 1937)
Olive HARRIS (94) (Class of 1933) Mother of Tony Harris.
Muriel (Meg) PERRY.
Pam Joan WEBB (87) Class of 1941/2. Pam passed away on 17th April.
Gordon WESKETT (Late 80s) Class of early 1940s
Gordon passed away on 26th May.
Eleanor WAITE (Age – early 20s) (Class of circa 1960s)
Eleanor passed away about 1970.
Ruth GREEN (nee Wheeler) Class of 1940)
Jane LINFORD (nee Shuttleworth) (Class of 1949)
Ken CARROLL Mid-80s (class of circa 1944). Peacefully, at his home in Holsworthy, Devon on 28th August 2018 – Further information awaited.
Raymond WYMAN (Mid 80s) (Class of 1945)
Raymond ‘Wink’ Wyman passed away at his home in Newark, Notts, in mid-September. It is understood that his younger brother, who was a professor at an American university, passed away two weeks earlier.
Margaret RALSTON (Bailey) (94) Class of early 1930s. Widow of Peter Ralston. Memorial Service: 2pm Monday 22nd October at Cirencester Parish Church. Photo at page 34 of ‘Looking Back …’
Harry GRENVILLE. It is with regret that we have to report the passing of Mr Grenville who passed away on Tuesday 6th November 2018.
Harry was a German Jewish refugee who came to this country with his sister and was brought up with a family in Cornwall. He served in the British army and later taught Science at our school. His own parents/grandparents perished in Auswitz concentration camp.
His memorial will take place at 2pm Dorchester Corn Exchange on 25th January and will follow on from a Holocaust Memorial Service. Timing and other details are awaited.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact Brenda Lissimore who is in contact with Mr Grenville’s daughter.
Last revised 12th November 2018
THE OLD GRAMMARIANS NEWSLETTER
Most Old Grammarians will be familiar with the OG Newsletter which has been published by Ralph Wilkins and Mavis Mills since the 1990s. For them both, the task has been a labour of love. After the 2016 Reunion, Ralph and Mavis retired and the post was taken over by Jennie Hale (Cullip).
GRAND REUNIONS
Reunions, held at the Bingham Hall, and open to all former pupils (irrespective their year of entry) their guests and members of staff, have always been popular. Reunions were held during 1993, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012,2014 and 2016. The eleventh Reunion was held on the weekend of 22/23 September 2018. Over a hundred were in attendance on both days. It was a great success!
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