Reunion Jan 2008

Mini-Reunion, January 2008

at

The Roebuck Inn,

Strinesdale

This was arranged very competently and very quickly by Val and Pam.

We are all much indebted to them for a great evening,

- and who better to tell the story:-

Val Webster writes:

Many's the time, after an evening out, that Pam, Ken, David and myself, have found ourselves taking a trip down memory lane and someone would ask "I wonder whatever happened to ..........................?" I suppose that was when the idea of a reunion was first formulated.

Ken and Kevin's new web-site has attracted the attention of lots of ex-Greenhillians and it seemed a good idea to try to meet up with some of the people who had joined the group.

Ken designated Pam and me (without actually asking us) to arrange some sort of low key event. We weren't looking to do anything grand, just meet, perhaps have meal and wax nostalgically about our schooldays (always assuming you could remember so far back).
05a Jacky (nee Holt) became the catalyst, as she was visiting her family in Yorkshire over New Year (Jacky now lives in Turkey), and her visit fixed the date. Having decided on a suitable day, the choice of venue became the next problem. We had been to the Roebuck for mini-reunions before, but Strinesdale in January?!!!!!
We decided to risk the chance of wintry weather and booked the table. As luck would have it, the weather was kind to us........not a flake of snow to be seen. Not so fortunate was David Kitchen who travelled down from the North East braving ice and snow to join us.
16a After endless phone calls from Oldham to St.Annes, we managed to muster fifteen brave souls who were prepared to face their past!

When we arrived at the Roebuck, we were a little apprehensive at how the evening would go , would we recognize anyone, would they recognize us? We need not have worried. With a bit of make up, a touch of hair colour and a walking stick, we all looked just the same as we did on Kevin's wonderful Folkfind photosite. It was great to see everyone looking so fit and well.

The toast at dinner was 'Survival' which seemed appropriate given that some of us will be pensioners this year.

We did receive apologies from Stephen Walton and Joan (nee Bent) and Lawrence Feeley who had other commitments on the 4th and we also had a message from Ian Wright who sent his best wishes.

I do hope that everyone enjoyed the evening as much as we did and if so, maybe we'll do it again before too long.

All in all, it was a right good do!

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Pam Rodgers writes:-

At 6.55 pm Kevin, David, Val, Ken and I arrived at the Roebuck, relaxed from a glass of champagne, and expecting a good night. We were not to be disappointed.

Stuart was the first to arrive, looking dashing in a blue shirt and tie. He'd changed so little in the intervening years, except that his fine head of hair now befits a silver surfer. He'd make a good stand in for John Thaw as Inspector Morse.

After five minutes of kisses/handshakes Trevor and Beryl arrived equally enthusiastic. Although Beryl isn't an ex-Greenhillian, she knew a few of us, and if she felt a bit out of it she certainly didn't show it.

Everyone was there well before 7.30pm. When Vincent arrived with Pat, Colin asked me who he was! The last time they'd seen each other they were the same height and had shared the honour of sitting cross-legged on the front row of the school photographs. When I'd mentioned a mini reunion, Colin thought I'd been referring to them. He couldn't believe Vincent is now about 6'2"!

Although we'd been given the menus about 7.15, very few of us had even glanced at them before we went to our table; we were too busy re-uniting. There were four choices for each course and the food must have been excellent because very little was left. The wine was good too; we drank eight or nine bottles of it to make sure.

Considering that Pat doesn't drink and four were driving, we didn't do too badly. After coffee and mints and Jacky's usual 'Turkish Delights', we retired to the bar where we continued to drink and be merry until someone said, "Is it time we got the bill?" When we looked round, the place was deserted and we had to send a search party to find our hosts. It was midnight.

David did the hard sums (usually Ken's job) and the bill was split 15 ways without a quibble from the non-drinkers, God bless 'em!

We vowed to meet up more often than every forty five years and aim to have another within six months. It was a brilliant night ("Magic!" as Stuart said) and we all left wishing it could have lasted longer. Amazingly, we all gelled, but as Trevor said, "Must say most of us haven't changed in attitude or appearance!!!"

(Please click Next for the photographs of the reunion!)

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As always, we will appreciate any more photographs that people took of the occasion. Meanwhile, it is our intention to organise a caption Contest for the ones that we have!

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