Dear All, This part is a purely personal message from myself, to all who attended our reunion, and indeed those who would have liked to have come but couldn't make it. I was overwhelmed by your response, and hope you all enjoyed the evening, even though I am aware that many of us wish that we had more time to talk to so many of the others. It has taken me about a while to get over it, and to manage to sit down to publish some photographs of the event. For the record, you may be interested to know that a total of 38 of us managed to make it. The first picture includes all of us as a group (bar one - not sure who or how it happened!) Followed by photographs from Joshua Thomas and John Morrison. Special thanks to Mike Baess who organised the venue, which proved ideal for the occasion. Expecting to be the one who traveled the furthest (from Aberdeenshire, Scotland) I was amazed to be outdone by several thousand miles, by Shafique Omar who especially made the trip form South Africa and Jason Nyilas from Australia, who coincidentally was over in the UK on business. All of your signatures are below the group photo to help you identify who is there. I will treasure the book in which you all signed, a very poignant souvenir of a remarkable, indeed surreal evening for your website man. I have made no attempt to match names to photographs, that is a challenge for you! The signatures are arbitrarily in alphabetical order by first name. I have added a number of your emails received since 6th and also some from those who couldn't make it, at the bottom of this page. Several have asked whether the reunion could be a regular event, and that itself suggests the occasion was a success. Since my website and list of email addresses obviously facilitates such arrangements, I will be happy to help in any future arrangements that may materialise. But I would also like to say this. Once we meet up with old friends, which is obviously a reunion, then a subsequent meeting is not. I am not meaning to pedantic, but if our big meeting were to also result is us getting together with old friends more often, and on a more personal level, even just two people, then I consider the reunion to be even more of a success. Of course there are always those who didn't make it, and would like to try to attend in a year's time, so another reunion may well serve a useful purpose again, and I can help, but I still feel that when much smaller groups meet it is easier to converse, rather than being overwhelmed with how many we want to try to talk to. If you attended and have the means of contact with others who did not make it, try to get in touch with them too. I personally would have loved to have more time to talk to Ilona, Mel K, Mel H (who left before I could say cheerio) Biba, Beverley, Claire, Mike Baess and others. Though I must say that just to be in a large room filled with friends from T&C was a wonderful feeling in itself. I was unsure how it would pan out regarding the the different generations (see the wide range of dates below!) but in sending out the original email invites, I could not see any logical, point in time to draw a line. However, in the event I feel we all had a wonderful rapport, and age was immaterial. I learned some interesting history of T&C long before I was there myself. So thanks to all, for coming. Without wishing do too much back slapping, I guess everyone that was there, made it because they cared enough about their old school friends to make the effort. So what a great loving crowd we were! Love to all, Norman. |
A specially created sketch, by Joshua Thomas, to commemorate and capture
the atmosphere of this unique occasion
SOME COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO MANAGED TO MAKE IT: Dear Norman
Hi, thanks for all your efforts yesterday as facilitator and I hope the evening went as well for you as it did for the rest of us.
I have enclosed one of the photos which you took with my camera. Unfortunately the picture quality is not good enough for the website but hopefully there will be a good shot from one of the other cameras.
With best wishes and looking forward to the next reunion!
Yours
Ben Jacoby e-mail: bjacoby@o2.co.uk Dear Norman, Thanks for organising the reunion, a great pleasure to be there and meet you and others. Though I would like to, I can't put names to all people. I have named the photos where I am sure about the names, else with my apologies put "unknown". With best wishes, John [Morrison] Hi Norman, Just want to thank you for organising the St Mary's Reunion. It
Hope this event happens again next year, and some of the absent
Best wishes Val (Reed nee Morrison) It was very enjoyable seeing you all again after so many years. I look forward to any future get-to-gether .will do a spot if you want me to [NO CHARGE] sincerely John Meuleman. Hi Norman, I just wanted to thank you for the enormous effort you made organising the T+C reunion. It was, for me, an evening full of emotion, shocks and surprises. It was very interesting to hear your story and I understand more about how important it was for you to do this. I hope you all managed to get some sleep in Golders Green! I hope also that we will stay in touch, and maybe meet again at some point. In the meantime, all the best to you+your family, and if I'm ever nr Aberdeen I'll let you know! Ilona Hi,
Norman A wierd and wonderful evening. I so enjoyed it. Thank you for putting it all together so brilliantly. The only problem with an evening like that, is that you want to speak to everyone you knew, but by doing so, you hardly even scratch the surface of their lives. I am disappointed that we didn't get longer to chat, but not surprised really. Thank you for bringing back my photos. They are safely back in the 'album'. If you feel like corresponding, however infrequently, that would be great. Will there ever be a reunion to match in the future? Who knows. love from Melanie (K) Hi Norman, Just to say 'thank you' for organising the reunion. It was really amazing seeing all those old friends again, and I did have to keep pinching myself to be sure it was real .......... The only problem was that I didn't manage to speak to everyone. Perhaps another year ! Anyway, thanks once again - you did a sterling job. All best, Claire (AJ nee Green) Dear Norman I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you personally
for putting the band back together after all these years. Take care Jason Nyilas Dear Norman, I'm grateful to have had this chance to have met you,
and want to thank you for creating a perfect setting for our reunion.
Got home okay, sleeping ! Docs okay, sleeping ! are you still sleeping
? luv to all, Josh [Thomas] and Doc Dear Norman, Thank you very much for all your hard work. It was great to meet you at the reunion. I enjoyed it very much. I sorry to have missed Naomi Jacobi, and perhaps Daniela Bouchard may make it one day. I would like to exchange emails with Keith Mulliner, with whom I went to school. I do regret that more people from my era don't seem to be in contact, I wonder why! Eric Jacobson. ericrjames@talktalk.net AND HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS FROM THOSE DIDN'T MANAGE TO MAKE IT THIS TIME: Hey Norman, Congrats on the very successful SMTC
reunion, very much wish I could have attended, hopefully one in
the future. .
But while flipping through the photos I noticed one that Toby Baker had submitted that I am almost sure is a photo of my deceased brother. Is there an email contact for Toby to see if he has any info on this photo...my mother would love it, and I, for some odd reason, have a strong recollection of my brother, Jason Acosta, being dressed up like this...please let me know... . Thanks, . Gregg Acosta aka. Josh Hemingway Hi Norman, .
Hope you are keeping well. Just to say, that I cannot make the reunion on the 6th. . Do let me know when you're in London again and then perhaps we could meet up. With kind regards, . Jules. [Julian Esterson] Thanks for all your hard work in arranging this..............SADLY
I may not be able to attend.
Have to go to Bournemouth on business till the 8th, BUT if i can get away early I will do my utmost to make it. If i dont please, if you can remember. give a special hello to Michael Baess and tell him id hope to meet up with him another time............he'll know why!!!!! From Sharon Fox (no Franks) xx Dear Norman I am so sorry that I won't be able to join you, but I have other commitments on the 6th. It would have been good to catch up with old friends, especially Ben Trisk. Sadly, it will have to wait till the next reunion. Best wishes Geoffrey [Bowden] Dear Norman I have watched the list grow with great interest and wish I could be there with all of you. Unfortunately, I can't make it, as much as I wish I could. Please keep me on your mailing list, since I do make periodic pilgrimages to London, and I'd love to connect with so many of you again. Regards, Ed Flavin emflavin@sbcglobal.net DEAR NORMAN Sadly I will not be able to attend your reunion. Up until this past week-end I had fully intended to be there but I now find I have to be in Australia over the weekend to discuss a sale of some mining assets in the DRC. I am indeed most sorry that I cannot attend. I am not sure who of the attendees I would know (less likely recognise) but these events are usually good fun and as we get older they become increasingly important. Please convey my apologies to anyone who would remember me and possibly when I am next in London and we both have some time it would be very good to have a drink with you. My kind regards (and sincere thanks for all the efforts that you go to to keep the web site extant. Kind regards Benjamin Trisk v39@mweb.co.za Norman I regret I will be unable to make the reunion you have planned so well, hope you all have a great evening Martin Bridger Dear Norman Please give my apologies but I won't be able to get to the reunion because of health issues.. Mike B will explain. I hope all goes well as I'm sure it will. Best wishes Pete Nissen (aka Leon Sweeden, which Mike will also explain :0) ) Dear dear Norman I'd love to be there 2 nite but of course my disorganized life does not quite enable this I shall definitely do my best to get there next year . and I promise to send the photos , tell Nomi Craig ,Norman ALLAN steffi Tomlinson , Erick John etc that I really would like contact love Daniela danbor@netvision.net.il Dear Norman, I am mortified to find that I cannot alas come tonight after all. I have been hoping against hope that all the dust here (literally) would have subsided, but we have had builders in taking the house apart. Today is the day they finish this stage, and now the supervision will I can see run on into the evening. I had thoughts of arriving lateish and spending the night in town, but in addition we leave fairly tomorrow morning early to fly to Nice to see our latest grandson. I am really sad not to be with you all tonight, and do hope it will prove so successful that there will be another gathering of the immortals in the near future, at which I definitely WILL be present. Please give my warmest wishes to Melanie King, Ilona Lazar, and anyone else who may remember me. Although I spent only two terms at Town & Country, the immortal presence of Mrs Paul haunts me still. With best wishes to you and all – Nikolai tolstoy@enterprise.net Dear Norman, I do hope the reunion was a success. Unfortunately I couldn't make it because I have visitors staying here and we were all invited for supper that night. Please let me know how it went. Also, I received an e-mail from Judy Goodson (Lock) to say that she and her sister Binnie plus her Mother Mrs Lock who looked after the boarders, would probably all come to the next reunion! was Vincent there? Did Joshua Thomas come? Best wishes Sandy sandy_wick@hotmail.com Dear Norman, I am writing to say I am very sorry I was not able to come to the gathering after all your efforts to get me ( and of course all the others) included in the gathering. A feeble excuse: I broke my front tooth and felt too shy to present my toothless self! anyway, next time..I will be there if there are going to be any further meetings. I do hope it went well. I can imagine it was a fascinating, emotional and happy occasion. Thank you for making it happen. All Best, Ann (Froshaug) now in Norfolk, a.froshaug@btinternet.com Hello Norman First of all I wish to explain that I do not have a computer. A friend has kindly let me use his. I hope to attend the reunion and would you please let me have a list of the people who are coming? Can you please reply to my friends e-mail address and he will pass it onto me. Thank you CHRISTINE BOUDIER frankden@blueyonder.co.uk Wow Norman. katya@fieldofvision.co.uk Will miss it by 12 days, I'm sorry to say. Wish you all the best and my thanks to those that have arranged the reunion. Best Always, Mac McAlpin, St, Mary's 1966 Los Angeles, California Dear Norman, Thanks very much for keeping me on the mailing list. It would certainly be an interesting event. I was only at T&C for two years, and have sporadic memories of friends like Richard Lever and Lisa Prudhoe, Duncan (and his brother who died while I was there), and the Rothschild brother and sister, as well as Mr. Neville. If I were in London, I would still be tempted to attend, if not just to hear peoples' narratives of their shared or different experiences. All the best for a good reunion. Cheers, Kevin. [Hill] Hi Norman, I would have loved to come but unfortunately I'll be in Paris for that week. But I hope it goes really well, best wishes, Alisha x P.S. If you do another, please let me know. Thanks for the invitation. Unfortunately I'm working so I won't be able to make it. I hope you all have a fantastic evening and if there is another meeting hopefully I will be able to make that one. Best regards Polly Boulter (nee Hogg) I would love to attend however I'm going on holiday on 7th August and have to be at the airport early in the morning. I will try and come for a litle while. I must add that I attended the school in 1957 at the age 4 for two years only, howver my cousin Carol Williams started at the same time as me and remained until she was 16. There are a couple of names that stick in my mind from my class and they are Steven Colliver and Melinda Camber, and my teacher in one of the years was Mrs Walmsley. Please keep me on your books for any future news. Thank you Margaret Baker Dear Norman, Unfortunately, I will be sadly away on Friday 6 August, returning from a trip to France. Otherwise I would have liked to have come if I could see anyone from my years (1953 - 1957) on the list. None as yet. If Alicia Sufit and/or Jennifer Risner come, please say hello to them on my behalf. Best wishes, Ninette (Rubinstein) Hello- It's exciting that you're arranging a reunion and wish you all a wonderful time. I live in Israel and won't be able to attend. Debbie (Epstein) Rahav What a good idea the reunion Wish I could be there (pink floyd memories of sid) I was thinking... Make a DVD of the event and use web cam for people like me from afar to record or participate Make T-shirts and caps And get a photo book or CD Love U and miss U Am keeping U close to my heart Maj [Majid Tabatabai] Hi Norman I was about to e mail you . I have a stack of correspondence about the film (signed by David Attenborough!) and documents relating to the potential sale of the school in 1975 as well as endless prospectuses and details of the sale of Hedgerly Wood when they bought the property. Also some interesting bits at the end of the story when she hadn't paid the teachers, everyone was working for nothing and there were 12 children registered. Its quite a story but I think I may have to photocopy and send to you by snail mail I would love to come to the reunion if I can Hilary Fagg Hi Norman, Just had a quick look at the site and the photos! Wow - think I managed to identify most but I will check later when you have the names on them. Wish I could have been there to join in the fun!! I am off to Africa in a week - we are doing a camping trip from Johannesburg up to Victoria Falls where we will stay with my sister for a week then another camping trip back down through Botswana - the Okanvango Delta to J/burg. El cheapo trips travelling on trucks and real basic camping but should be fun. Have been looking out old photos to take to my sister - have to email them one by one as their internet is really lousy and she has no computer litericy at all so thought we would do the old fashioned albumn thing ( plus dvd) which she will enjoy. Anyway - came across the attached and thought I'd better scan and send before it goes the way of the others I found. It's from around 1958/9. Back left to right is: Me then Mary Ann Tidwell Front left to right is: Sara Maxwell, Dominique ( can't remember her surname) and Melinda Camber Have not forgotten about the others. All the best love Caro |