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This year, just before the end of the millennium, I achieved a lifetime's ambition.

The dream, that had started many years ago when, as a lad, I had looked at the map of the world and seen the pink bits, began to take shape. I have visited Cyprus (thanks to Val and Albert Hudspeth), Gibraltar (a day trip from Spain), Malta (on holiday with college friends Marg and Mike Gray), Aden is no more, but Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, which had then seemed so far away, seemed to be hovering within reach for the first time. It began to appear possible that my lifelong ambition to visit Hong Kong might be fulfilled!

The original seed had been planted by Alan Harrison, a former pupil of Ayton School and currently Purchasing Manager for Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, when he visited us in the Autumn of 1998. It had grown into the possibility of a summer visiting HK, Oz and NZ, but after much deliberation, reality decreed that we would have to save NZ for another year, if we were to do it justice (apologies to college friends, Caddy and Steve Goldthorpe for raising your hopes, but many thanks for your kind offers and suggestions) since Oz really is VERY BIG!

And so it was that on 26 July 1999, the Readmans, with one very large suitcase each, were transported by a kind neighbour to Teesside Airport for a flight to Heathrow, and then on (by Cathay of course!) to HK. For ten days, we lived like royalty in the Harrison’s luxury apartment in The Repulse Bay. Whilst there, we met up with Chris Hilton (an Ayton Old Scholar, enjoying a well-earned back-packing holiday around the world after achieving outstanding success at Edinburgh University) for what was originally planned as a trip to The Peak, but which concluded with an extended family meal! David Chau (another Ayton Old Scholar), hearing that we were to visit his home country, and having known for some years of my dream, contacted many other HK residents and former pupils (including Francis Lo, Victor Yuen, Wilfrith Wong, Alan Kok, Denny Lam, and Everett Chow, along others) who, despite their very demanding work schedules, determined to ensure that the Readmans' visit was to be a memorable one. The ten days passed all too quickly, but the experience will never be forgotten. Thanks to all who contributed so much to a memorable visit - I don't think my silly grin of sheer delight faded even slightly during the whole stay. There were many highlights, too many to mention here, but it really was the holiday of a lifetime!

When we left HK, we flew to Cairns (NE Oz) for ten days of contrast - including snorkeling/scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, travelling north by four-wheel-drive safari through the rain forest to, of all places, Ayton (named by Captain James Cook when he got there before us!). We visited the local shop, which was run by the wife of the head of Ayton's school (Australia) - she remembered communications with Ayton School (England) and was sad to hear of its closure. Should you be interested, I have some photographs of our visit.

We then flew on to the Red Centre to visit Ayer's Rock, King's Canyon and Alice Springs, to sample such delights as a champagne party whilst watching the sun go down over Ayer's Rock, climbing the Rock, sunrise over the Rock, a helicopter flight over King's Canyon, and a sunrise balloon flight, followed by a champagne breakfast at Alice Springs - (not bad for just three days!).

Our final days in Oz were spent in Sydney, where we visited the Blue Mountains, explored the north and south beaches (guess who rolled his trouser legs up, put a knotted handkerchief on his head, and paddled at Bondi!) and the city sights, including the Opera House (Rosie's choice) and a harbour cruise. Our final morning was spent walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge (built by Dorman Long of Middlesbrough - I know, I saw the name on the girders).

Even our return flight was memorable. Owing to a Chinese airliner coming to grief in a typhoon on HK tarmac, we had to divert to Manila for an unscheduled overnight stop. All in all, everything I could have wished for, and more. A dream come true!

John Readman (Staff 1973-97)

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