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A.O.S.A. 2002 ANNUAL REPORT |
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[Page nine]
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In early September 2001, Dick Dennis and I received a series of e-mails from KEITH SULLIVAN (1960-63), the first old scholar to make contact, after discovering the website, who had not previously heard of the school’s closure. Naturally Keith had many question to ask of Dick and me, which we did our level best to answer. He also gave us some of his own news. “ I was a pupil from 1960-63 in the same year as PAT CRAIG (1955-62), SUE GRANT (LITHGOW 1965-62), ROS FLETCHER (WALDIE 1956-63) and LIZ VICKERS (1956-63) whose photo was taken at the 2001 reunion. The last time I visited the school was at the O.S. reunion in either 1974 or 75 following the death of my first wife, but as I only met two ex-pupils I knew, DICK BYE (1954-62) and ROBERT STANSFIELD (1957-65). and they weren’t from my year, I never returned. I did have a long chat with JOHN (1938-44 & 1953-74) and MARY READER (HODGE 1953-74) and send them my best wishes (do they remember me? Does anyone remember me?)….. I lived and worked in Middlesex until 1976 when I moved to Chalfont St. Peter in Buckinghamshire with my five year old son. I met my wife Eleanor, who lived in Chalfont St. Giles, in 1980 and when we got married in 1983 we bought a house in Seer Green and moved to our present house also in Seer Green in 1986. I retired in 1997.”… “I found the Handbook most useful in putting names to people I remember. With my arrival (in the Association) you now have as members the complete Lower Sixth in 1961 – CHRISTINE GARDAM (KILPATRICK), RONALD MACKENZIE, CHRIS TOORN and me. One name that is not in the Handbook is that of the head boy in 1962-63, he was from the year above us and the last I heard of him he was Head of Department at a school in Whitehaven. Can you tell me who he is?” WENDY SMITH (ARNOLD 1959-65) a near contemporary of Keith’s, was able to tell him that the missing name on his list was TEDDY KENNEDY (1955-63). For news of PAUL VODDEN (1961-64) please see 1980s. ANGELA SWINDELL (BUCKLEY 1960-68) could not make last year’s reunion. She was able, however, to identify for Dick Dennis some of the names on one of the staff photos on our website.. “I think the gaps in the row containing CLIFF (MORGAN presumably), are a youthful BILL HANNAH (1955-81) and RICHARD (DICK) ADDISON (1955-60). I knew the Addison family in Ayton and took care of the children from time to time; I later caught up with the Addisons again when I went to Durham University in 1968 and found Dick on the staff.”… “Having now spent far too much time today glued to the AOSA website, I must now do some work. My A level, AS and GCSE candidates have to be ‘polished’ this week, before the start of public exams. Apart from my interest in all things Ayton, I am the Editor of the Victoria College Newsletter which comes out 3 times a year and Editor Elect of the College magazine, The Victorian, (I wonder if Angela could be persuaded to take on our Annual Report one of these days! – Ed) in addition to full-time teaching of Geography and much else. Some of us never learn.” I enjoyed another e-mail correspondence with JANE HENDRY (GLADDERS 1963-68) ….. “I live in Brockenhurst in the New Forest after spending several years out in the Gulf and travelling around with my husband who works for an oil company. My daughter was actually born in Kuwait in 1978. We had a ‘fab’ time out there and lived a typical ex-pat lifestyle. We then lived in Edinburgh for seven years before moving down to the New Forest. I don’t think we’ll move again as I love the horses and adore the area……After I posted a message on the website’s ‘message forum,’ I was contacted by STEPHANIE LOW (1965-68) who lives in Canada. I haven’t heard from her since I left school, so it was a thrill to be in touch again. I think the website is just what we’ve all been waiting for, particularly for those who are not local enough to attend reunions. It’s a real trip down memory lane.” Jane attended the wedding of JANE MOTTERSHEAD (1963-38) in early 2001, where she met several other OS. Jane M lives in Yarm and teaches languages at Kirby College in Middlesbrough. District Secretary KATHLEEN TONKIN (BEARBY 1943-47) forwarded news of SUSAN COOPER (HORNE 1964-71)…. “The death of my mother (in February 2001) was a great shock and it’s still taking time to get used to. Dad (Douglas Horne 1930-34) has appreciated all the support he has had from many of the Old Scholars…… My son James has just started a Sports Sciences Degree at Loughborough University, immediately getting involved with rugby, skiing and golf teams. My younger son, Andrew, is still at school studying AS levels. I see SUE FOX (TURNER 1964-71) – the current AOSA Chairman – Ed. – and DAVE FRENCH (same dates) and family regularly and it was a pleasure to see NIGEL CARR (1965-70) recently at the Foxes. My brother CHARLES (1966-73) is still living in Suffolk with his wife Jane and son Tom, they run a bed and breakfast business and would welcome any visitors from Ayton.” Where in Suffolk Susan? GJ. BERNARD LOW (1966-68) brother of Stephanie,
who also lives in Canada, sent Dick Dennis a copy of the School
Prospectus for 1927 which he received from TIM BREVIS (1929-31), a
friend of his parents. This fascinating document is now on our website.
The green and the front of the school looked so bleak without the trees
we have come to appreciate in more recent years. There was a photo of
the ‘girls’ cubicles’ – a six-bedded room just off Bottom Dorm (usually
reserved for those in the fifth and sixth forms –Ed.) The Centre
Library (Boys’ Schoolroom, Woodwork Room, Afton Hall, depending upon
your era) was pictured before the addition of the 1930s’ classroom
block and looked somewhat forlorn standing on its own. There was a
lovely view of the ‘Lake’ (which was drained in 1955) taken from the
plantation end. |
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