2003 Reunion Report

AOSA REUNION 2003

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Sunday 29th June - Meeting for Worship

The Meeting Room. Photo: George Hetherington The Meeting room was almost completely full and the Meeting very much enjoyed and appreciated by old scholars. For many Meeting for Worship is the focus of their annual Reunion visit to Ayton. The legacy of Meetings through their years at School will stay for ever. Meeting for Worship was at 10.30 am and very well attended.

After Meeting, as is customary, coffee and tea was served and an opportunity afforded to talk to old friends not seen from one year to the next.

On behalf of all OS may we express our appreciation to Ayton Meeting for their hospitality during this and other Reunion weekends.

Lunch and the AGM

Outside the marquee on AGM Sunday. Photo: William Pine

Before lunch on Reunion Sundays OS gather outside the marquee to chat and greet those who have travelled here especially for lunch and the AGM

Whinstone View Country Club provided a buffet lunch with a wide variety of choice followed by coffee. Whinstone View have acted as host to our Reunions for four years now and always look after us very well indeed.

Pictured here: In the left centre foreground - Martyn Gaudie; Dorothy Dawson (Easton); and Jimmy Shaw.

Whinstone View Country Club provided a buffet lunch with a wide variety of choice followed by coffee. Photo: William Pine

At the President's Table - Gill Jackson, her granddaughter Alex, son-in-law Tony and daughter Helen listen intently to Alan Goodfellow and his sister Beryl Queen. At the President's Table - Gill Jackson, her granddaughter Alex, son-in-law Tony and daughter Helen listen intently to Alan Goodfellow and his sister Beryl Queen.

Gill's balloon seems to have survived from the previous evening.


Dorothy Newby (Danby) and Mary Banks - both ex AOSA Presidents came for lunch and the AGM. It is always good to see them.	Helen Woollam (Watson) in deep discussion with Joe Tillott - AOSA President 1998-99. Joe missed last year's Reunion owing to health problems. Nice to see you back again Joe.

Peggy Shuttleworth (Morgan); Alice Goddard (Preston); Roy George; Joyce Spinks (Dobbing) and Margaret Cumbor. Ruth Harwood's 90th Birthday was to be celebrated a few days after the Reunion.

Ruth is not too well these days and unable to travel from her home in York, therefore during lunch a selection of birthday cards were passed around for OS and friends to sign and pass on their best wishes to Ruth.

There is a photograph of Ruth on her 90th Birthday.

Pictured here: Peggy Shuttleworth (Morgan); Alice Goddard (Preston); Roy George; Joyce Spinks (Dobbing) and Margaret Cumbor.

AGMs always open with the Presidential Address but first the Meeting observed a minute's silence in memory of old scholars who had passed away during the preceding year.

Gill delivered her Presidential Address in which she recalled memories and experiences during her years at Ayton.

It was then time for AGM business.

Lunchtime tables were quickly put away and chairs arranged for the Meeting.

The AGM was well attended with approximately ninety old scholars and friends in the marquee.

Robert Campbell here pictured with Gill Jackson 2003-04 President.

Left above: getting the AGM underway. Diz Dexter - Chairman - and Jill Wheeler (Rhodes) - Hon. Secretary commence proceedings at the 2003 AGM - the first for both of them in office. AGMs have, in the past, been rather long and - for the Chairman - occasionally quite difficult. Diz Dexter steered the meeting through the Agenda - including Accounts and election of Officers - smoothly and efficiently.

Always the last item is proposal and seconding of the President Elect. The 2004-05 President Elect is Robert Campbell here pictured - right - after the Meeting with Gill Jackson 2003-04 President.

The AGM was concluded at at approximately 4:00 pm and a cup tea served.

Tessa Snowden (Greenwell) This last picture picture is of Tessa Snowdon (Greenwell) who has stepped down at the end of her term of office as Reunion Coordinator.

Tessa joined the Committee five years ago and soon became Reunion Coordinator. With School closure and uncertainty about direction to take with Reunions it was Tessa who suggested moving Reunions to Whinstone View and, as they say, the rest is history.

Tessa's view of AOSA activities was a breath of fresh air and a younger outlook than most of her Committee colleagues at the time. But she is a wife, a busy mum, a nurse and is moving on. She will be much missed.

On behalf of all OS - whether they realised you were the one who organised the Reunions or not - our grateful thanks Tessa for all your energy, enthusiasm and hard work which has gone into making Ayton Old Scholars' Reunions probably stronger and more popular than they were before School closure.

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