12 February 2005
Reunion 2004 Report
SOSA Reunion August Bank Holiday 2004, by David C Smith
What had threatened to be the wettest ever August weather petered out with some drizzle on Saturday and passing showers on Sunday, to leave bright and beautiful skies from midday onwards. So did the Reunion gather pace from modest beginnings: fewer than usual turned up for the elevenses at 11.30 Saturday, and some, stuck in a jam on M40 even missed lunch!
The early afternoon was for catching up on gossip and exploring, the surrounds, studded with many fungi, some edible, on the lawns. A swim in the handsome new Pool kept some well exercised.
Due to the intended speaker’s spell in hospital the Leslie Baily Lecture was not about building the new Manor development, but, at very short notice (not that it showed) by Ann Taylor (Scaife) on the Quaker Tapestry. Anyone who, like this writer, has not seen it yet really must go to Kendal Friends Meeting House except in February when it visits Exeter Cathedral in 2005. Our President’s aunt Ann is far from being the only Old Scholar involved with the Tapestry, so this was a topic both fascinating and pertinent to us.
An early but substantial (except for veggies) sandwich tea then yielded to more time for talking, purchases at the impressive bazaar, which ran all weekend, or perusing the mounting decades of Reunion photos in The Hub and signing postcards to absent friends. Many of us have old cronies in the village, and if we missed their annual fête that afternoon could still find them at home.
My visit to Mike Canning, still occupying his Old Malt House address, actually coincided with Kelly Holmes’ Olympic Gold run no. 2, live on his T.V.
As the evening began to darken, more faces-from-the-past arrived, particularly old staff colleagues of our President. A barbeque by hired contractors smouldered outside the Oliver Room in a rather futile effort to produce a proper hot meal – do they ever work in this country? – almost managing to feed everyone (but the veggies, again!), though the piles of rice, pasta, and potato salads were fine.
Meanwhile a cash bar (!) with real Hooky bitter and sundry tipples flowed in the Foyer and a mercifully muted Disco occupied the Oliver Studio, with a trendy crawl by the infant Kingham while we prepared for a well-set Trivia quiz, mastered by the loud but lenient Stephen Bunney. The largest group won. And so to bed – or Blaize?
Sunday dawned damp, even more so for the early swimmers, and a leisurely 8.30 breakfast allowed plenty of time to reach Gower Meeting for Worship in the regrettable absence of Choral, but lacking the necessary able pianist-in-residence, this was ¬f o r c e m a j e r e.
The breeze had nearly dried the grass for the walk to the Gower, and the final rainy spells caught only latecomers. Meeting was quieter than usual, in the absence of many Sifbord P.M. members in the Fox country of the N.W., including such familiar faces as Norman, Coxon, Margaret LeMare and School Committee clerk Judith Weeks. Ministry flared into a candle theme after a while. Following tea and coffee, as always laid on by Old Scholars in the Meeting House, certain hostelries were visited on the way back to lunch.
Sunday afternoon’s outings were either to tour historic Banbury on a signed trail from the Museum, or to Compton Verney for its stately Home, Art Gallery and Park, where a heavy shower pelted Old Scholars. Nearer home was the village fête at Swalcliffe Barn, where O.S. Arnold and Iva Lamb presided over entry to that marvellous building’s historical displays. Some just stayed playing Tennis.
By 16.30, more tea was ready in the Hub, and by 17.20 sixteen of us walked, pedalled or drove to The Elm for Rockets, as a night-time visit is deemed too dangerous or daunting these days.
At 18.30 we were sufficiently recovered and titivated to gather for the Group photo in dazzling sunshine before varied fruit punches and the Presidential Dinner. Ahead of the Address the dazzling Sue Freestone, briefly back from Ely, gave us the highlights of the School year and her seven years with us. Stephen Bunney’s speech largely concerned the benefits of Quaker and Boarding education, and the weekend guest from School Committee, Peter Neighbour, spoke of aspects of Sibford seen from the eyes of a parent and professional accountant, a change from the usual insider stance. The customary indoor Rocket concluded the organized day.
Monday downed bright, and some of us took an early swim. After breakfast the A.G.M. loomed belatedly, leaving a space to admire the Horticultural area with its new wildlife pond, replacing the infilled morass in the filed corners beyond, but still a drinking – place for resident badgers, if not Great Newts.
After the quiet memory of last year’s deceased, and mention of those too ill to be here, the A.G.M. passed briskly, despite detailed reports. Although it was dismaying to learn of the curtailment of subsequent Reunions to less than 48 hours, there will still be room for all the regular sessions, even perhaps, I hope, Choral and President’s Choice. The earlier date is an exciting prospect for extra faces and greater numbers on a ‘plain’ weekend with fewer alternative attractions and holidays, and lesser fees, with luck, for some. Special thanks to Nicola and Cindy for their efforts in place of any designated Reunion Secretary concluded the AGM in good time for coffee or more bibulous excursions before lunch.
Time for coffee, swim or siesta preceded the strenuous mixed 7-a-side hockey match, ending in a non-fatal 3-all draw. Participants’ ages spanned well over 50 years – a record?
An Answer to the weekend’s mystery then arose. Nine huge metal containers along the Hooky Road car park are temporarily housing property of the closed Henly-in-Arden school, many of whose pupils are now here.
The cool breeze despatched hockey players and fans to change and pack before Tea and bring-your-own cakes and buns, an excellent bet, on the sheltered veranda which revitalised us for a final Rocket and Auld Lang Syne, ready to make our ways home with hours of good daylight for the journey.
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