Annual Reunion 2006

Report by Martyn Edwards

Sibford School, 27–29 October 2006

Fifty years on!

In July 1956, thirty-five girls and boys left the peace and comfort of Sibford School and made their way into the big wide world. After five years of AJ [the headmaster] plying us with classical music, we were confronted with Bill Hailey’s “Rock around the clock”. What were we letting ourselves in for?
Fifty years on, 13 of those girls and boys, now reclassified as OAPs, returned for the Autumn Reunion. For most of us it was not the first time back; some had been active members of the Old Scholars Association, a few had returned as parents, but all of us were just pleased to be back.

Is the school different? Well of course it is. Sibford is now primarily a day school with a few boarders. Large modern buildings fill the skyline. Gone is the Old School, disappearing into fine country houses and apartments. Gone is that quaint swimming pool filled with the coldest water ever found on the planet, which turned into warm pea green soup after a few weeks. The path from the Old School, past the San and tennis courts, is much the same, but the Hill has had every sort of extension added to serve the increasing needs of the school. Surrounding the Hill are smart new buildings including a swimming pool.

What of the staff? The headteachers and teachers have changed many times. We OAPs entered the school thinking we knew it all, where to go and what to do. But no, life wasn’t that simple. Firstly, we didn’t know a soul, and someone had moved the furniture, but help was on its way in the familiar form of Mike Finch! If you ever have problems within a radius of 10 miles of Sibford, get in touch with Mike, he is the Old Scholars’ saviour. Not only has he worked in the school, he has held numerous posts in our Association.

For an Old Scholar who had not attended a reunion for many years, I was really looking forward to an exciting fun packed weekend. After parking my car in the disabled car park and extracting the zimmer frame I made my way into the school and parked myself in the “Hub”, only because it appeared to be the nearest place to a tea urn. Soon a group of old fogies gathered around me, and we are all introduced to those once familiar faces. Talk, laugh, smile, reminisce, out come the photographs.

Meals were served in an airy dining room, and in the evening an excellent dinner was served followed by an entertainment. Talking continued throughout, more reminiscences of years past, and still amazing ourselves that we had survived.

The reunion for me was a happy memory of all those years at Sibford and the continuing friendships.

My personal thanks to the Old Scholars Association who year after year arrange the opportunities for us to enjoy each other’s company in old familiar surroundings, and especially those from The Year of 1956 who came to the reunion.

See other SOSA Reunions or pictures from 2005.