With Deepest Sadness

Written by Michael Allen Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:52

it is with deepest sadness that I received the news that Lisa-Marie Edwards passed away  on the 12/07/2010, Her family have asked that her friends are informed. 

All our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.  

 

I WON’T KNOW ANYONE THERE!

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 June 2010 07:11 Written by Ian Beverley Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:43

I WON’T KNOW ANYONE THERE!

 OR WILL I?

 Take a chance on a school reunion

 By Ian Beverley

 Over the years, I avoided going to a school reunion.  These events, for whatever reason, seemed to be for people older than me and therefore not from my generation at the school.  When I was asked, I would always say ‘It sounds nice but I won’t know anybody there’. 

 From time to time, people would say ‘Come along, you never know’.  This is some ways would strengthen my resolve not to do so.  However, this year, things have changed and I knew that it was time to give it a go.  I didn’t want to look back and wish I had at least tried one reunion; never have regrets if you can avoid it – especially as the school may not always be there.    

 It was with some trepidation that I booked my place at the reunion which was due to take place on Saturday 5 June.  I really decided to jump straight into the deep end with this as I had even booked to stay the night at the school itself.  Not only do I expose myself to the school day memories,   But to those on the residential side too.  Ah well, in for a penny in for a pound.

 My unease, thankfully, had been allayed quite a bit by the fact that my old school mate (old not in years may I add) Michael Allen was Chairman of the old pupils association.  We agreed that although I won’t know anybody else there as such, it is a great opportunity to meet new people and to make friends. 

 The most difficult thing on the day was actually walking through the front doors and letting all of those memories flood back.  Standing in the front hall, I could feel the emotions of my first day at school, waiting to meet Sister Josephine and then to be introduced to my new classmates.  Additionally, the pictures of waiting in the hallway on a Friday lunchtime for the taxi to come and take me home for the weekend.  The memories weren’t so bad after all. 

 Throughout the day, I met a number of people who I knew by name only.  You know, the type of people that I wouldn’t know and therefore the type of situation that stopped me coming to the reunions in the first place.  Daft really, because it was meeting these new people that really made the day for me.  We may not know each other at first, but we all have one thing in common.  We all know the one thing that I never really took into account when deciding not to go to reunions.  We all knew ST Vincent’s school; the thing, the person that we all know and is the reason that connects us all together. 

 he rest of the day was really nice.  The tour of the school helped us all share our memories from different eras, the evening entertainment enabled us all to share more memories and the chance to sleep at the school?  Well, no nightmares but   I was expecting to be shouted at at some point for not doing something or the other. 

 In all, it was an great experience and one that I haven’t regretted taking.  The memories were less painful as I stepped through the school.  The familiar classrooms, the places where I was told off and yep the dining room – the old smells of the cooking came back as well (in memory I may add).  It was great to see familiar faces such as Joe Lambton, Sid Wilson and Josie Lynch (amongst others).  In fact shouldn’t I be calling them Mr Lambton, Mr Wilson and Miss Josie

I would urge any of you who have had the same initial thoughts as me ‘I don’t know anybody’, to think again. True, it is good to catch up with old mates, but its also good to make new ones as well. Therefore, I invite those of you who are having those thoughts to come along next year and see what its all about.