The July 2010 Reunion was held on Saturday 31st July. It was organised by George Cooper - the venue, Photographer, Dinner and the coach; Nigel Dodds the Sherborne visit. The day was split up into 3 parts: the visit to Sherborne House and grounds, Lunch at the Fox and the Reunion Dinner at Lea Marston.
Visit to Sherborne House and grounds:
Those travelling down on the coach were, Kamran Attabai, Laurie Markes, Nigel Dodds, Jorma Kuntsi (plus his son and daughter in law), Bob Curtis, Conrad Roe and (name to follow.) The coach journey was not without incident, as the ABS warning light was on for the whole journey (the driver said it was not his vehicle and that the lamp was faulty!) - It was fortunate that the roads were not wet because the driver was really throwing the vehicle round bends and often driving too fast. We arrived safely at the Sherborne Church car park; some went into the church (perhaps to offer thanks for our safety!) We met Philip Jolley, Martin Jones and Jerry Allen who had made their own way.
We met up with the Estate Manager Stuart Colmer and his wife Caroline. We made our way to the front porch (West Front) and were met by Mark Alexander, Yvonne Johnson, another lady (name to follow) and James Bright. They were much interested in our days when the building Housed King's School as we were to see inside the building again.
During our visit we entered through the main door along a short corridor which now separates the entrance from the great Hall apartment owned by James, passing several old paintings including Sir Thomas Dutton - knighted on the accession of James 1 in his red striped pantalloons; artist unknown. Passing through the door that used to be at the corner of the hall just outside of which the school bell used to stand.
Next we made our way to what was once the Quarter Deck at the head of the Great Hall Stairs (now enclosed by walls to form another apartment.) We looked up the stairs and spoke of Dormitory 54 (or the Ballroom) and the Head Master's Study (or the Library) - also the Servery, Tuck Parcel inspection room and the Dining Room.
To the right of the staircase now closed by a door, a few steps used to run down to classrooms, the staff room and linen room. We went down the corridor towards the service stairs, in which there used to be a luggage lift in our day. After climbing the first stretch bringing us onto the level of the boys' toilets of former years, we doubled back and down a few steps to the space that used to be behind the wood panelling and door to the right of the stairs (now cut off by a breeze block wall.) Once in this 'Out of Bounds' area we walked down a stone floored corridor and passed a stores door on the left, to view a wine cellar at the end; turning left just before the cellar we could see the current boiler and down some stone steps an old boiler that seemed to have been there since our day. I can categorically confirm that there was no evidence of manacles ever hanging from the walls from which JHM was purported to have restrained naughty school boys!
We then went into the Atrium Garden, where I took the following pictures:
1st picture - the cloister
2nd picture - view of the windows of the downstairs corridor outside the Great Hall and the 1st floor corridor stretching from Dormitory 54 to the Ship's Staircase
3rd picture - Martin Jones, Nick Sweet, Bob Curtis, Jorma's son, Jimmy Allen and Jorma Kuntsi.
4th picure - [Can anyoe help me with this one please?]
We returned to the cloister that used to be closed in and made our way to the corner where milk used to be issued at 11am. Then to a large apartment housed in the room we knew as the Games Room and the corridor behind it (rear of the large classroom that had its South facing windows into the atrium.) We made our way to the Ship's Staircase, spending time reminiscing about having letters and magazines issued, the School Rules board, and the Prefects' room.
After regaining our orientation we talked about the 'Sick Bay area' of our day and now Mark's apartment - since I used to be in there more often than not I consider myself a bit of an authority on that wing! I had never been into the Headmaster's Quarters - so was intrigued to see into a corridor that was once entrance to that area. I climbed the internal stairs and looked out of the window onto the church roof (2nd floor.)
We made our way back down the Ship's Staircase (now painted white,) along the corridor where we used to queue for our weekly 'sweet ration.' We went out of the door near where the washroom used to be and along that outside walkway to what used to be the Boys' latrine and toilets and now houses a wood shed! Passed the Meat Safe building - now containing an electricity generator; along by the wall on which we used to sit or run out model airplane engines, to the entrance to what used to be the Swimming Pool and is now a somewhat large rectangular lily pond! We were given tea/ coffee and biscuits in the Changing Rooms - now the Orangery.
We looked at the Summer House and talked about the lawn which used to be a field of beet or kale and the woods beyond. The quince and crab apple still grow nearby. Some of the OBs looked into the present indoor swimming pool and games room and we moved on to the Walled Garden. I had never been in this are before either, because I had a hay allergy and hadn't the skills of the sons of farmers who spent many hours there raising chickens or growing mushrooms etc. I was amazed at the size of the area - now largely allotments for residents who wish to grow things there.
We went out of a village gate and made our way along the road and back to the car park. After saying how grateful we were for the opportunity to see inside the house and grounds and saying our goodbyes we boarded the coach for the Fox in Barrington. Avoiding the A40, we went via Windrush.
Lunch at the Fox:
Arriving at the Fox we met up with Richard Statham, Patrick Delaney, Tim Midgley and his wife Sue, Bob Gabaldoni and Colin Fry. After much chatter, picture taking and a pleasant meal we made our way back to the Lea Marston hotel.
Photographs and Reunion Dinner:
We met up in the bar and had the group photograph taken in the garden (and then re-taken due to the late arrival of a few of our number.) We then made our way to the dining area; Roger Emmett said the Grace - then we enjoyed a starter of cold chicken and salad leaves, aroast beef dinner (and I recall a rather nice Merlot - there was also a white wine,) dessert and coffee/ tea.
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Martin Jones, Bob Curtis, Laurie Markes, Clive Sinclaire, Roger Emmett, (George Cooper out of shot) |
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Jorma Kuntsi, Jim Knight, Kamran Attabai, Nick Sweet |
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Mrs Birkinshaw, Mr Birkinshaw, Nigel Dodds, Barrie Dodds partner, Barrie Dodds |
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Jim Knight, Kamran Attabai, Nick, John Cooper, Jim Rowe, Alwyn Hawkes, Philip Allen, Tony Hanks, (Mrs Hanks out of shot) |
Speeches were made by Roger Emmett who acknowledged support for George Cooper, Nigel Dodds, Alwyn Hawkes and myself for our work in bringing us all together and organising the day. Then Alwyn propsed the toast "Servabo Fidem." He offered a formula for boys attending the school and worked out that over the 20 years there were probably about 750 in all. He felt that altogether about 150 - 200 OBs were in contact. He observed that on the 1945 school picture at Kigsholme could be seen JHM and his 'two wives' - Kate his first wife and Rosemary Harding a day student at that time.
After dinner we made and re-made acquaintances. Of note I spoke to Chris Birkinshaw (your old History, English and Games teacher) and his wife. He mentioned the 'over-door' wood carving above the door which led to the Headmaster's Study (or Library originally) as possibly being carved by Grinling Gibbons; I think the subject was hunting sport such as shooting and fishing paraphernalia. Sadly he also mentioned that Mike Airey (the Geography teacher) had recently lost his wife Barbara.
