1970-1975 REUNION

The leavers' reunion for the years of 1970 to 1975 was hosted by the school on Saturday 27th September 2003.

A goodly total of about seventy guests assembled for the early evening tour of the school's facilities, welcome drinks in the library and the following candle lit dinner in the school's dining room which had been specially prepared for the event.

The reunion was fabulously supported with Old Rydeians and their partners attending from far and wide. Special mention must be given to Suresh (Sam) Patel who flew in from Mombasa and Moez Mangalji, who 'red-eyed' it on the night flight from Tokyo returning the very next day. It was a good job that OR and airline pilot Graham Sayles wasn’t in the cockpit for the return journey as it would have been doubtful if he could have found the airport, let alone the plane, after a night of catching up on thirty years!

It was a great delight to welcome so many of the not so ‘old girls’ many of whom were in the very first intake of girls into the school. All added a much appreciated touch of glamour to the occasion.

It was also a pleasure to see a number of ex and not so ex-members of the teaching staff in attendance - no doubt carefully checking the register of guests.

To cap it all our old Headmaster and President of the ORA, Keith Symons was on sparkling form together with his lovely wife Jean. His speech, exhaustively researched and delivered, in Keith’s immaculate style, clearly being the highlight of the evening.

The Association’s thanks must warmly go to Stella, the school's Domestic Bursar, together with all of her kind and attentive staff, who laid on a marvellous spread of fine food and wine and who valiantly put up with us all. Not an easy task as the evening progressed.

Our thanks also to Joan Robinson, ORA secretary, who arranged everything so immaculately, down to the finest of details and kept everyone informed and ticketed for the occasion.

During the evening it was perhaps a 'dubious' pleasure to be reminded of those halcyon days thirty years back with the playing of a video tape recording many of the main school events of 1973. This tape was made possible by the hard work of OR Tony Gale and our thanks go to him for reminding us in real Technicolor of 'the way we were'....clearly in many cases a barbers nightmare!

I must also thank all spouses and partners for their stoic forbearance in putting up with us Old Rydeians as we re-lit the blue touch paper of thirty years ago but were perhaps not so ready to ‘step back’.

Finally, may I, on behalf of the Association and all our guests on the 27th, warmly thank the school's present Headmaster, Dr Nicholas England and his wife Sue for being such an integral part of our evening's celebrations and for being so welcoming and supportive.

It was truly a magical and unique evening that will live long in the memory of all of us who attended. Friendships re-kindled, stories re-told, adventures re-lived. What else is there to say? With the very best of wishes to everyone who joined us on the 27th and may it not be so long until we meet again.