Reunion 7th October 2012 Hartley Country Club
We had a successful COFOC reunion on 7th October at the Hartley country club despite numbers being down on previous events, 14 old boys and three better halves..
I took some photos which are attached though missed John Dadson as he departed just as I was collecting my camera from John Foster’s car. Also there are no shots of me as I’m behind the lens, but I guess you know what I look like (see below).
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Janet didn’t come as we’d just had our tenth grandchild (Archie William), but I’ve added a photo of us on our golden wedding day in Madeira.
The buffet lunch was excellent and we all thank Francis and Eric, with the help of Bob Morgan who couldn’t attend as he’d just arrived home from hospital after surgery, for their efforts in making the arrangements.
As usual at these do’s, we spent the first hour or two discussing our operations and general health problems (maybe we should have a prize for whoever has the worst), whilst Eric and I compared our knee replacement scars. Over lunch we discussed who had died (I don’t like ‘passed away’ do you, prefer ‘became late’ a la No.1 Ladies Detective Agency), notably John Shaw and John Ramsey since we last met. John Neads was designated ‘keeper of the death list’ for the group, so if any of you have kicked the bucket, please let him know.
I’m very grateful to Johnny Foster for taxiing us about (came by train from Chorley to Gravesend), and to Marion for a sumptuous dinner on the Saturday evening.
Francis gave a little speech in which he made general enquiries about further reunions to which everybody voted in favour, and to show off his school tie and scarf awarded for his ahletic prowess – sorry I didn’t get a picture of this as I was on my third pint and fingers were getting a bit fumbly.
As general observations, the pictures show that we’re all getting a bit thin on top, and all except Messrs Dadson, Blackwell, and myself were wearing glasses, the only ones who listened to their mother’s advice, presumably.
I hope that those members who couldn’t attend or couldn’t be arsed to attend will consider coming to our next event in 2014 – watch this space.
Bill