Roger Smedley (51) writes:
Kemal’s Class of 51 at Hoddesdon – 4th June
What a successful gathering for lunch on a sunny afternoon on the banks of the River Lee! The setting and the spirit were something special.
Primarily arranged for the 1951’ers we were graced by 54’s, 58’s and many others –
notably including one of the teaching staff – Mme Emel Rochat who began her career teaching French in 1951 persecuted by the likes of Green, Smedley and Johnson of Form 1c.
Ronnie Hunt (probably the best footballer we ever played alongside) and his wife travelled from Leeds.
Betty Brannan came from Norfolk as did Alan Holman.
Ann Flanagan struggled through the New Forest, whilst Mary Parker-Smith, hubby Peter and Beryl Skinner together with Fred Brailey trudged on a poor traffic day from the surrounds of Basingstoke.
Poor David Allen was stuck on the motorway and managed to notify us that he would never arrive. Helen Harrow’s car was sick and Rosemary Langdon was unwell and could not travel. These three had booked and paid some time ago.
The day’s travelling situation was pictured even more dramatically when poor Lillian Law and her husband arrived after many had left, having endured a five and a half hour crawl from Bristol.
Tony Pugh, who should remain nameless since arranging some sanitary ware on the school roof has risen even higher above the clouds, flying jets over the Atlantic for over 40 years.
We were warmly encouraged by the charm of Beryl Skinner (Hayter 42) (she asked me to say that ),who is certainly a veritable who’s who of Trinity Grammar School, past and present.
Finally, a tribute to my dear friends, Kemal Ghafur and his wife Sandy who worked so hard to create our best 51’s to date. He has managed to collect over 42 over the past few years and reunite us locally.
In his off-the-cuff style, he gave us news of Audrey Dodds – now 87 years old and living in Falmouth, Cornwall, Miss Chopin who lives in Strete, Devon, and reports the death of Bernard Kurt, perhaps the most formidable French master we in the 50’s had.
Our thanks to wives/husbands who allow us our lovely nonsense by participating alongside us, despite having never been inmates.
Editor’s Note
I would like to reiterate Roger’s comments regarding our reunions whether it is by YEAR, or just a gathering of TOSA’S! We come together as an extended family, with many connections other than Trinity although the key link is our school. We are indebted to those individuals who organise these meetings, and I am always amazed by the camaraderie there is whenever we meet. Thank you for inviting me.
Beryl Skinner
p.s. There has been a needle match between Peter Turner (54) and Kemal (51) as to the number of Old Scholars attending this year’s class reunions, and they have decided in good faith to settle for a draw !
Kemal reports Attendees -
Roger(1951) & Mary(Noel Park )Smedley; Colin Marr(1951)
Betty (Brannan)Phillips(1951) ;Colin Hale (1951)
Emel Rochat(Trinity French Teacher)(King’s College London)
Les(1951) and Jan(St Ursula’s Convent Ilford) Cook;
Eileen Mansell(Marriott)(1950) Pat (Gibbs)Underhill(1950);
Alan(1950) & Pauline(Rust)Johnson(1954)
Alan Sharpstone(1951); Freda McNicol(1953);
Hilary Campbell Hungate(1953); Janet Alsop(Kiedyk))(1953);
Dougie (1952)& Alan Williamson (Clark’s College Wood Green);
Beryl Ford (Cheryl Robertson 1951);
Loretta (Krasner)(1951) & Mike Gevell ; Ron (1951) & Valerie Hunt;
Elaine( Hutchinson) Delmar (1951)
Mary Parker- Smith (Davies) 1951& husband Peter(Canada)
Ken Perkins(1951) & Pamela(Davies) Perkins (1957)
Ann Flanagan(1958); Hilary Cole (Galloway)(1958)
Alan Olly Holman(1952); Fred Brailey(1950);
Janet (Jackson) Kanineratne-Kirk(1951);
David Collier(1948); Tony Pugh(1951); Liliane (Law)Clough(1954) & Mr Clough
Kemal (1951) & Sandy (Arnos ) Ghafur; Beryl(Hayter) Skinner(1942)
Rosemary (Langdon) & Mike Haxeltine)(1951)(unavoidably absent)
Helen(Wigmore) Harrow 1951 (unavoidably absent) Dave Allen 1958 (Traffic delay)
(Total 44)
Apologies from
Mike and Sue Martin(1952)
Jim Steele(1954);Peter Hamblin(1951);Richard Suffield(1951)
John Andrews(1951). Anne Meekin(Pilling)
