This note was sent ahead of the reunion at Jesus College on 17th October, from Carole Nolan, who was unable to attend.

 

A brief  note to wish the Reunion well and to  say how sorry I am to miss meeting “old” friends again! The memories I have are as follows:

1.Cooking over a fire

2.The British Army 6-seaters and the fabulous views of the Bavarian Black Forest grandeur if the loo flap was open!!!

3.The whole ambience of many days in beautiful countryside under canvas and the fun side and general supportive atmosphere of old/young working together-the boys were so good-I especially remember Bela.

4. The  day we won the football match against fellow campers: The Catholic Scouts! (at least it was a young boys’ camp nearby).

5. The evening camp fire at the Catholic group where we introduced our somewhat bawdy songs to counteract their somewhat extreme Germanic seriousness.

6. One evening we helped the Catholic group out by hiding in forest wolf country, making owl or wolf noises as the group sent their little boys down a forest clearing in an attempt to build theIr stoicism!(We were more distressed as we were in complete darkness up a tree or in a bush!!)

7.The journeys to and from the camp with friendsand days out-one to see a wonderful Town Clock with all it’s artistry and the journey from England, staying with the Beebys.

8. The local farmer Stephan, from whom I and David Beeby had to collect milk.We nearly passed out when, having “uddered “ the cow he passed us a nug of milk and then, from a drawer in his kitchen table, he produced Speck which I said the camp would appreciate if we took it back.( D and I were nearly ill and D looked very green)

9. Stephan kept saying “Ach So!” when he saw me and I was invited to meet his mother (Celia still reckons I would look like her to this day!) as he thought I was related to them. On the strength of that “family likeness” I went to a Freiburg family party where the table groaned with a Germanic feast. For a first time I ate very little! (very fatty).

10. A wonderful Farewell PartyNight and the sadness of seeing those brave boys return “home”- I wonder where they are now in their late 60’s?! May God bless each of them.

11. Glorious Forest Trail walks with the fragrance of pine woods….

Enjoy your gathering and with much love to John Colquohoun, John Rignall , Colin Morley and my old flat mates Celia Tiley and Victoria O’Connell, as ever, not forgetting Ian Cooper (who always surprised us)…….Should old acquaintance be forgot…….