2014 Reunion

We wondered whether we would find Aberysywyth still there after the terrible storms earlier this year. We had seen the front at Aber - and the Marine Hotel in particular - featured on news reports being battered by huge waves and wondered at what damage had been done. But we need not have feared: there it still was, a little shaken but not stirred as it shouted its message “Yma O Hyd”. The promenade had largely been restored, though there was some work still in progress here and there. Only those few of us still with good memories noticed that the little shelter with its benches looking out to sea had completely disappeared. However, for those ex-Carpenter lads who had looked out on that for so many years there was news that it was going to be reinstated in its entirety. Yes the gym in the cellar of the Marine was now gone after the flooding, but quite frankly I had not seen too much use of it by our group over the years. It certainly had more use from us in its earlier incarnation as The Cellar Bar.

The weather forecasts had been dire for the weekend. So bad that Derrick had cancelled our game of golf for the Friday on the strength of them. In the event I limbered up for the Aber Masters with 9 holes with Jeanette in glorious sunshine - and of course the sun shone for the whole weekend, as it always does when we return to Ceredigion-ar-Caribbean.

Last year’s repainting of the front may have been dulled by the winter weather but Pete Strydom’s shirt still dazzled as we bumped into him, Kathy and John and Shirley Ansell, fresh from lunch in the Harbourmaster in Aberaeron. This was just their amuse-bouche for dinner in the Orchid restaurant, where we all met for the first official function of the weekend. The Orchid has a great setting in the Theol Coll building and they closed it for our group of 30 people - obviously expecting trouble. Pete and Kathy had kindly arranged the dinner and with superb pre-planning gave each of us a card with our chosen meal (important, since no-one could remember what they had ordered) - and the price on the back with space for drinks bills. Very well thought out, though the restaurant itself was a bit remiss in living up to the planning, possibly by only have one wok in the kitchen. However, the food was fine and we repaired in good time to the Marine. Dave Charles had help this year as Stan Moore accompanied him on guitar and between them they did a great job, not just on the music but on the highly complex electronic set-up which supplied the words to songs we all thought we knew. In particular Derrick learned that Madame Roux, in Love Potion No.9, was a “gypsy with a gold-capped tooth” and not a “a gold tattoo” as he had sung all these years.

Saturday morning dawned (though to be honest I cannot swear to that) bright and clear and a goodly group headed off to Pen-Dinas after breakfast, led by John Ansell ( not Ken Passmore, thank goodness). You could tell John was leader, equipped as he was with a map and carrying a very large rucksack that quite possibly carried iron rations for the group for several days and a few tents, just in case. The walk was planned at two hours.

We crossed the Rheidol to Trefechan, which in four years in college few could remember having crossed - and if they did it was for the Gunners Club and certainly didn’t remember getting back. The walk took us around Pen-Dinas hill, with the coast of Cardigan spread out below us in the sunshine. On top, at the Wellington monument, the wind whipped us mercilessly - ah yes, this was the Aber of our youth! We all returned safely, within the two hours, thanks to John’s excellent leadership - the rations and tents not needed.

Saturday afternoon was golf for 11 of us, inclusive of Dick German, Dai Whitney and Martin Rogers who joined us. Dick had come from Malvern for it, so he obviously expected to do well. However, he was pipped by myself and John Rowlands, with Roly declared this year’s winner of the famous Green Jacket. There was, as usual, a rather chaotic start to the golf and differing opinions as to the rules on handicaps. As a PS the rules have been clarified below - though this does mean someone remembering them in a year’s time, which on past performance seems unlikely! Capel Bangor golf course was beautiful and the lack of challengers to Jeanette’s continued dominance of the Ladies section is a mystery - get practising girls!

Mike Pickard, not wanting to waste his Swansea season ticket, had driven back to see the Swans hammer Villa 4-1 to secure their Premiership status and could testify that Wales was being deluged with rain, except for a little dry outpost around Aber - that blessed place!

Saturday night dinner in the Marine was, much like the Orchid, around one very, very long table, but the food arrived promptly despite the numbers since Nerys probably had more than one wok. Again the food was good - and there was certainly a lot of it, though a mighty attempt was made at clearing it all.

As is customary, new attendees (yes, we still have them!) said a few words. This included Dick Packham and Glyn Lewis, who told us the story of being nicknamed Louis XVI after scoring the 16^th goal for UCW 1sts in their 16-0 thumping of Rhayader (Dick scored 6). Roly, who had actually last attended 21 years ago, spoke as he donned the Green Jacket and promised to book in for 2035.

Just make sure that the jacket makes it back before then, even if you don’t, John!

Tiggy Bates was invited to speak on the plans for Aber Town’s development, which sounds interesting - as is their appearance in the Europa league this season. We will watch out for them on Sky. No sing song that night - too many had lost their voices after the previous rousing night. Pity poor Derrick, who was wearing his Blue Suede shoes and never got to sing the song!

Sunday was again bright and clear and the traditional walk to the bar was undertaken and it was duly kicked both to bring us back and for absent friends. After that it was teas and coffees at PD’s Diner on the prom before people drifted off in their ones and twos, leaving Aber just a little bit lonely for us, we liked to think.

Thanks again to the organisers for a great weekend - to Derrick and Mildred, Ken and Ann, John and Shirley, Pete and Kathy and Jim and Beryl for, as the Marine staff call it, “ The Kettle Reunion”.

(From left to right - Dick Packham, Jim Kettle, Lynda Jones, Beryl Kettle, Siân Philips, Mike Pickard, Shirley Ansell, Ann Passmore, Mildred Spragg, John Rowlands, Shan Pickard, Jeanette Drumm, Derrick Spragg, Glyn Lewis, John Ansell, Mike Jones, Rita Lewis, Des Drumm, Howard Philips - photo by Ken Passmore)

The many attendees for 2014 were:

Jim and Beryl Kettle

Derrick and Mildred Spragg

Ken and Ann Passmore

John and Shirley Ansell

Howard and Siân Phillips

Bob and Gaynor Culley

Mike and Shan Pickard

Pete and Kathy Strydom

Gaynor Hamer

Huw and Ellen Evans

Dave and Rose Charles

Spike and Lynda Jones

Des and Jeanette Drumm

Glyn (Louie) and Rita Lewis

Tiggy and Marilyn Bates

Elwyn Williams

John Rowlands

Dick Packham

Mick Newman

Stan Moore

Dick German (golf)

Dai Whitney (golf)

Martin Rogers (golf)

Des Drumm 5th May 2014

PS The Definitive Golf Rules as agreed by the Masters Handicap Committee!

- Played over 9 holes

- To win the Green Jacket you must be booked in - and present - at the dinner - see the picture of the 2014 winner below

- Normal Club handicaps will be used

- If you do not have a current club handicap then you use the last one you had

- If you do not have or have not had a club handicap then use your society or other handicap, with a maximum of 20 for men

- The organising committee reserves the right to mess about with these rules as it sees fit!

John Rowlands wearing the jacket after being presented by the first Reunion Masters winner, Derrick Spragg.

More photos supplied by Kathy and Des are available at this link