2022-Reunion

28th or 30th ABER FOOTBALL REUNION 2022

It is technical perhaps, but important(ish). This would have been the 30th reunion had the last two not been cancelled because of Covid. Thus in the 30th year of football reunions we are having the 28th actual get together. Ivor “Plonk” Hicks claims he attended the 20th, 25th and now 30th reunion. Time does definitely take its toll on the brain. Covid was responsible for a fair few missing faces; less catching it so much as fear of doing so. Ken (correctly) warned people that Ceredigion was rife with Covid and Aberystwyth particularly so (typical students, they never could behave themselves). Nevertheless the tone was set by the intrepid Edwards’ with Lev and Mary Lee declaring that they were coming from Cincinnati anyway. Jeanette and I were coming from Ireland too, fed up of cancelling ferry bookings. Dick Wrigley and Dick Packham were the most adventurous, braving the tortuous British railway system to get to Aber from Cumbria and the south of England.

The big talking point was Alec, or is it Alex? It was like a Murder Mystery Weekend, without the murder but with plenty of mystery. We had mourned Alec Coupland’s passing a few years ago. However Ken had received a message from a new email address claiming to be from “Alex”. We had always known him as “Alec” and although he was reputed to be buddhist, we were not convinced on his reincarnation. He was going to attend the reunion and then - very late on - was not. Was it really him at all? Or her, even? Was Alex his new female persona? On Saturday he (or she) rang and spoke to Ken, Jim and Lev. Names and dates were exchanged and checked. Thoroughly. Alec (or Alex) was declared alive! Married since 1996 (though Lev hadn’t asked if the spouse was male or female), he was teaching in England, had read about his death in one of my (normally accurate) reunion reports and decided, like Mark Twain, that rumours of his death were greatly exaggerated. He had intended to come to Aber until work commitments and a last minute need to go to Italy (this is hard to believe: would the real Alec have chosen Rome over Aber?). However by Sunday Alec Coupland was officially welcomed back to the land of the living.

At our last reunion in 2019 storm Hannah ensured there was no golf at all and this year just Jeanette and myself kept the flag flying by playing Aberystwyth on Friday, albeit badly. Since there was no Saturday golf either, Derrick gets to keep the hallowed green jacket for the 4th year running. There is no truth in the rumour that that was why he was not there. Well, I think not anyway. Friday evening was dinner for 13 at Medina, formerly the Talbot Hotel. There was the usual chaos as some wanted starters, some didn’t, some wanted main courses brought with others’ starters and most didn’t know what was happening. Eventually we got to eat what was a most enjoyable meal before an early night for some of us, less early for others.

Saturday was a beautiful day for our walk. Not a difficult one, but a nice stroll along the Ystwyth. Parking at Tan-y-Bwlch , we met Anthony Evans and Tiggy and walked south on the west bank of the river whilst Anthony, whose book on the area is in with the publishers, pointed out features and told local stories, some of them quite possibly true. It was a lovely walk. A couple of miles of gentle walking took us to Tiggy’s house, actually more a family compound – nicknamed “The Ponderosa” - overlooking the Ystwyth valley and the sea. Here we sat outside and Marilyn treated us to Bara Brith and Welsh cakes. Tiggy had come across a stash of old “Couriers” from 1968/69 and had marked all the mentions of the Coll teams. My own PR agent had obviously been hard at work with Pantycelyn much mentioned and photographed. There was mention of Jim Kettle scoring his first goal in 2 years, actually on the same day as I scored - a once in a millenium coincidence. It was a great way to spend the morning! Some walked back to Aber along the cycle path on the east side of the river but most were sensible and took a lift from Marilyn and Tiggy. A few of us then spent the afternoon watching yet another 1-1 draw at Aber Town, at least not against Llanelli this time but against a very good Connah’s Quay. A win would have qualified Aber for the Scottish League Cup (no, I didn’t get that either) but the draw meant that they came 8th, easily avoiding the relegation that had haunted them for much of the season.

Football for the men and shopping and cocktails for the ladies. Life is ordered thus and definitely returning to normal. Not sure how good the shopping is in Aber these days but the cocktails in the well-named Libertine seemed to have been well regarded. Saturday night and it was dinner in The Marine as usual. A good dinner it was and we were joined by a few more such as John and Shirley Ansell, who were great to travel for the Saturday after their health issues, and Glyn Lewis. I did miss chatting with Rita Lewis, though, about what to do with the huge mounds of vegetables left on the tables. Ken did his summary of the apologies and various bits of news of others not there. Despite the absence of Dave Charles there was even a semblance of a sing-song at the table. Jim Kettle, of course, was the leader, once he had got his song book from the car. Others more technically advanced used their phones for words whilst some of us could actually remember the words, or most of them at least, of those long-ago songs. A group at the neighbouring table asked about the timing of our reunion. They said it was to make sure they were there for it next year, but I suspect the opposite.

Sunday was, comfortingly, as usual: stroll to the bar, photographs (though we did not mug an innocent bystander to take the photos, but rather had separate male and female group photographs; where would Alex stand?). 

Left to right - Anthony Evans, Ian Edwards (Lev), Dick Packham, Glyn Lewis, John Ansell, Howard Phillips. Jim Kettle, Des Drumm, Ivor Hicks, Dick Wrigley, Ken Passmore

left to right - Mary Lee Edwards, Shirley Ansell, Ann Passmore, Beryl Kettle, Jeanette Drumm

Then to PD’s Diner for our coffees and hot chocolates as we chatted in the never-ending Aber sunshine. It was the perfect end to what was a truly enjoyable few days. It didn’t have the quantity of past reunions, but it most definitely had the quality. A big thanks to all who made the effort to be there and a special mention to Howard who was there for the first time without his beloved Siân. We all missed her too. Thanks to Tiggy and Marilyn for their warm hospitality and to Anthony for his local history and stories on the walk. After the Aber Town game I went to watch him playing for Aber Town Cricket Club, where he looked pretty good in the slips - and so he should, since he represents Wales over-70s. Well done, Anthony! Final thanks to organisers Ken and Ann Passmore and Jim and Beryl Kettle. It was a difficult decision to go ahead with the reunion, but it was definitely the right one.

Des Drumm, May 2022

Attendees:

Tiggy and Marilyn Bates

Lev and Mary-Lee Edwards

Ken and Ann Passmore

Jim and Beryl Kettle

John and Shirley Ansell

Des and Jeanette Drumm

Glyn (Louie) Lewis

Dick Wrigley

Howard Phillips

Dick Packham

Anthony Evans

Ivor Hicks

... and a final photo opposite the Marine