Embedded Files
From Susan Scott
Hi Bob
Well what more can I say that hasn't probably been said or thought of by everyone 'thank you so much for taking the time to organise an excellent, not to be forgotten, reunion'. It was much more than I expected. Having been on holiday when the previous one was organised, I was apprehensive about meeting up with everyone but I am so glad that I went. It was like stepping back in time and to be able to chat with Miss Hogarth and Miss Routley as equals and almost friends was the icing on the cake. They were my 2 favourite teachers and the amazing thing was they did seem to genially remember us. I left with Sue Fitch and Linda Burgin and we went out for a meal. Although I see Sue around Woodley it is not often but we said we must make time to stop for that coffee in future. The funny thing was when I left home at 1.15 I wondered how I would cope with being out for all that time just talking with people I hadn't seen for 50 years. Well it was easy and it was still all going round in my head when I got home and my family had to relive it all again when I got home about 11.00 although that probably wasn't late compared with the time everyone left Barabara's. Yes Barbara and I really meet up at both my niece and nephews weddings this year and I had no idea she was Barbara McClune, well no Scottish accent or dark hair didn't help! In fact if I hadn't recognised her from the wedding when she was getting out of her car in the carpark, I still don't think she would have known she had chatted to me at the weddings and one was just the previous Saturday.
I am still amazed how well you all organised and thought of everything, you could tell how much Mr Stagles was very proud to be part of the day as much as everyone else there.
Thank you once again and the rest of the team for making the reunion a very special day.
Sorry meant to write this last Sunday but this being my first week of retirement has been VERY busy!
Best wishes
Sue (Scotty)
From Ray Stagles
Dear Andrew, Bob, Phil and Julie,
What a splendid and delightful occasion the Bulmershe Reunion was. So full of happy meetings of old students, former teachers and between them (us!) all. My warmest thanks and congratulations to you, the prime movers of it all.
As you could but not notice I was quite overwhelmed by all your kindnesses at the conclusion of the after noon. The reminiscences book which I have beside me now (with the 1964 form lists- a great retrieval that as I thought they had all disappeared) is quite splendid. You couldn't have decided on any better memorial. My wife and I have read it and re-read it a number of times already.
It most heartening to see how many and varied are people's recollections; and of course so many expressions of thanks to all your teachers. So again, many, many thanks. I shall treasure the book I assure you.
Among other things, it is impressive how many of your teachers are mentioned, with gratitude of aspects of their teaching and also for what they did outside the classroom, on school outings to the Lake District, etc, at school half terms and during the holidays. And we were all pupils and teachers, very fortunate to have such a fine new building to work in.
My one regret is that I did not talk face to face with all of those who came - and too briefly with those I did speak with. If you do circulate a report of the Reunion to members of the year group do please let them know that my wife and I would be delighted for you-singly or with friends, and partners, to call by to visit us here for a couple of hours or so if they happen to be in the area. We are "at home" most of the time (tho' off to west Kerry and the Blaskett Islands for a week.) [email address supplied]
Most of the members of staff who were present on Saturday continued their conversations and reminiscences (including funny stories!) into the evening, concluding with a meal together at the George. You may have gathered that Mary Hulbert acts as our (unofficial) group secretary, with at least one annual meeting based at her home. And this very lunch hour there was the annual gathering of Bulmershe College staff, where my wife Barbara and Mr Bean worked in the past. So, a great two days of reunion.
Yours sincerely,
with all good wishes,
Ray Stagles
From Jenny Latham,
Dear Andrew,
Many thanks to you all for organising such a successful reunion. We thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.
And it was amazing how memories of you all came back when I saw you. This despite having taught in 7 schools! I think this is because you were the first year group in anew but small school.
I look forward to seeing the photos and identifying everyone again.
Thank you all again for your hard work
Jen
From Robin Shawyer,
Dear Andrew
Just a short message of sincere thanks for all the work you and your colleagues did to arrange the event last Saturday. Both Gwenifer and I really did enjoy the afternoon. If I do come across any photos or other data which might be of interest I will let you know.
Best wishes
Robin
From David Preshous,
Dear Andrew,
Just a line to congratulate you and your team on a lovely reunion last Saturday. I’d been wondering how it would work out, meeting people for the first time for over forty years… and especially school pupils now aged sixty! But it was all amazingly friendly, and so much instant recognition after all those years. It was certainly a great tribute to Ray Stagles that the school achieved such lasting respect and friendships between teachers and students.
It was heartening to have such a good staff turnout too. There are a good few with whom we exchange Christmas greetings but usually no more than that. We were particularly happy to see Keith Harrison again (first time for many years after losing close contact), and Peter Bean (looking so well preserved!). And, of course, to see Ray himself in such good form, keeping us regaled with memories. I found the tour of the school intriguing but a little sad – the old Sixth Form Centre (where I was the first Head of Upper School) in its final year before replacement, and also discovering, not without difficulty, my old Classics Room in the English Faculty... still haunted by Greek gods, I suspect.
Your research, planning, and execution of the event were excellent – plenty of time to circulate and chat, and good to be kept up to date with the progress of the school since we departed.
We had a grand ‘staff meeting’ on the Saturday evening at The George, Loddon Bridge, where more memories were exchanged. I am sure that you will have had a good pupil gathering at Barbara McClune’s (?) … we’d like to have been at that too, but maybe that would have inhibited some of the anecdotes!
Thanks again… could you please share these thanks with Geoff Wickens and others in your planning team. We really did enjoy everything and are most grateful
Best wishes to you all,
David & Janet Preshous
From Tim Weller
A massive thank you to yourself, Andrew, Phil and Julie for Saturday. An unexpectedly moving experience for me. Some quite emotional and even joyous moments. I am just a little saddened that I was unable to be there for the whole event, as a meeting and lunch appointment delayed me until around three o'clock.
Like most of the attendees, I am sure, I am still on a high from Saturday. It was amazing renewing friendships from such a long time ago and sharing such important and happy memories with those responsible for creating them.
Thank you so much. It must be done again!!
Best regards,
Tim Weller
From Margaret Hiscock
Thank you so much for Saturday
You all did a great job creating a great experience - its amazing how initially we don't recognise people but when talking the face morphs into a school face with mannerisms that are so familiar.
Thanks again for all your hard work I hope you enjoyed it as well as us.
Lots of old friendships hopefully rekindled
See you
Margaret
From Lizzie Samwells
Hi Bob and the rest of the amazing crew.
As you will have realized my IT skills are not the best so this is my huge thank you to you all. A simply superb reunion and so well – organised and thought through…..you have thrilled us all! I just wanted to give you four, (I know it was only three in person), a huge hug! I was so pleased to see you and somehow you have managed to put a whole group of people who really care about each other back in touch, simply great!
I bounced into my school on Monday with a bit of a twinkle and full of my weekend!!!!!
Love and best wishes to you all and your partners, who have been amazing too!
Liz/Lizzie/Elizabeth – who am I?!!!!!
From John Wilson
Saturday was very involved for you and seemed to pass very quickly, with little time to talk with anyone as there were so many people to talk to. Thank you again for all your time and effort put into making it a very successful event.
Finding my way through Woodley was a real challenge as it had changed so much. It was fascinating to see the staff, pupils and buildings, to see what impact 40+ years has.
I don’t think any of the teachers really remembered me; not surprising as they will have dealt with thousands of pupils and there was nothing to remember me by. I didn’t speak with Mr Stagles, but was impressed by his strong character in spite of his age.
I thought that the tour of the school was a very good idea. I couldn’t remember hardly any of the design in advance but it gradually came back after some moments of standing and thinking (and a strange deja-vu feeling). This was also a good way of mixing and mingling. I was amazed at some people’s memory of fine detail – Nigel Cousins could tell us what we were about to see before we entered each building or room.
I was sad for the school’s fabric which looked as if it needed lots of repairs.
With the pupils I found there was a mixture of people who looked close to their (4th form) school photo and those who were very different. When looking at the photos I was struck by people not looking the size I expected. For instance, I looked for Nicholas Egan when in the hall but didn’t find him. I was expecting him to be the tallest in the hall, as I remember him as being tall and powerfully built. However, I am standing next to him in the south photo (without realising it) and he is small compared to me. I think it shows how some people continue to grow after leaving school. I seem to be one of the tallest now (although I think Nigel Crabb is taller). But at school I think of myself as of average height.
I was struck how many pupils had become teachers.
There were a number of pupils that I would have liked to say hello to but didn’t because our paths didn’t cross on the day and I was unsure how to find them.
I was pleased that you found Barry Elms, who I have now written to and await a reply.
Kind regards.
John
From Philip Dauncey
Thank you (and Phil, Andrew & Julie) for organising Saturday’s great reunion – I was surprised and delighted by how much I remembered by being in the school and seeing everyone.
Kind regards
Philip Dauncey
From Lynn Parish
I really enjoyed meeting up on Saturday and the time went very quickly. Thank you to you and the others for all your hard work in organising it. I was sorry not to see Mr. Bentley there as I did my A level with him although I didn't pass it!
Kind regards and best wishes,
Lynn Parish
From Roy Watson
Bob, I expect you have been inundated with messages about last Saturday but here is another. I can't thank you enough for achieving the almost impossible task of getting so many people back together again --- it's comparable to persuading the original Pink Floyd to re-unite for G8! For my part I was completely overwhelmed - a rare thing for me .I would love to keep in touch with my old friends and even ,I hope, reacquaint myself with those who could not make it .I did try to post this on the official website but have not managed it ,( a tribute to my computer skills).Anyway if you wish to post this yourself on the website please do .There is so much more I could say but I will leave it there ,please keep in touch and for the moment be rest assured I'll be interested in any contact with anyone from those far off days .Well done !( and of course to Phil,Andrew and Julie)
Best wishes
Roy
From Ann Sutton
Good Morning
I just wanted to say many thanks to all the organisers and helpers of the “Bulmershe 50” and also to Mr Stagles and Miss Hulbert.
“It was BRILLIANT”!
Thank you again.
Kind regards
Ann Sutton
From Paul Rowland in response to Chris Feak earlier:
I second that. Thanks for all the work you put in. It was a lovely day. I enjoyed every minute and the party at Barbara's was a great way to finish it. It was a great day, I had a ball! Let's do it again while we're all still upright.
From Mary Hulbert
Congratulations and many thanks for a tremendous re-union yesterday. It was absolutely wonderful! You “Four” did an amazing job and must feel very satisfied with the outcome.
For me the re-uniting with former colleagues was great, particularly Grenville and Keith whom I hadn’t see for years but the highlight was meeting all you “youngsters”. I loved our conversations and your memories both of Geography lessons with me and about the more general school happenings. Everyone was so friendly. I felt so proud to have been part of your lives.
I suspect that many sub-groups were re-formed yesterday and that mini-reunions will continue for some years to come.
If the future events are half as good they will be very successful!
Our pub meal went well; it rounded off the day nicely.
Have just heard from Trevor Morris saying he hoped it went well and telling me that they were right not to come as Marion went back into hospital yesterday and is back on morphine. I have let him know how great a time we had and how many people had asked after him.
Thank you again for all your hard work. I look forward to seeing the photographs on Bulmershe 50.
Best wishes
Mary
From Howard Barrett
Brilliant commitment by the Fab Four in making this reunion happen. It was great to see Ray and the staff - they put a lot into making our years at Bulmershe very happy.
From Steve Bryant
Great event - many thanks to Andy, Bob, Phil, Julie for organising and executing it. And to Barbara for her house party afterwards. A memorable day for us all!
From Ann Brown
[commenting on Hilary's] Totally agree - I had such a good time. Huge thanks to Bob, Andrew, Phil and Julie for organising the day and finding so many of us. It was so good to catch up with people I hadn't seen for years as well as those I am still in touch with. Look forward to the next one!
From Clare John
Andrew thank you so much for organising such a great event. What a fantastic job you all did getting us together. I had a great time. Clare x
From Chris Feak
Huge thanks to Bob, Phil, Andrew and Julie for an amazing day. Haven't slept a wink, so many memories and great conversations with a special group of people
From Phil Malyon
What a fantastic day yesterday! Sitting here this morning feeling quite overwhelmed by the words of gratitude and enjoyment expressed personally yesterday, and here on the internet. To say the day exceeded my expectations is an understatement but it would not have been possible without all you who were able to attend making it so special - thank you. My one regret is that I was unable to meet and chat with all of you.
From Hilary White (nee Gomm)
Just wanted to add to everyone else's comments, what a great time we had. I don't know how I drove back up the M40 as my head was spinning!
Well done to the fab four. I was sorry not to have had a chat with Julie as we go back to Junior School. Best wishes to everyone.
Hilary
From Clive Hetherington
Message via Nigel Crabb to say Clive apologises for not being able to attend on the 20th since he was stuck in Scotland
From Hilary Webb
I was literally gutted not to be able to meet up with everyone. So glad it was a real success. Linda Burgin said she had such a wonderful time and I am looking forward to seeing all the photos. Dear Mr Stagles I hear he was moved to tears. I will have to look forward to the next one then in five years time! Well done for arranging it all and I so happy for you that it was such a success. I feel very sad to have missed it !xxx
From Stephen Brownbridge
It was a brilliant day & caught up with so many people who I remembered straight away even if the names were dulled in the mists of time! Sorry I had to catch a train at the end & left without really saying goodbye....
From Barry Elms
I have lost contact with all of my old school friends over the years and it would have been wonderful to meet with them again. However, we as grandparents are on “duty” this weekend supporting my daughter and son-in-law with our new grandson; I have been aware for some time that the birth of our new grandchild could coincide with the Bulmershe event. I confirm therefore that I will not be able to attend on Saturday.
Please feel free to pass on my contact details to others at the event who may wish to make contact with me (e:mail:barry.a.elms@trw.com) and I hope that you all enjoy a wonderful day of nostalgia and good memories.
Kind Regards,
Barry Elms
From Rosemary (nee Brazier)
Due to unforeseen circumstances I am sorry to say I will not be able to attend the reunión. Have a great day.
Rose
From Teresa (nee Grant)
I send my apologies from Spain. Sorry I will miss everyone and I hope the reunion is a great event.
Teresa
From Margaret Routley:
I am looking forward to being at the Re-Union on Saturday- I have not paid my £5.00 as yet but will now pay on the day. I look forward to meeting the many former pupils and colleagues who plan to be there. It should be a very good day.
See you on Saturday.
Margaret (Routley)
Home Economics
From Alan Wiseman:
Hi Everyone,
I am really sorry that I cannot be there on Saturday. As Bob knows, I shall be in Portugal at my daughter's wedding. I can honestly say that I shall not be thinking of you!!
Enjoy the day, share some good memories and put lots of pictures on Facebook.
Alan Wiseman
From Gwyn Arch:
[Gwyn was music lecturer at the College and taught music at the school in 1964/65 until Michael Evans was appointed].
Dear Bob,
Thank you for your letter. I am sorry but I cannot attend your Bulmershe School re-union. My wife celebrates her 80th birthday on September 18th and 2 days later (the 20th). She’s having a BBQ for 70 of her closest friends(!) and although I have tried to get out of it, there’s no chance.
I regret not being able to come to your re-union. The air will be rent with nostalgia!
Best wishes for a really good time.
Gwyn Arch
From Grenville Yeo:
It is getting closer and the weekend promises to be an exciting and interesting (and perhaps eye-opening!!) event!! I am certainly looking forward to it!
Very best wishes
Grenville Yeo.
From Ray Stagles:
For me it all began on Monday, March 16, the day of my appointment. My one vivid memory (apart from the details of the interview) is of standing on the west side of Church Road – there was then no Woodlands Avenue – and looking across a wavy meadow to the new school in the distance, as yet only partly built, and also to the rising construction of the Training College nearer at hand to my right.
This is an excerpt from Ray's memories, the full version of which can now be found on the Photos,Films and Documents page
From Jackie Hooks:
Hi Bob,
Sorry I haven't been in touch but am living in Singapore & so unable to make reunion. I would love to hear from Katie & anyone else who wants to get in touch so please feel free to pass on my details I wish you all well with reunion. Please pass on my best wishes to everyone & assure them that if I had been in UK I would have made all efforts to get there.
Best wishes
Jackie Xx
From Philip White:
What a delightful shock to receive your letter today! ...Well done for your noble efforts... I wish you all success, and don't forget the labels!!
Thanks for remembering me,
With very best wishes,
Philip White
From Tim Clarke
Yes it certainly has been a long time. Sadly I am unable to attend
the reunion although I would have liked to have done. I run my own
photography business (Brett Clarke Photography) and on that date I'm
photographing a wedding in Cleobury Mortimer. However please accept my
very best wishes for the day and please do pass on my 'hellos' to
anyone who may remember me.
Kindest regards
Tim Clarke
PS. I really enjoyed the photographs, brought back a lot of memories!!!
From Keith Harrison:
It was a great pleasure to receive your letter...please give greetings to those who know me as you contact them...I look forward to hearing from you again and to seeing you next September
Best wishes
Keith Harrison
From Janet Miller (Dunkley):
Hi Bob, good to hear from you. I am afraid that I am not going to make it to the reunion. I would really love to be there but I do not have the time. Please give all my best wishes to everyone especially Liz Samwells, Julie Huckett and Julie Moir. I hope that I will be able to meet up with some people when I am next in the UK, probably July next year. Thanks for all you are doing, I do enjoy following the reunion site. Must say some people have much better memories than me!
Enjoy the reunion,
Janet
From Dave Russell :
I am looking forward to it. Good idea about badges!
Thanks as ever to you and the rest of the gang of four,
Dave
From Marguerite Cryer (nee Macleod):
I hope the reunion goes well and is a great success.
From Margaret Evans (Tull):
I hope it all goes well, and best wishes for 2014.
From Ken More:
I hope that the 50th Anniversary Reunion is a major success and all of you have a great time. Please pass on my good wishes to anyone who remembers me and to those that don't.
From Phil Russell:
All the best for 20th September. Have a great day.
From Michael Wyatt:
All the best - I am sure it will be a fascinating event!
From Pauline Hussey:
At first I didn't recognise anyone including myself - then it all came flooding back!! It also caused quite a few titters with my family! I am interested and now very curious to see how everyone is after all these years. Well done you for being so persistent in trying to get us all together! Hope to see you in September,
Many Thanks
Pauline
From Mary Ayres (McManus), English, 1966-9):
I had very much hoped to come to the reunion on Sept 20th, but I shall after all be in Australia visiting my son and his family in Brisbane. It would have been great to be with you all on the day, and I'm sad that I shall miss the chance to catch up with old (in more ways than one) colleagues, and, of course, with former pupils (also getting on - a shocking thought, remembering you all as I do as 13-year-olds when I joined the school in 1966).
Somewhere in the information you attached to your website you mentioned reunions of the 1965-67 intakes in 2015. I would very much like to attend the 1966 reunion, since that was the year I came to Bulmershe, and I was also a first-year form teacher. I wonder if you'd mind letting me know the date on which it will take place, and maybe pass my name on to whoever is organising it.
Meanwhile, you must be up to your eyes in organising the September do, and I hope that it all goes swimmingly. If there is an opportunity for you to pass on my very good wishes, and my regret at not to be able to meet them, to ex-colleagues and pupils, I'd be most grateful.
All the very best!
Mary
From J. Ray Stagles
I am delighted to hear that you and friends from the initial entry to Bulmershe School in 1964 are planning a reunion celebration for next year. Yes, I am he, and would be most interested to have details of what you are planning.
Ray
From David Preshous
My wife Janet and I are hoping very much to join the gathering on 20th September.Very best wishes for your planning – please keep me in touch.
David
From Pat Skinner
What a lovely surprise to get your letter. Yes I had heard the school were planning events for the 50th anniversary year but delighted to know that some of the first pupils have been getting in touch with each other too. It was great to see you and Phil Malyon in that photo – took me back to the Iceland trip in 1971!
Pat
From Bruce Tulloh
Thank you for the letter about the planned re-union. We have made a note in the diary for Sept.20th 2014. As we are living in Marlborough we are not far away. I'm afraid I can't help with any contacts. It's now 42 years since we left Bulmershe and went to teach in Kenya, but we look forward to meeting up again. Thank you for organising it.
Bruce
From Robert Side
The news about the reunion in September is obviously very exciting and I'm sure it will be a wonderful occasion. I am so sorry but I think it most unlikely that I will be able to be with you. We spend a great deal of time in our house in France, rather little in Devon. You must forgive me not recognising you! 50 years is such a very long time ago... but of course I would have enjoyed meeting you all, especially of course my colleagues. Best wishes for now, best of fortune in your efforts knowing it will be a very memorable occasion. If any ask after me, please tell them how well I remember the school and the very happy years I so much enjoyed working at Bulmershe, and give my best regards to them all..
Thanks so much
Robert
From Caroline Smith
Hello Andrew! This is all very exciting! I can’t believe so many years have passed since 1964! Martin and I may be on are way to Gatwick Airport but we look forward to attending the Bulmershe reunion on September 20th. Looking forward to more information and thank you for all your hard work which, I am sure, will be much appreciated!
Caroline Smith
From Bill Pearson
Thanks for your email, Andrew. Good to hear from you. You’re doing a really good job with all your research. Fortunately most of the early members of staff are still around, although some of us are now in our eighties (Ray Stagles in his nineties!) so I hope they will all attend along with very many ex-pupils. I’m really looking forward to it and have already arranged my travelling to keep that period free. It’ll be interesting to see how many faces are recognised – though no doubt we’ll all be given the inevitable name tags. (Perhaps we shouldn’t wear them for the first half-hour!)
Regards, Bill Pearson.
From Sue Dewar (Sue Seal)
Dear Andrew
Thank you for you email and enclosed photos. I can’t believe it’s 50 years soon since Bulmershe was opened. I have very happy memories of teaching there for 5 years in the History Department, Ray Hadfield was my Head of Department, and it was all quite an experience for a probationer just out of my post-graduate teacher-training year.
We are a long way from Woodley and Wokingham, I can’t promise I will be able to attend the Reunion at this stage, but please keep me informed of plans.
Best wishes from Sue Dewar (Sue Seal, History)
From Roger Luke
Thanks for your letter, which brought back many happy memories of my short time at Bulmershe.
I am surprised you managed to find me on the school list and my address in Cornwall.
I arrived in September 1970 , as Head of PE Dept, to cover for Roy Frost who I think went off for a year at the Laban School of Dance ( Never quite sure why!!).
When Roy came back in 1971 they found a spot for me to stay on
Look forward to hearing from you
Best wishes
Roger Luke
From Colin Brooks husband of Denise
She asks me to convey her thanks to you for the invite, but with regret [due to ill health] has to decline. Her best wishes are sent to you for a successful meeting in which she is sure that the memories of your time at Bulmershe will be fully talked through.
Very best wishes,
Colin Brooks.
From Mary Ayres (McManus)
I am very much touched by what you so generously say about my lessons. Bulmershe was my first - and favourite - teaching post, and I have fond memories of the students I taught, and of the staff I worked alongside. I'm truly sad that I shan't be with you all - not least because I'd love to know what you've all ended up doing with your lives.
All the very best for a happy and successful Reunion Day. I shall be thinking of you all, and If anyone happens to mention my name I'd be so glad if you'd pass on my very good wishes to them.
Happy memories!
Mary
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