4th Winbury Reunion Supper

Once again we were able to gather at Peter Prior's Fishing Lodge on the lake for a good chat and a glass of wine or two. The overwhelming memory of that evening was the continuous babble of conversation that went on for the many hours that we were there. One comment that I overheard which made me smile was two old boys in conversation saying "our old Headmaster would have loved to be here" It's been two years since the last reunion and there was lots to talk about, there were some new faces from later years which was heartwarming to see.

We estimated that the old school must have had some 800 boys pass through its corridors, we have been able to contact approximately 100 and we still continue to search for past pupils. In our searching we have come across old pupils, and friends that have passed away, which is sad but inevitable as we are now spanning nearly 60 years. We would like to hear about your memories of your school years at Winbury, we can then publish these memories on our web site, it would add to our social history that we are building.

I remember Martin Scott and I making black gun powder from charcoal, salt peter and other things in a pestle and mortar at his house in Cox's Green in 1952, his Mother even dried these ingredients in her gas oven! We were only 10 at the time and had no idea of the implications, neither did she. I can report all was well and no disaster happened. In searching for Martin Scott in the last few years, I was contacted by his daughter, she told me he had sadly passed away two years before. She added "So the gunpowder story was true".

When Mike Spicer turned up at the reunion with his pristine Lagonda, it brought back many fond memories of going to cricket all crammed into the Headmaster's Lagonda. Does anyone else remember the faded blue doors falling off and having to run back down the Braywick road to pick them up? Or the time the No Waiting Sign got felled in Grenfell Road by the Headmasters old Wolsley, Jamie Grahame and I were walking to cricket down the Grenfell Road, Jamie was eating a large cream bun bought from Newmans Bakers on the hill, our headmaster just happened to be driving by and was so aghast at a Winbury boy eating in the street that the Wolsley mounted the low curb and demolished the sign. I escaped punishment as my bun had been consumed far quicker than Jamie's.

None of these reunions could take place without the help and support of a small group of old boys and their partners. We would like to thank Peter Prior for his continued support, Mike and Barbara Spicer for their kind donation to the event. Mike Chapman and Annie for their help. Last but not least the cooking skills of Lindsay.

Next year we may have a midsummer supper at the Lodge, but it is still in the planning stage.