Page 64 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

REUNIONS

Class of 1972 reunion

Kevin McCullen

Rick Brown, John Mackinnon, Glynn Wright and Andy Peters

n 26th and 27th September Orangery at the hotel, and in the photo, cine film footage recorded by Pete
2022, the Class of 1972 we are seated about to watch a video Wood in 1971, and a cartoon film John
held their 50-year reunion film, which I made to show at the event. Parkinson, Pete Wood and I made at the
Oat the De Vere Tortworth Before the film, Bill Miller gave a vote of time (originally shown during the Final
Court Hotel in Wotton Under Edge. thanks for the organisers, Pete Wood Year Review in 1971).
and John Mackinnon, and paid tribute
Many of us met up on the 26th in Bristol to members of our year who are no The film was a good opportunity to
for a reception with drinks and nibbles longer with us. remember some of our colleagues who
on a trip boat, and this gave us an have passed away. It is sad that there
opportunity to chat with old friends and The hour-long film is called have been so many; Sue Aubrey, Kate
colleagues, some of whom had not seen ‘Retrospective’ and brings together a Akrill, Roger Baker, Tony Edwards, Judy
one another for 50 years. lot of archive material from our days Condon, Tony Kaye, David Burch and
at the RVC. I took many photos at the Stuart Marston. In the film, I included
Prior to the event, Chris Bishop made
the valid point that we might not time; life in our flats in London, the balls, tributes recorded by friends who knew
recognise one another (he was right) so pictures of each of my fellow students them. A particularly moving tribute to
suggested photo ID badges with photos for the Final Year Review LP cover, and Kate Akrill and Judy Condon was given
of how we were in 1972. Fortunately, the group photo of the whole year. I even by Linda Farrant (nee Cutler), which was
because of my photo archive, I was able took a photo spoof of the Beatles’ Abbey enhanced by a recording of Kate singing
to produce the badges which turned out Road LP which had just been released “April Come She Will”. The partners of
to be a great success and avoided some (thousands have done that since, but two of those who had died very recently,
embarrassment. we were the first, apart from the Beatles attended the reunion on their husbands’
themselves!). behalf; a particularly brave thing to do.
Most of us were staying at the hotel and Also in the film were snippets of tape Sheelagh Burch, wife of David, and
met up for breakfast, after which a group recordings I made of my musical flat- Susan Kaye, wife of Tony.
set off for a trip to nearby Slimbridge.
mates, and excerpts from the Final Year I managed to also solicit video ‘selfies’
The main event was a meal in The Review. I also managed to include some recorded by some who could not get

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