Reunion News 2010
Reunion of the class of 65 – 45 years on 29 May 2010 – some of us were old hands, being our third time; some were nervous first timers, but 18 of us met in the Board Room (didn’t that used to be Bob Biggar’s room, with the sandpit in the corner?).
After an introductory chat from the Rector, (if you thought Rectors looked young at our 40th reunion, it was even worse at the 45th!), we were off down memory lane. Ably guided by Wendy Fowler, and with thanks for extra memories from Sandy Smith, Gordon Stewart and Ian Taylor, we saw round a greatly modernised and updated School, and visited what will always be to us the Prep Department, Junior School, Art Rooms, Bill More’s classroom, Pop Howat’s classroom and the old Gym – lots of memories of ropes and beams and target shooting practice! We finished off with the usual photocall on the Pillars.
A light lunch was provided at Harvie Findlay’s home, and then we reconvened in the evening at Woodlands Hotel, 33 of us in total, and it didn’t take long for the years to peel back, helped by a selection of old school photographs. The time flew past, and before long, we were taking our leave, promising to meet again in 5 years for a grand 50th celebration!
See you all again in 2015!
Reunion News 2009
On 26 September 2009 the classes of 1967 - 1970 met at the school.
It was a very sunny day all round. Around 80 former pupils gathered in Trinity Hall at the start of their day. There was, of course, some nervousness (would I recognise anyone, would anyone recognise me) and although there were the obvious physical changes, most people had retained the same characteristics which distinguished them years before and everyone was soon renewing the friendships made, in some cases, over 40 years ago.
After coffee participants were free to look round some of the classrooms which they inhabited. "It was so nostalgic to visit the classrooms in the company of our old school friends" said one participant. Everyone it seems enjoyed touring the school and it worked well having a few years coming back together.
Lunch was provided in the Dining Hall - not the same venue as in the 1960s but the food was good, a glass of wine was provided and the only thing missing it seemed was steamed pudding and custard - on the menu every day back then.
To round off the school visit several group photographs were taken at the Pillars including one of all the years together.
Coming back to the school seemed to be a trip down memory lane for many. Everyone met up again in the evening for dinner and more catching up which went on until the wee small hours but completed a perfect day.
2008 saw a number of memorable events at the school
The Class of 1958 came back to the school in May to celebrate 50 years since leaving. They gathered from Australia, Canada, California and all points of the UK. There was a school tour in the morning, lunch at Mayfield and a tour of the new Sports Centre facilities at Mayfield. And in the evening, dinner at the Royal Tay Yacht Club.
There hasn't been another class in the recent past which has had so many attendees at their reunion. The organising quartet for the Class of 1978 event - Graeme Adamson, Carolyn Joss, Shona Laird and Iain Webster - did a magnificent networking job to get nearly 70 people signed up to attend. 50 came to the school in the morning and despite some early nervousness, there was much chatting and laughter over coffee. Some former teachers joined them too. The school tour took in a selection of rooms in the Margaret Harris Building (it would have been the girls' school in 1978) and the main building. Lunch was in the dining hall before a visit to the Mayfield Sports Centre in the afternoon and in the evening there was a dinner at the Invercarse Hotel.
Gordon Taylor and Alice Neild arranged a full day's activities on Saturday 7 June for the 1988 class. Gordon's Diary of a Reunion can be read by clicking the link.