Reunion, 28th February :
So far, only about thirty of you have responded to the invitation, of which twenty have said 'Yes', and about a dozen say 'Sorry, no'. This clearly does not make the occasion viable. We have had sixty-odd at the last two reunions, and as the invitation has gone to over two hundred of you this time, we should have even more.
So, PLEASE do let us know that you will be with us, or at least send apologies, so that we know we have your e-mail or postal address correct.

Christmas cards and letters have brought in some personal news, snippets or chunks of which are quoted here :

Peter Brice and Margaret write from deepest Norfolk that an infection has "damaged the canals in one ear, and travelling is very difficult". Though he hopes the therapy will have improved his balance later in the year, it is unlikely he will be at the Reunion.

Ross Letten , on dry land, for once, in Queensland says : "To stay out of mischief, and stop me chasing the girls, I have gone back to paid employment for the first time in seven years ! My new career: a very-much-part-time commercial yacht skipper. Yesterday I was asked to take a group of 17 people out for a five-hour sail around the beautiful Moreton Bay, in a Tasman C35 catamaran. The pay is not much cop, but it's good to be out on the water, and to share the enjoyment." Well, perhaps he is not entirely on dry land.

Guy Bessant, also well east of here writes: "Thank you for keeping me on the distribution list, - much appreciated. I will be 'celebrating' my 11th year in Shanghai in early 2009, and in total 13 years in Asia. I am now working for Sasol, which is the South African oil and chemical company, with responsibility for their chemical division. One claim to fame of the company is that they sponsor the Springbok rugby team; so if England is not playing well, I can put on a green jersey, and cheer for my company. Unfortunately I won't be able to join the reunion in February since I have travel commitments, and also expecting #2 to be born sometime that month.

Mike Pupius always sends his family news-letter. He says : "It was our 30th wedding anniversary on July 14th, and we were able to celebrate Bastille Day in La Rochelle, with fireworks and military march past. Then we visited California in October. As well as SF, we spent time in Las Vegas (tacky, plastic, but fun and hot) and Lake Tahoe, where the autumn colours were brilliant and the weather bright and crisp. I have finally decided to retire from the university (Sheffield Hallam) at the end of the year, but will retain the status of visiting fellow. I have a number of potential projects lined up to keep me busy, and there's always house decorating if I run out of ideas. We both go to the gym regularly, and I mountain-bike at weekends."

Mark Ingram had been a Labour councillor in Harrow, but joined the Green party for the last month of his term on the council. In August 2006, he moved to Reigate, where his children, Alex and Nick, settled happily. "We rented a two bedroom flat in the catchment area of a large thriving state middle school, - which was located in a grade 1 listed building that had formerly been a grand country house, and lay in a 200-acre park. Nick's classroom ceiling was even gold plated with a grand piano in the corner.
"The children joined the Reigate Woodcraft, and Alex started dancing and spending an evening with a 'tutor'. Otherwise, they spent too much time in the flat, - trying to avoid their stressed out dad, - although we did have a couple of sessions in the park." (Twice they also came to cook twists, pancakes, baked potatoes and apples, - and help burn the rubbish, - in my back garden. - R.)
"In March 2007, we moved to a wonderful home. It is close to the centre of town, on a slight hill, so has wonderful views of the North Downs. And it is on half an acre, with a dozen apple trees and a glorious Victorian pear, so boxing, peeling and bottling have become part of our routine.
"I met Indrani in mid 2005, and after a holiday together in Australia, we married in January 2008. This year also saw us with a holiday bonanza. We went to Yorkshire for a week in the spring, to the Alps in the summer, and to North Wales in the Autumn for an unsuccessful attempt on Snowdon, - beaten back by the snow !
"Now Alex is in the Guides and Nick in the Cubs, and both are in swimming lessons. For several weeks Nick went for a ( very short ) run each morning before school. Alex has started at Reigate School (secondary), and settled in well. Nick has coped well with 'life without his sister' at school, and has now made a couple of close friends.
"Indrani knows the realities of war. Her words of wisdom impressed some visitors from Iraq, and impressed me. I came to see that war strips from the soul many of the superficialities that usually surround it. Family, faith, integrity and security become key. I ask what such words mean to me."

Mark is one of the few Old Scouts who have commented on the way I tried to keep militarism out of our Troop activities. Others who have helped run Groups elsewhere have noticed that we were unique.

Once a Scout - always a Scout ! So we really hope all of you will want to come to the Reunion on 28th February. And even if you can't, please tell us, so that we know letters and e-mails are getting through.

Robin H. Bligh, 39, Monks Walk, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0SS.
01737 - 248135 < robin@reigategrammar.org >