2006 Sydney Reunion

2006 FOUNDER'S DAY REUNION IN SYDNEY

Thanks to all of you who sent Founder's Day greetings and I hope your own gatherings on the Day evoked as many wonderful memories as ours did-

We have a fairly small group of OBs here. Three or four of us meet for lunch and to swap tall tales every few months, but this Founder's day we wanted to do a bit better and get a larger crowd. So, we made a few phone calls, sent a few emails, and optimistically booked a table for 12 at 12 noon on the 13th at the Shehnai restaurant.

I was hoping to tell you that we were the first group of Old Pupils to celebrate Founder's "dinner" on the 170th anniversary, but it was not to be. I rang Prof Theo Roy ( LKO, 1940 ) in Waikato, New Zealand to say "Vive Martiniere", and he happily informed me that he and Dr Geoff Allen ( LKO, 1946 ) were going to meet for lunch at noon, NZ time ! Thus beating us by 2 hours ! Incidentally, if we old reprobates have stories to exchange, can you imagine the yarns those two elders could tell !

But we had a good time, nevertheless. And surely we were the first batch of LaMC-Cal-who-left-School-between-55-and-65 to celebrate ?

For a change, most people were early, eschewing the dictates of Indian Standard Time.

There was the usual scramble for photographs, with everybody wanting the record for his own camera. And with a bit of luck, some of them will actually turn out, and I'll circulate them...

But let me tell you who was there...you might remember some of them....

Des Harris was there, assuming his rightful place at the head of the table as the Senior prefect. Proposed the toast to the Founder, and expressed his satisfaction that all us young ones had turned out so well ! Told us stories of Cobbing Day and getting beaten up by Gup ....

Armen Mesrobian was there. Resplendent in his LMOB tie and suit. Looked a lot less dishevelled than most of us remember him. Pleased as Punch that all his manipulation and negotiations had managed to triple the average attendance of the Sydney Chapter !

Michael Johannes was his usual dapper self. Regaled us with tales of Armenian College, St Thomas' and hockey as well ...Not to mention his recent visits to India and his culinary adventures.

Peter Lewis. Musician and artist whom we all remembered so well. His usual quiet self, just absorbing all the cross talk and grinning through it all. I think he was the smart one. Some of the usually thirsty ones were too busy talking to replenish their glasses. Peter made no such mistake.

Greg FitzGerald. In his School tie. I could swear that he is the only one of us that has grown TALLER since he left School. Folds himself down into his chair by stages, reaches a long arm over to grab any available bottle....and launches into, " Do you guys remember ....?"

Peter Wallington-Beddoe. Another blast from the past. Peter had to dash off to catch a flight across to Perth to board a ship, but he stayed long enough to exchange insults with us, and reminisce about some of the "attractions" of our era...bless the ladies, wherever they are now !

John Krizka. And no, he didn't cycle to the restaurant, his old friends will be pleased to know ! Boy, am I pleased his name wasn't " Jones"....or else I'd never have tracked him down through the phone book ....I hadn't spoken to him in 46 years ( or to Peter or Sid ) and we've agreed it might be tempting the fates to leave the next re-union for that long !

Sid Charleston. Still trim enough to wear his original BB Das School Blazer. Complete with Honours Badge. Sid, too, had to leave early, but not before telling us some stories of his last days in Calcutta and his early years in Sydney....

And then there was Moi. It was good to bask in the special atmosphere....

Romick Mesrobian and Bal Menon sent last minute apologies.

It was a long noisy afternoon, and we reluctantly broke up after more than four hours of happy yakking. Promising to do it again BEFORE next September, and hoping to extend the group. Classmates, teachers, the Girls next door...everybody got a mention, and there are still so many stories to be told and chuckled over.....

As I said earlier, I hope your rather larger gatherings had as much fun as our little group had....

Standing L to R

Syd Charleston, Peter Beddoe, Naren Menon, John Krizka,
Greg Fitzgerald, Michael Johannes, Peter Lewis

Sitting L to R

Des Harris Armen Mesrobian

Click on the picture to enlarge

2006 FOUNDER'S DAY REUNION IN SYDNEY

Thanks to all of you who sent Founder's Day greetings and I hope your own gatherings on the Day evoked as many wonderful memories as ours did- We have a fairly small group of OBs here. Three or four of us meet for lunch and to swap tall tales every few months, but this Founder's day we wanted to do a bit better and get a larger crowd. So, we made a few phone calls, sent a few emails, and optimistically booked a table for 12 at 12 noon on the 13th at the Shehnai restaurant. I was hoping to tell you that we were the first group of Old Pupils to celebrate Founder's "dinner" on the 170th anniversary, but it was not to be. I rang Prof Theo Roy ( LKO, 1940 ) in Waikato, New Zealand to say "Vive Martiniere", and he happily informed me that he and Dr Geoff Allen ( LKO, 1946 ) were going to meet for lunch at noon, NZ time ! Thus beating us by 2 hours ! Incidentally, if we old reprobates have stories to exchange, can you imagine the yarns those two elders could tell ! But we had a good time, nevertheless. And surely we were the first batch of LaMC-Cal-who-left-School-between-55-and-65 to celebrate ? For a change, most people were early, eschewing the dictates of Indian Standard Time. There was the usual scramble for photographs, with everybody wanting the record for his own camera. And with a bit of luck, some of them will actually turn out, and I'll circulate them... But let me tell you who was there...you might remember some of them.... Des Harris was there, assuming his rightful place at the head of the table as the Senior prefect. Proposed the toast to the Founder, and expressed his satisfaction that all us young ones had turned out so well ! Told us stories of Cobbing Day and getting beaten up by Gup .... Armen Mesrobian was there. Resplendent in his LMOB tie and suit. Looked a lot less dishevelled than most of us remember him. Pleased as Punch that all his manipulation and negotiations had managed to triple the average attendance of the Sydney Chapter ! Michael Johannes was his usual dapper self. Regaled us with tales of Armenian College, St Thomas' and hockey as well ...Not to mention his recent visits to India and his culinary adventures. Peter Lewis. Musician and artist whom we all remembered so well. His usual quiet self, just absorbing all the cross talk and grinning through it all. I think he was the smart one. Some of the usually thirsty ones were too busy talking to replenish their glasses. Peter made no such mistake. Greg FitzGerald. In his School tie. I could swear that he is the only one of us that has grown TALLER since he left School. Folds himself down into his chair by stages, reaches a long arm over to grab any available bottle....and launches into, " Do you guys remember ....?" Peter Wallington-Beddoe. Another blast from the past. Peter had to dash off to catch a flight across to Perth to board a ship, but he stayed long enough to exchange insults with us, and reminisce about some of the "attractions" of our era...bless the ladies, wherever they are now ! John Krizka. And no, he didn't cycle to the restaurant, his old friends will be pleased to know ! Boy, am I pleased his name wasn't " Jones"....or else I'd never have tracked him down through the phone book ....I hadn't spoken to him in 46 years ( or to Peter or Sid ) and we've agreed it might be tempting the fates to leave the next re-union for that long ! Sid Charleston. Still trim enough to wear his original BB Das School Blazer. Complete with Honours Badge. Sid, too, had to leave early, but not before telling us some stories of his last days in Calcutta and his early years in Sydney.... And then there was Moi. It was good to bask in the special atmosphere.... Romick Mesrobian and Bal Menon sent last minute apologies. It was a long noisy afternoon, and we reluctantly broke up after more than four hours of happy yakking. Promising to do it again BEFORE next September, and hoping to extend the group. Classmates, teachers, the Girls next door...everybody got a mention, and there are still so many stories to be told and chuckled over..... As I said earlier, I hope your rather larger gatherings had as much fun as our little group had....

	Standing L to R Syd Charleston, Peter Beddoe, Naren Menon, John Krizka, Greg Fitzgerald, Michael Johannes, Peter Lewis Sitting L to R Des Harris Armen Mesrobian Click on the picture to enlarge