Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust

Wandsworth School Choir Reunion 2009

3rd October, 2009

I'm pleased to report on another most enjoyable and successful choir reunion - the eighth that has been held since 1997. We assembled as usual at St.Paul's Community Centre, Inner Park Road, SW19, on the first Saturday in October - the fixed date we now have for our annual event.

There was a good turn out again this year, with five 'old boys' attending for the first time. In total, there were 44 ex-choir members present, plus a number of 'other halves', increasing the attendance to 58. The five new faces came from far and wide, including one all the way from the USA, who had timed his UK break to enable him to meet up with some old friends, several of whom he had not seen for many years!

Although we had a good attendance, a number of familiar faces were missing, notably John Lally, a special close friend of mine, who sadly died soon after our reunion last year. John was a larger than life character in every sense and he will be sadly missed. However, there were happier reasons for other absentees, such as Adrian Thompson, who was busy with his professional career singing an operatic tenor role in Holland. Eric Crees would also have joined us, but he was honouring his position as principal trombone at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

There is always a happy atmosphere at these events and the hall was again full of laughter and fun. It is a great tribute to Russell Burgess that despite 30 years having passed since his untimely death, we all still enjoy meeting up regularly and remember him with great affection, recalling what a great influence he had on us all.

As usual, thanks were expressed to the Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust for the grant that we receive. It is greatly appreciated and helps enormously with the finances required in organising the events.

It is a measure of the success of the reunions that at our 11pm 'closing time', a small gathering of about a dozen 'old boys' were enjoying themselves so much that they had to be reminded that they had homes to go to! The consolation was that the reunion for next year is already booked, and we could all look forward to October 2010.

Ray Pritchard

Those attending were:

Kevin Attwell, John Bourton, Jonathan Bourton, Phil Cadman, Chris Cheek, Julian Cheek, Mike Coysh, Peter Eastwood, Keith Eldridge, Wilf Finbow, David Gibson, Steve Hattersley, Ron Hollis, Jim Hughes, Trevor Johnson, Brian Johnston, Chris Jolly, Chris Lacey, Martin Lince, Mary Lince, Richard Long, Peter Love, Tony Mitcham, Pat Morgan, David Munden, John Munden, Michael Nicholls, Barry O'Shea, Geoff Park, Cynthia Phillimore, Graham Preston, Ray Pritchard, Brian Sawyer, Fred Shaub, Andy Smetham, Rob Smith, Nigel Spearing, Mark Stevens, Juliet Solomon, Geoff Wake, Richard Walmsley, Burgess Warren, Geof West, Les West.

Les West, Geof West, Burgess Warren, Richard Walmsley, Ray Pritchard (kneeling!), Graham Preston, Michael Nicholls, Mike Coysh, Peter Love and Steve Hattersley.

Wandsworth School Choir Reunion 2008

6th October, 2008

The seventh reunion of the choir was held as usual on the first Saturday in October - the fixed date we now have for our annual event. There was a good turn out this year, with seven 'old boys' attending for the first time. In total, there were 43 ex-choir members present, plus another 8 'other halves' pushing the total to 51. It was encouraging to see the seven new faces; very few we recognised after so many years!

They had found out about the reunions via several different routes and one of the most coincidental was when I found myself sitting next to an ex-Wandsworth 'choirboy' who was also singing in a memorable performance of the Verdi Requiem in Guildford Cathedral in July. Russell Burgess would certainly have been very pleased to know that the work he prepared the Philharmonic Chorus for under Giuliani back in the 60's, had reunited two of his ex-pupils over 40 years later.

Last year, we had a power cut just as we sat down to eat and we were reduced to old-fashioned candlepower. Electricity was not the problem this year, but modern technology nearly caused another major hitch. Earlier in the year, I changed my e-mail address and duly notified everyone on my address book. A few days before the reunion, friends and relatives began quizzing me about a forthcoming event - some obviously miffed that they had been left out. It would appear that one or two 'old boys' had clicked on 'reply to all' and the whole of my address book received their apologies. There is something to be said for snail mail after all.

Thanks as usual were expressed to the Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust for the grant that we receive. It helps enormously with the finances required in running the reunions. Everyone said how much they enjoy the reunions and we can now look forward to the next get-together on 3rd October 2009.

Ray Pritchard

Those attending were:

Kevin Attwell, John Bourton, Jonathan Bourton, Chris Cheek, Graham Day, Peter Eastwood, Keith Eldridge, Wilf Finbow, Barry Francis, Ken Gerry, David Gibson, Steve Hattersley, Ron Hollis, Jim Hughes, David Hyde, Jenny Hyde, Martin Jacobs, Brian Johnston, Chris Jolly, Robin Jones, Chris Lacey, John Lally, Martin Lince, Mary Lince, Richard Long, Peter Love, Pat Morgan, David Munden, Mark Painter, Anne Painter, Geoff Park, Graham Preston, Ray Pritchard, Brian Sawyer, Fred Shaub, Andv Smetham, Rob Smith, Nigel Spearing, Mark Stevens, John Tobin, Geoff Wake, Alan Woods, Ian York.

Memory Lane

Searching for the Wandsworth School Choir on the internet indicates that a number of the works recorded by the Choir have been re-recorded or re-issued during the last decade. The sleeve shown here is of "Mendelssohn’s: Elijah". Benjamin Britten's War Requiem played by the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini and Benjamin Britten was recorded on the 6th of April 1969 Royal Albert Hall London). According to the BBC Music Magazine (Jan-2001) and the Gramophone Editor's Choice 'this 1969 live performance has not been bettered - it has great conviction: the drama and the tragedy are powerfully conveyed.'.

Wandsworth School Choir Reunion 2006

Saturday 21st October, held at St.Paul's Community Centre, Inner Park Road, SW18

The fifth choir reunion was attended by slightly fewer 'old boys' than in previous years, but the 39 who did make the get together, along with several wives, girl friends, and partners, had another most enjoyable evening. About 25 others who had been unable to attend, expressed their disappointment at missing an event that they always looked forward to.

One notable feature at every reunion has been the sight of our ex-member of staff, Nigel Spearing, arriving on his bike, all the way from Hammersmith! He is obviously fitter than most of us and this year, to add to the excitement, whilst attending the event, he padlocked his bike and then realised his keys were still at home! The thought of him walking all the way home was too much to bear, so a little bit of DIY vandalism helped break the chain and he was seen happily cycling off in the dark about 10.30pm. What stamina!

As always, it was announced, during some notices, how much we appreciate the grant that is given to the choir reunion account from the Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust. Without it, the cost per head would obviously have to go up.

The enthusiasm to hold reunions seems to increase each time we meet and towards the end of the evening, several people were suggesting that we should make it an annual event, especially as we are all getting older! Also, if some people can't attend for unavoidable reasons, they wouldn't have to wait too long for the next opportunity to catch up with their friends.

A short survey was carried out, the vast majority choosing to meet every year, and the easiest solution seemed to be to hold the event on the first Saturday in October each year, so that everyone would know the date well in advance. Consequently, the usual hall and caterers have been booked for Sat. 6th October 2007, and have also been reserved for Sat. 4th Oct.2008!

The names of those who attended the 21st October reunion were:

Damian Allain, John Bourton, Phil Cadman, Graham Day, Keith Eldridge, Mark Emney, Wilf Finbow, Steve Hattersley, Ron Hollis, Jim Hughes, Brian Johnston, Robin Jones, Chris Lacey, John Lally, Martin Lince, Mary Lince, Peter Love, David Munden, John Munden, Michael Nicholls, Barry O'Shea, Mark Painter, Geoff Park, Ray Pritchard, Neil Read, Pat Read, Nelson Roberts, Brian Sawyer, Fred Shaub, Geoffrey Shaw, Andy Smetham, Rob Smith, Nigel Spearing, Adrian Thompson, Judy Thompson, John Tobin Geof West, Les West, George Willis.

After another most successful and enjoyable evening, we can now look forward to our next reunion in October.

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