Old Taverham Hall boys and girls attend the school reunion picnic – Friday 3rd July 2009
Rain may have halted play for periods of the day but it didn’t stop the steady stream of OTs attending the school reunion picnic. People came from as far afield as the USA and it was enjoyed by those who had left the school both in the 1940’s and more recently, those who had left the school last year.
Three generations of some families attended and others on their own in addition to some young girls and boys already registered to join the school. The afternoon was spent exchanging stories, looking at memorabilia, touring the grounds and classrooms and simply catching up.
Many were pleased to note that, although the classrooms are up to date with modern interactive whiteboard technology, the grounds remain the exciting, adventurous place they had always been. There were many stories from days gone by including memories of tree climbing, fire building and the overwhelming sense of freedom very much in evidence today.
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- enjoying the picnic!
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- all the way from the USA
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- OT from 1938!
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- daughter and mother
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- a family affair
Tours of the boarding dormitories were very popular as they brought back many happy memories of times spent in Taverham Hall’s close knit caring community. Peter Shaw and his young family flew in from the USA. Peter, a successful Doctor in New Jersey, was keen to show his bride and new son where he had attended school and the place where he was greatly influenced.
A reunion of two friends who had not seen each other since the 1940’s was wonderful to behold and the two were virtually inseparable for the remainder of the day chatting about cricket, hockey and who came first in the school long jump competition all those years ago!
On a more poignant note, Mrs Monk visited the school to see the medals she had donated and to share stories of her late brother Paddy Holman an ex pupil of the school. Paddy had been fatally shot down over Malta in 1943 and was posthumously awarded the DFC which Mrs Monk recently gifted to the school in recognition of his happy time here. Paddy took part in 49 sorties in the Middle East and had previously been shot down over Malta but had been picked up in an Arab Dhow and taken to Turkey, then to North Africa where he rejoined his squadron.
There was a huge amount of work done behind the scenes in preparation for this event by former pupils Mr Richard Howard and Mr Stewart Orr in conjunction with the Headmaster’s wife.
We trust that this will be just the first of many such reunions in the years to come!