This past week was a real trip down Memory Lane, as I visited with a number of friends of decidedly long-standing!
My trip started in Reading, where I attended The Abbey School, more than fifty years ago!! I stayed overnight with the Pages - Janey (Beeston) and Mike. Janey not only attended The Abbey, where we overlapped for a number of years, but she spent many more years there, on staff. Mike attended Reading School, where he was in the same year as my brother, Jim.
Janey and Mike
My next overnighter was at the home of Pam (Smith) and Peter Hemment, in Guildford. A few years ago, Pam and Peter came to BC, so were able to visit me in Sidney-by-the-Sea, at that time.
Pam also attended The Abbey, but I knew her before those days. She lived quite near me, on Upper Warren Avenue, and for some time we were part of the same Brownie pack, meeting in Highmoor Hall each week. I remembered that, for a while, I was in the 'Imp' six -" ...quick and quiet as any shrimps"!
My trip started in Reading, where I attended The Abbey School, more than fifty years ago!! I stayed overnight with the Pages - Janey (Beeston) and Mike. Janey not only attended The Abbey, where we overlapped for a number of years, but she spent many more years there, on staff. Mike attended Reading School, where he was in the same year as my brother, Jim.
Janey and Mike
My next overnighter was at the home of Pam (Smith) and Peter Hemment, in Guildford. A few years ago, Pam and Peter came to BC, so were able to visit me in Sidney-by-the-Sea, at that time.
Pam also attended The Abbey, but I knew her before those days. She lived quite near me, on Upper Warren Avenue, and for some time we were part of the same Brownie pack, meeting in Highmoor Hall each week. I remembered that, for a while, I was in the 'Imp' six -" ...quick and quiet as any shrimps"!
Also living in Guildford are Roger and Venetia Howes. Roger attended Reading School, as well, and his sisters, Jackie and Penny , attended The Abbey. Over the years, all members of the families Howes and Wilkie became great friends, often getting together on weekends. Rog and I were remembering some of the punting trips us 'youngsters' enjoyed together and how the punt was often so loaded that we were in danger of being soaked by the wash from any motorboat that didn't slow down sufficiently when passing us...
Roger and Venetia
A relatively short train ride from Guildford brought me to Waterloo Station, in London, where I was scheduled to meet Maggie (Boys) Fletcher under the clock! Everything went according to plan and my next overnighter was spent at the home of Maggie and Philip, in Camberwell. Maggie and Philip visited me, while they were on a trip to BC, in 2003. Maggie's and my years at Portsmouth College of Education (then known as Portsmouth Training College) overlapped, so it was time for me to change gears, from schoolfriends to college friends, to try to recall some of those names eluding us!
Maggie and Philip
It was SO good to be able to spend time with so many 'old' friends, all in such a short space of time...
A HUGE bouquet of thanks to you all, for opening your hearts and homes to me, during my extended travels!
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