2008 Reunion - this will be on Saturday, 4th October

2007 Reunion, Saturday 6 October 101 were booked including 11 former members of staff. Chris Bent retired as Coordinator. The Speaker was Denis Wilkins 53.

1 Oct 2007 Funeral of Lionel Hart

2006 Reunion, Saturday 7 October 97 were booked including five former members of staff. The list of apologies was even longer than last year so it may be a case of having to book early for 2007! Rex Waller gave an entertaining talk and we welcomed the new Principal of SVC, Dr Carin Taylor, to her first Grammarians' Dinner. She promised to sort out something for next year after our demonstration that we had forgotten how to sing the School Song.

2005 Reunion, Saturday 8 October 109 were booked, including ten former members of staff. Given the number of regulars not able to come this year this was a very pleasing turnout. See the October 2005 What's New entry for more details. Efforts will be made during the coming year to generate a higher turnout of the late 50s Grammarians and also to make it easier for those in contact by post only to attend - these may be among our older members.

2004 Reunion, Saturday 9 October A record attendance for recent Dinners. A tree was dedicated to the memory of Edward Armitage, in which the Armitage family and Peter Askem (Art) participated. Gordon Hemmings (English) gave the talk at the Dinner. Leon Kitchen, Ted Quinn and Rex Waller were also there.

Oct 2004 We wished the family of Peter Scott (Mathematics) all the best as they had a big family wedding coming up, at which Peter was the Organist. This was the same weekend as the Reunion.

We were sad to hear of the death of Michael Ades at the age of 72 on 31st August 2004 and hope to have an appreciation of him from his friends in Hassocks in West Sussex.

Staff or their families sending best wishes: In building the website contact has so far been made with: Mrs May Armitage (Ely), John Abbott (Fordham), +Michael Ades (Hassocks), Peter Askem (Diss), Dick Bozeat (Ely), Warwick Ellis (York), John Grassi, (Doncaster), Lionel Hart (Mildenhall), Gordon Hemmings (Ely), Bryan Hollamby (Peterborough), Ivor Jones (Brentwood), Leon Kitchen (Newcastle), Mrs June Lawrance (Soham), George Phythian (Lancaster), Ted Quinn (Coventry), Bill Rennison (Tewkesbury), Chris Royal-Dawson (Dover), Peter Scott (Soham), Norman Sherrington (Bolton), Grahame Speed (Sheffield), Jack Symmons (Harrogate), EH Tabraham (Loddon), the (RA)Taylor family, Rex Waller (Bruton - see Scrapbook) and Gareth Wood (Fordham). If you have contact with any other former staff, or have appreciations or obituaries for those who have died, please contact the editor.

RGS 'Dickie' Bozeat is in this May 1960 School photograph - who else can you spot? Several School Photos are now on-line via SCHOOL LISTS.

2003 Reunion: Chris Bent writes: On Saturday 4th October Beechurst Hall at Soham was again the venue for the annual reunion dinner of Soham Grammarians. Over 100 old pupils were joined by Mrs May Armitage, Mrs June Lawrance and Mr Howard Gilbert as their guests, to enjoy an evening of reminiscences of schooldays at this well respected traditional Grammar School before it disappeared during educational reforms in 1972.

A continuous run of school years from 1930 to 1972 was represented in the hall and the organisers were excited to have made contact with many old boys through the medium of the website established after the 2002 reunion.

Mr Gordon Hemmings, who taught English 1958/66 with a particular interest in Drama, received a warm welcome, along with Mr John Abbott and Mr Gareth Wood who had taught at the school. Apologies had been received from Mr Rex Waller and Mr Leon Kitchen, both old teachers, along with many old boys who promised to do all they could to attend the next reunion on 9th October 2004.

The diners enjoyed a traditional school meal served in, what was for many, the Assembly Hall. After dinner a presentation watch was given to Roger Lane who had been an active supporter of the Old Boys Club from the 1960s until his handover last year. On presenting the timepiece, Arnold Tomalin MBE, Chairman for the evening, acknowledged that Roger’s enthusiasm had been largely responsible for keeping the reunion tradition alive.

The evening concluded with an entertaining address from the Guest Speaker, the Reverend Michael Banyard, who recalled highlights from his teaching career in Ely, Cyprus and Hong Kong.

Any Soham Grammarians who may be interested in attending the 2004 Reunion are invited to register through the website or by mailing Chris Bent, the Reunion Co-ordinator, at 56 Broad Street, Ely, CB7 4AH.

[At the Reunion, George Dann (1933-38) presented his brother-in-law's (John Chapman) Old Boy's Blazer to the Archive, we look forward to getting an image of this].

2002 Reunion: This was held on Saturday 5th October in the Beechurst Hall, when the guest of honour was Arnold Tomalin MBE (1939-46). Numbers were a little down but there were about 70 of us, including Dick Bozeat.

The Principal of the Village College, Howard Gilbert, was once more a very welcome guest, and became an Honorary SG. We listened intently to his moving account of aspects of the sad events of Summer 2002 and of how staff and pupils returned determined to succeed.

It was agreed that a memorial tree provided by the Soham Grammarians to the memory of Edward Armitage will be placed in sight of his old study.