On Friday, 17/9/04, the National Tramway Museum, Crich, Derbyshire, played host, in pouring rain, to a gathering of ageing gentlemen who came to KES in 1947 (notable as the last year when an intake of ex-junior school pupils entered the Senior School).
This was actually the second reunion, the first having been held in Sheffield in November 2001. The relevance of Crich was that David Senior, one of our members, is a Vice-president of the body which runs the museum. He, together with Peter Lodge in Sheffield, was co-organiser of this event.
Although some members may have gone back to the Maynard Arms, Grindleford, we dined at the Red Lion (part of the museum), after a guided tour of the tram shed. Minds went back to historic rides, approaching 8.45 a.m., to the top of Newbould Lane, and Chris Wragg, on seeing Sheffield tram no. 189, exclaimed, “I’ve had many a ride on that!”
A superb evening of good food, good wine and some nostalgia was enjoyed by all.
We came from as far North as Great Ayton, South as Hayling Island, East as Colchester and West as Anglesey. Those present were; Peter Lodge, David Senior, Terry Cook, Tony Guénault, Peter Holgate, John Miller, Ian Mottershaw, Roger Morton, John Nowill, Keith Taylor, Roger Thompson, Rex Woolhouse, Chris Wragg.
Those who came to the 2001 event, but could not come this year were Ken Emmett, David Parfitt, Graham Singleton, Jim Thompson, Roger Walker. (Sadly, Mike Jackson, whose casual suggestion to me in 2001 led to the first re-union, passed away in December 2003). Apologies: Lionel Cliffe, Bill Cousin, Eric Hudson.
Unfortunately there are several whom we have not been able to contact, for example Nigel Cunnington, Frank Drake, John Glossop, Frank Harrison, Donald Hurt, Martin Edlington, Michael Wortley. Also, inevitably, a few names have escaped us. If any of these, on seeing this, would like to come to a future reunion, they may contact me on 01248 440874 or Peter Lodge on 0114 230 2574, or David Senior 020 8977 1390 (email).