United Kingdom Part 2

Sunday 9 October 2005

Took the 1017 to Haywards Heath from Victoria to meet John and Leslie Langford. Much remembering over a salmon lunch! Then at 1700 off to meet up with Kim and John Franklin at Ardingly and to have a tour of the school with a 100+ step climb to the top of the bell tower for a stunning view of the school grounds (200 acres) and surrounding area. Spoke to Margaret Falconer (Charlie's wife) about Prince Edward old times. Home for a light supper with Gill at 2130.

John and Leslie Langford
John and Kym Franklin
Emmanual from Prince Edward Zimbabwe
Gill Nevins

Saturday 8 October 2005

From the Rice's we made our way to Hampstead to see Gary and Nathalie Vaughan-Smith and Gigi. A great lunch at their beautiful home before going to the West End to take in a movie, "Umbrella Man" and a show with John Hurt in it, a comedy called "Heroes".

Nathalie and Gigi Vaughan-Smith

Friday 7 October 2005

It was wonderful to meet up with Patsy's niece, Debbie Davis and her husband Scott for lunch at a little place near Monument. We had a great time together and we hope to meet up with them again, maybe in Australia. Sandy had climbed the 311 steps to the top, 200ft up. Impressive when it was built in 1671-1679 but dwarfed by some of the surrounding buildings now. Views of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Pauls and the Millenium wheel. Then onto the internet to catch up and to get photos on CD. After that a trip to Hampden to meet up with Ken and Di Rice at their great home for another night of remembering and updating news.

Debbie and Scott Davis

Ken and Di Rice
View from 1671 - 1679 Great Fire of London

Thursday 6 October 2005

A train trip to Battle was delayed but we arrived only half and hour late to visit and have a tour of the area and a great roast chicken lunch with June Evans. It was a tremendous day spent in rural SE England. A quiet evening spent at Hither green with Gill.

June Evans

Meridian Line at Hither Green

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Today we took a train to Crawley where we met Sandy Steven and were driven to East Grinstead to see Isabel Ayling. Once again time flew, we had such a good time, and we only had time to grab a take-away curry on the way home. Gill was out with friends.

Sandy Steven and Isabel Ayling

Tuesday 4 October 2005

A day spent contacting friends in the London area setting up dates to meet, a shopping trip to the local Sainsburys and cooking a Bacalhau a Bras! Another tremendous evening with Gill.


Monday 3 October 2005

Drove to Harlington and handed the car in then proceeded to Hither Green to meet up with Gill Nevins whom we had not seen for 9 years (Sandy) and 21 years (Patsy). Once again we talked into the small hours, remembering.


Sunday 2 October 2005

Today was magic. The Arton-Powells held a BBQ and Chris and Michelle Sherlock, Mike and Kate Purchase, Gary Vaughan-Smith and Pete and Jenni Whalley were there. We had much remembering and a lot of laughs after, in some cases, 24 years since we had seen them! The day went far too quickly and we were off to London to stop at a pub for the night.

Mike and Kate Purchase

Gary Vaughan-Smith

Peter and Jenny Whalley

Arton Powells and Sherlocks

Arton Powell Family

Saturday 1 October 2005

Another good long, comfortable sleep. Then we left David (he is an absolute Gem) behind to continue de-wallpapering and Keith (crowbar) Doreen (Mrs Ball - Ma Knack), Sandy (Rusty) and Patsy (Ma Rusty) went to the fields of Sherborne School to find past Prince edward pupil John Arton Powell who had brought his Thirds from Wellington school to have a match against Sherborne. We were standing on the side line watching and some asked John if that was his old school teacher and he replied promptly, " Yes. All four of them!" We had a good laugh. After the match the five of us went to a pub and reminisced. Sandy and Patsy followed John home to Wellington. We had a great curry evening and lots of laughter.

Yes, All Four of Them!

Friday 30 September 2005

A lovely lazy day, just what we needed. We were made so comfortable at the Balls and we were so well looked after, even though they are building and redecorating so have much to cope with. Really true friends as nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them to enjoy our company. We loved remembering and chatting with them and with Keith. Another lovely meal (roast pork - Doreens is a wizard at coping under what others might find as difficult circumstances) and a great evening chatting and drinking together into the early morning.

Keith Wells

Dave and Doreen Ball

Thursday 29 September 2005

Woke to a clear day. Drove to Exeter where we parked near the University and walked into town visiting all our old haunts from the times when we lived here. We went past Buller's statue and the Clock to the Cathedral and in the Catheral shop we saw a picture of Gordon Pike, an Exeter uni student Sandy has lost contact with. Sat on our usual park bench where we used to meet, visited the Northcot Theatre where Sandy was Shadbolt in The Yeoman in 1978. Popped into the Sports Centre, now quite changed. We then went to Dawlish, another haunt of the past, where we lived for a while (in our youth - sigh). We located our old flat "Highfields", now an old age home.
Patsy shopped for supplies and Sandy walked to the Dawlish Warren. Pushed on to the Balls in Holwell near Sherborne and had a wonderful evening wirh Dave, Doreen and Keith Wells.

Exeter Cathedral

Old Door of the Mawse

General Buller

Our Flat (1977 - 1978)

Wednesday 28 September 2005

Drove to Penzance and had a look at the famous little town but couldn't find any pirates. We went further to the very south western point, called Lands End. Quite interesting and rugged. The weather closed in which added to the atmosphere. We were in Cornwall so had a genuine cornish pasty for lunch. On our way to Exeter we turned off into Dart Moor. We found miles of deserted moors and it was strangely incredibly beautiful. We eventually came to a little stone village, Widdecombe, which seemed eerie and deserted. There was a note on the pub door, "Open at 7pm tonight". We drove back to the highway and found Parker's Farm camp site for £3 each. Set up the tent and then drove back again into the moors to Widdecombe. We saw pricks of light in the dark stone village and when we pushed the pub door open we found it to be alive inside with warm fires, gentle folk music, friendly people with thick Devonshire acsents. There was good hot food and good beer. When we left we saw the black shadowy outlines of the bell ringers in the old stone cathedral pulling the ropes and making the bells clang and echo loudly. We drove, the only car about, through wind and rain back to the highway and out snug little tent. What a magic, memorable day.


Tuesday 27 September 2005

Drove to Bath to investigate the ancient Roman Baths, something Sandy has always wanted to do. We found it splendid and fascinating. Made our way to Notely Arms near Taunton where past Prince Edward pupil, Russel Deary and his wife Jane run a great old fashioned pub. It was good to see that they are happy in their relatively new adventure. Met their son, Peter, a fine boy. Pushed on to Biddeford to visit Toni (Julie's sister) and Patrick Hamilton. They took us to a quaint and beautiful area where the tide can rise 26m. We all had fish and chips at their favourite pub which had a view of the warf. We ended up staying at a B and B which cost £62 (A$155) which was a bit out of our league! Never the less, it was a wonderful day.

Baths

Russell Deary

Toni and Patrick Hamilton

Widdecombe

Monday 26 September 2005

A great day. Sandy got up, took a couple of photos - bridge and tent and the Barley Mow and visited the little hamlet of Clifton Hampden to buy a paper and a couple of postcards. We drove to a Park and Ride at Redbridge and went into Oxford for the day. Wandered all over town, Magdalen College, Bodlean Library, the Meadows etc before meeting past St Andrew's pupil, Mark Grere, who treated us to a slap up lunch at The Quod in the High Street. It was really good catching up with him and remembering people and events back then. We always value the fact that these vibrant young people could be bothered with their old teachers! We moved on to marvel at Stone Henge, something Patsy has always wanted to see, and then found a camp site near Devizes and hit the Three Magpies pub for an evening beer. Here we met and made friends with a young American couple. Captain Gabriel Trexlor and Ella Lee.

Old Bridge at Clifton Hampden

The Barley Mow

Bodlean Library, Oxford

Mark Grere

Stonehenge