RGS Reunion at Graig Fawr, Meliden Saturday May 10th 2008

We seem to have a charmed life in relation to our reunions and for this year again the weather was fine although misty on the Saturday; Sunday lived up to its name. Last time we had our reunion at the Graig Fawr we thought that it was ideal in many ways since there was accommodation at the venue as well as a pleasant room for the event so we booked again for this year and had our view reinforced. Margaret Jones has some good contacts there and the staff proved very helpful and accommodating. We decided that this year we would try to have a more substantial meal than in the past and, by arranging it as a carvery, we were able to have an outstanding value three course meal which was excellent. Over ninety people attended this year with former RGS pupils and staff from all over the UK, Europe and the antipodes. I think that Hilary Sussex (nee Brooks), Mr Brooks our maths teacher’s daughter, was the furthest travelled from New Zealand and it was great to see her again.

A number of people who had intended to be there couldn’t make it due to indisposition of themselves or their partners and we wish them well and hope to see them at the next reunion. For example Ann Teasdale (nee Green) who was both a pupil at the school and a teacher has had some major surgery and couldn’t make it but wished us well on the night of the event and promises to be at the next one.

The display boards showing copies of photos from the past were brought along by Margaret Jones. After some grief, and the intervention of more IT-aware staff of the Graig Fawr, the projection onto the wall of the photos which populate the website, as well as some others, gave the opportunity for recognition of what we used to look like and for much hilarity about events which they reminded us of. Even those of us whose appearance has changed since we were at school could be recognised by the way we walk or speak and it was great to catch up with events either since we last met at recent reunions or since we last saw them when we walked out of the school, some fifty years ago in my case; for some it was nearer seventy years! The atmosphere at the event was really buzzing yet relaxed and a reinforcement of the reason why such reunions are worthwhile. I have much to be grateful to the school for and it gave me a great start in life. Those with whom I journeyed there continue to be lifelong friends and it is to be hoped that all will benefit from the re-establishment of contacts at the reunion.

It has become a tradition that on Sunday a relaxed lunch at Meliden golf club gives the opportunity for continuing dialogue, meeting those we missed at the evening event and a walk to build up an appetite for an excellent meal.

For those of us who live away from the Rhyl/Prestatyn area the weekend gives us the opportunity to visit old haunts and friends. As on the last occasion a group of us visited Bodnant Gardens and the display of Rhododendrons and azaleas in the garden and hillside setting was breathtaking. Much has been and continues to be spent on the plants and facilities there including a new safer and attractive entrance through an underpass cut down into the rock.

These events need a considerable amount of work and Margaret Jones again handled the negotiations at the Graig Fawr as well as the issuing of tickets and is to be congratulated and thanked for making the event so successful. Linda and Maureen Nuttall and Margaret Threadgold again did sterling service in checking people in and issuing name badges on the night. This year we were delighted to be joined by Anna Leigh who created and maintains the website, keeps the database up to date, prepares and sends out the notifications and creates the tickets and name badges. Whilst not being ex RGS these last four ladies are ex-officio members of what has evolved into the Reunion Society and we are truly grateful to them for all their work.

I took loads of photos over the weekend and some are included on the website. There was a good response to the appeal for a school badge and photos of it were taken and have been used to re-create it for use on the website and perhaps for other purposes yet to be thought of! - thanks Moira! If anyone has photos of the reunion weekend or old photos which we can scan and use on the website and in our archive we would be pleased to receive them in either printed or electronic format.

The date for the next reunion has been set as 15th May 2010 at the same venue and we look forward to seeing you all there again.

Len Threadgold