Stat Lux In Monte

"Upon the hill top stands a guiding light"

Report on Slim School Reunion - Saturday 18th May 2019

I was proud to organise this reunion and was so pleased that 49 people attended on a bright and sunny day in Leicester.

In organizing the reunion I did get considerable help from Anne Hall who suggested several things that I had not thought about.

It was Frank Houghton’s birthday on the same day, and Anne kindly brought a surprise birthday cake for him, which was a total surprise.

I must also thank my husband, Max who helped out a lot. He made out a "to do list" (which was very long!!) and he also made the name badges for everyone attending the reunion.

I also had moral support from Chrissie, and of course, Tina and Sigrid.

Chrissie and I reminisced about the 2nd Bristol reunion in which our hubbies whet out sightseeing and we had a gin and tonic or three!!

People started arriving at the Hotel during the morning so we sat around the lobby meeting new and old Slimmers. Tina and Sigrid went off to explore the city centre, and visit the Richard III grave. John Anderson and Sam arrived and Max and I went into town and had a coffee with them. No one could check in until 2 pm but Bob Warrener and his wife Sue managed to do so – think it depended on the receptionist!!! We were also really happy to greet Sue (Robertson) and her husband Alan.

Slimmers came from all over the world, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. Some had been to several reunions before. Terry Newell and her husband Peter had been to a reunion held at David Wilmot's house in Canada which Eric Davies, who puts so much on the Facebook Slim Site, also attended. The lovely bubbly Shirley (Jones) came with her partner Rusty and her daughter Justine. Shirley lives in France. She said she might look into planning a reunion there – I am sure we would all like a trip to France.

Tony Barber came from Germany – Tina and I reminded him that he was a naughty boy at school, who used to ping our bra straps when he sat behind us in class! The lovely Sigrid came from Australia – she usually comes to England every year and has done writers courses at Cambridge University – she has had some things published. Hopefully she will also do a report on the reunion.

Robin Harris and his wife Karen came – we have met up with them at most of the reunions I have attended. This time his brother Peter came to the reunion, My brother Frank and him were best friends in Ipoh. I have a photo of him and Frank together when my Mum and Dad, Peter and Frank came up to the Camerons for a visit. I think we had strawberries and cream at the Smoke House.

I met up with Rob Byre and his wife Sue – I could not remember him but when Tina and I looked at photos on the web site I did recognise this tall blue eyed Irishman, I am sure I would have been much too shy to speak to him while at Slim!! Good to see Rex and Elaine Robinson again. I understand Elaine even organised one reunion, what a hero! And she was not even at Slim.

Stuart and Derek Walker arrived and Derek’s wife Fran who we have met up with at other reunions. Stuart and Derek (who are twins) attended Slim when it first opened. Although they are 80 this year they look very young. Think Fran keeps them on their toes!!

Although we all went to Slim at different times – early fifties when the school opened – mid fifties – late fifties and then the early sixties and some who were there until the school closed in 1964, we all have the Slim thing in common, that unique school in the jungle. We like to talk about each other’s experiences and see the photos. The early Slimmers had to travel up to the school in what they called "coffins", a closed in armoured car which must have been very scary.

It was also lovely to see Chris (Puddy) and his sister Erica, who have attended many other reunions. Roger Marshallsay arrived mid afternoon, and had a good chat to Mike Battson who was at Slim at the same time – Mike got "chucked" out in 1956 when Slim became a Secondary School and he was a Grammar pupil – very posh!!

As the evening approached we all got changed in our finery and met in the reception bar for a glass of Prosecco. John Cox had just arrived after a long journey so needed a beer. John has lots of photos and videos which are brilliant. At seven thirty we were taken to The Cromwell Room on the first floor which looked very nice with the tables laid out for dinner. We had a hot buffet which everyone enjoyed and the hotel staff served very efficiently.

I put two copies of poems on the tables – one from Eric Davies and another one called Daffodils – about being a military kid. Later in the evening we all wandered downstairs to the lobby bar and carried on talking – and drinking!

The next day we met up for breakfast and then it was very sad to say goodbye but agreed that we will meet up again.

I am sorry that has not been possible to mention everyone that attended.

I would finally like to say thank you to all that attended and made it a very special evening to remember.

Also a special thank you to Partners of the slimmers. They listen to our stories, and look at our photographs with great interest.

Margot.

May 2019.

List of attendees.

John Anderson 1958 to 1961

Tony Barber 1957 to 1959

Mike Battson 1955 to 1956

Jenny Baxter 1960 to 1962

Shirley Jones 1955 to 1957

Erica Puddy 1958 to 1959

Sue Robertson 1957 to 1960

John Cox 1956 to 1960

Chrissie Seal 1960 to 1963

Sigrid Baxter 1957 to 1959

John Evans 1956

Gloria Ryall 1960 to 1963

John Gould 1962 to 1963

Pam Swift 1960 to 1963

Anne Ingham 1960 to 1963

Robin Harris 1958 to 1959

Kim Haxell 1960 to 1962

Frank Houghton 1959 to 1962

Roger Marshallsay 1954 to 1956

Frank Massey 1960 to 1962

Terry Maguire 1962 to 1964

Tina Brewer 1957 to 1960

Jeanette Inglis 1958 to 1962

Chris Puddy 1958 to 1959

Rex Robinson 1060 to 1963

Bob Warrener 1961 to 1963

Margot Turner 1957 to 1959

Stuart Walker 1951

Derek Walker 1951