In 2002, over 700 former pupils and staff attended a DGS, Whole School, 50th Anniversary Reunion at Shaldon Road.
Carol's (or Maurice's) photo from 2002 - on Facebook
Organisers of that event hope to repeat a similar one in 2013. The 'Canons High' Head teacher, Lynn, has been very supportive and agreed a date of Saturday 18 May.
In order that the event runs smoothly, organisers are seeking volunteers to assist with arrangements. Ideally, each year-group will need a lead coordinator to contact and liaise with their former cohort and help with the event on-the-day. If you are prepared to share the effort in any way and help make the day as successful as it was in 2002, please contact: "barry.rothwell@geg-group.com" (without the quotes).
Arrive from 13:30 for 14:00.
Registration. (School staff have prepared a handout pack with a current map of the site for attendees on their arrival.)
14:15 'Welcome' speech by Chris Rew and Lynn in the Main Hall
(seating for up to 300 head).
Group photos. If anyone is able to bring a DSLR camera, please 'Contact
me'.
Decant to designated meeting classrooms.
15:00 onwards Conducted site tours - parties comprising about 30 people - as available.
18:00 Speech by Chris Rew on behalf of the organisers - possibly.
18:00 Refreshments, wine. If you've brought a tipple with you,
now's your opportunity to consume it - relaxing with old chums.
(19:00 Two cohorts [mid '60s entry] depart to a local hostelry.)
Depart by 20:00-ish.
Eligibility: Pupils and staff that attended Downer Grammar.
Registration: If possible, please pre-register on-line.
First, I need to apologise for the unwieldiness of the arrangement
as it entails completing an existing, general enquiry form.
Successful registrations are 'acknowledged' - but slightly confusingly.
Please try to register using the 'Enquiry Form'
at Canons High (adding 'previous/maiden name' and 'entry year'
of your cohort [or "staff"] in the last field - unhelpfully entitled "Paragraph").
This will allow us to determine an approximate minimum attendance and will also ease registration on the day.
Know who's coming: A list of pre-registered attendees will be shown on a 'Big Screen' at arrival.
Parking: Pre-registered attendees will be prioritised for the limited
(ie. less than 100), on-site parking spaces - starting with the Shaldon Road entrance…
then Bridgewater Gardens and, when full, both accesses will be closed to vehicles.
Shaldon Road can become quite congested when there is an event at the School.
However, there is unrestricted parking in the Dale Avenue/Roche Avenue area only a short walk from the School.
Access: The lower gate (giving access to the playing field from Queensbury Station)
is normally shut, but will be opened for attendees of the event.
A school minibus may operate to Queensbury station (subject to driver availability).
Catering: Light refreshments (e.g. filled baguettes, hot beverages,
juice) prepared by the school's caterers, will be available in the Main Hall on arrival… and also from 6pm.
Memorabilia: If you've retained any documents or photos or negatives
that you'd care to share (whether or not with this site too), please bring them along.
Media: The Harrow Observer intends dispatching a photographer to record our event.
Who's mailed organisers to say they'll be coming to our reunion? -
'The Sowards' (early '50s) with a Canadian contingent, Maureen Woolston (now "Mrs Bernard")
and her pals from '53 entry, Mike Watson's group, Downer's Golfing Buddies from '59/'60 entry supplemented
by Jill Hallett and her coterie from '60, Pat Holmes and his group from '61 entry, Bob
& John's (Hell's Grandpas) '62 cohort, Geoff Henley and his gang from '63, Maurice
and Carol's thirty acolytes from '64 entry, Steve Bowler with his accomplices from '65
("I've sent out around twenty messages to old classmates registered on FriendsReunited
and had about five responses saying they will definitely attend on the 18th"
- Steve), Jan and her gals from '69, Jeanette with her chums from '72…
Plus a few members of staff from the '60s (health permitting)... and, well into
her nineties now, a certain female Dep. Head for 23 years...
Col
Travel Coordination
Lesley-Ann is getting her lift from Lymington... thanks John H.
Carol's (or Maurice's) photo from 2002 taken from outside the Gym block
Notes of First Meeting 22/01/13 between Downer Old Boys (DOBs) and the School (downloadable as a 'doc'-format file).
Notes of Second Meeting 19/03/13 between DOBs and the School.
Notes of Third Meeting 13/05/2013.
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