Recollections of Blaisdon Hall
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Welcome to this bumper Christmas issue of the newsletter. Our thanks to Terry and Charlie for their usual tremendous contributions. Charlie has come up here to Bootle on several occasions, putting in many hours of patient , meticulous work, producing this special issue.Blaisdon 70The Salesians opened Blaisdon Hall on Tuesday 19th February 1935. So, 2005 is the 70th anniversary of that wonderful day. The opening entry in the House Chronicle reads as follows: “ Hic incipit opus nostrum “ Under the leadership of the Very Reverend Father E M Tozzi, the first little band of pioneers take possession of Blaisdon Hall; these were Bro Christopher Gorton S.C. ,Bro James Kearney, Mr Patrick O’Donovan and Mr E G Sandwell, a new novice and a recent convert. Tonight we had the honour of having the library as our first dormitory in Blaisdon Hall. As Charlie informed you we are planning a special celebration to be held at St Peter’s in Gloucester on Sunday 29th August 2005. Many of you attended my Ruby Jubilee there in 2002.We will, of course, have the usual Gather and BBQ at Blaisdon Village Hall on Saturday 28th. I need to remind you, especially those of you who haven’t been back for some time, that Blaisdon Hall is now a family home and the privacy of the people who live there must be respected. So, don’t even consider wandering around the grounds. I am deeply grateful to the old boys who return to Blaisdon twice very year and totally respect this request. The Salesian Past Pupils Great Britain Mission Appeal 2004Thanks to the generosity of the Salesian Past Pupils of Great Britain and their friends, we collected over £11,000 for our Smile 2003 Appeal against a target of £4,000. The money was used to install three 1000 gallon tanks with electric pump, associated building works and improved security at the Don Bosco Polytechnic, Monrovia, Liberia. Encouraged by this success, the 2004 National Past Pupils Mission Project is to replace at least one of the four electricity generators lost to looting in the recent fighting. We are committed to raising £12,000 in 2004. Our Blaisdon Associatio is committed to raising a minimum of £1,000 and so far we have collected £700. There is still plenty of time to make a contribution and as this is the time for giving , your generosity will help transform the study and work prospects of thousands of needy Salesian students for years to come. Finally, many of you know Carol Tilling who was in charge of the catering at Blaisdon Hall and who prepares those lovely buffets for our annual reunions. Well, sadly, her husband, Stan, died unexpectedly in early December. Charlie and I attended the funeral in Longhope. Our sympathy, love and prayers go to Carol and her grieving family. May Stan rest in peace.My Christmas greetings to the old boys, staff, cooperators, people of Blaisdon Village, friends of Blaisdon; you are all in my thoughts and prayers. God bless Fr Sean December 2004
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