Blaisdon August 2006

Once again we were blessed with glorious weather for our annual reunion in the Blaisdon Village Hall. Out of 78 people expected 68 turned up. This year we were treated to an excellent sit down buffet meal with everything served at the table. A raffle resulted in over £200 being raised for the Blaisdon Association funds. The meal was prepared and served by those wonderful friends of Blaisdon who treated us so royally at St Peter's in Gloucester for our 70th celebration of the opening of Blaisdon Salesian School at Blaisdon Hall.

Charles, our President invited the assembly to show their appreciation of the spread that was produced and in a beautifully created dining room of the Blaisdon Village Hall. Needless to say this evoked a rousing applaud to these great friends of ours.

Charles has indicated that he will run our next year's Reunion and suggested that this should be a free one as the funds are healthy and he felt it would help some for whom the journey and meal costs might be an impediment to their being able to come. This was also warmly welcomed. Charles has not indicated that he will be able to continue beyond next year's event and certainly not without much better responses to his letters Emails and Newsletters. We must all work to help Charles and give him the support he so richly deserves and needs.

Charles also announced that the wish to see the Recollections of Blaisdon Hall in a professionally printed publication has been achieved and invited John Ward, who had purchased 200 copies of the Book, with an added title "A Tribute to the Salesians of Great Britain", to show the publication, which is available at the meeting at a price of £6.00 per book, which includes a small contribution to the National Past Pupils Mission Project dealing with child Malaria in Liberia. (See also Recollections section)

Below are some photos of this wonderful event:

Yes - that's a Bat hanging from the bench, which slept soundly even through Deacon Jim's super Sermon

Deacon Jim Richards assisting Fr Sean Murray at our Mass, with our loyal Altar Server Barney Grace

Village Hall, beautifully prepared and ready for the feast

The look of shock and surprise on Father Sean's face as Charles let the Cat out of the Bag, about the Book!

Click here for more photos.