Recollections of Blaisdon Hall
Reunion - 07/08July 2007
For this year we tried an experiment and moved the date of our Summer Annual Reunion to the above dates to avoid having it in the summer late Bank Holiday, as it had been suggested that this might make it easier for those who have not been coming, to be able to attend.
This effect was not achieved so we will revert to the August Bank Holiday weekend for next years, onwards. The field prepared by Stud Farm with water laid on and toilet facilities were not used as no one came to camp.
The plan for this year was that the Saturday was to be the Family Day and Sunday to be the Annual Reunion. Quite a few of the regulars enjoyed the earlier part of the weekend, but so few indications of attendance for the Saturday Family Day were received that the planned BBQ had to be cancelled to avoid wasteful food and drinks expenditure.
Blaisdon Committee Meeting
The Committee met and there was a quorum to enable decisions to be made. The following are the pertinent decisions:
1 Summer AGM and Reunion to be reverted to the late August Bank Holiday weekend, with Blaisdon Committee to meet on the Sunday.
2 The mini Spring meeting will, as usual, take place on the first weekend after Easter
3 Proposal by the President, seconded by Charlie Calder and then unanimously agreed, to gift £800.00 (eight hundred pounds) to the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster), for the purchase of new playground equipment to replace worn out items. Also agreed to fund the creation and engraving of a brass plaque recording this gift, to be located in the vicinity of the playground.
Blaisdon Hall through the hedgerow on 08 July 2007. Photo by Paige Yates
Paige, Simon, Doug Selleck -Foster Carer of the 3 children - and Lauren, before Mass
However the Sunday reunion, which started with Mass at St. Michaels Church on the hill, celebrated by Father Sean Murray SDB assisted by Deacon Jim Richards, CEO of the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) had a fairly full church congregation of Old Boys and their families and friends.
We missed our trusty and regular Altar Server, Barney Grace, because he has only just discovered he has a Brother and Sister he never knew of. He was quite rightly down in Bristol for this remarkable reunion. We are so happy for you Barney and wish you a really wonderful time with your new-found family. It is amazing how, after all this time, these kind of reunions become a reality.
As we had no organist Charlie had his trusty Ghetto Blaster with a CD of some of the Hymns we sung so many times at Blaisdon and before that at Enfield. There was a goodly congregation who seemed to quickly remember and sing out to these wonderful old Hymns.
Deacon Jim Richards and Fr Sean Murray SDB on Right
From Right, Diane Richards, Doris Taylor and Sylvia Taylor
At Communion time, distributed by Father Sean and Deacon Jim. Lionel Wilkinson; and Sammy Hayes receiving Communion.