Having decided that I ought to be there, and persuaded Stu and Ian Kay to go along, I was very glad I did. Arriving at 7.45 pm, after a torrid 4.5 hour trip from Huntingdon, I made my way into what was a very busy bar. "You're late" said Stu, "and I've just been nattering to Bill Ford"

"Pint of Stella, then" was my riposte, or should I say rip-off (at £2.95 a pint, at least ten bob, in old money, dearer than The Barley Mow in Hartford). I made my way over to the seating plan, and was delighted to note that in addition to Des Roberts and Dave Swain, Tony Hardwick and Tom Carty were due to be there. Sadly, later, they didn't turn up. Has anyone got their e-mail addresses? Can you send them to me?

Anyway, on the table with the three of us were Neil and Belinda Johnstone, Derek McClatchey and The Stanciewicz's (spelt right?). Good company and we swaped the usual stories, as well as learnt a few other snippets about one another. I can confirm that Michael S is NOT the father of the Saints player of the same name. After the speeches and presentations, I grabbed a few minutes with Dave 'Dougie' Swain, who I was pleased to see had risen to be a headmaster before he retired. Amazingly, he remembered taking a bunch of us to Switzerland, and what's more, he had the photo's to prove it! Des was impressed that I remembered his 'lecture' on the dangers of drugs, with which he replaced a "Double French" lesson in 1973. Did it for me, although I still take on alcohol (but not Stella in Haydock in future!) Chas and Val were on top form, and it was good to see Chas after his recent illness. Val was, however, unable to explain why, when I got my first report in 1969, she wrote "Quite Satisfactory" against Art, when everyone else wrote "Satisfactory" Nice to meet Mick Danvers, who taught Stu, but not me. He's rose to head ship, too, but missing these days are the "Ray Dorset" sidies which formerly adorned his cheeks.
Larry McEvoy remembered Stu. We know this because he said so. Or should I say "Ah , yes, Greenall. Under-achiever. Messed about at the back."

Chatted to Peter Chadwick and Tom Storrow, among others. Apologies to Brian Joyce - my memory had him as some sporting champion. Maybe that was another Brian. Jones? A couple of the girls, dunno names - didn't ask; wasn't told - remembered meself from the disco days at the Scout Hut in Deepdale Drive. They had us sussed. "You made us wait about in the cold, while you went for a drink in the Comm beforehand" Yes - you were right - we did!
I wasn't sure what to expect of the night, but apart from the Brie-less "Chicken Stuffed with Brie", and the spuds which looked like (and tasted like) old conkers, it was a fun evening. If you were there, and I didn't get to speak to you, I was the d***head with the cap on Table Ten. See you next year, and thanks to everyone involved in the organisation.