The Cryptian 2022-2023

Class of ‘71

Floreat Schola Cryptiensis.

In 2022 a small group of Old Cryptians who are friends on Facebook realised that our year group would all be reaching three score years and ten during this academic year. They decided therefore to see if they could muster enough people from the year group to have a reunion in April 2023.

Using old school photos, we were able to name over 50 members of our year group and set about tracing as many as we could. Amazingly, through various contacts and searches we contacted 36 people. There were 13 that we did not manage to find and unfortunately, 5 of our year group had not made it to their seventh decade. A small number were living abroad although that did not stop Chris Talwar from joining us all the way from Detroit, Michigan, USA.

25 of us eventually met at Bowden Hall, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester on Saturday April 1st. After some tentative double takes, we all managed to recognise each other in many cases after 52 or 54 years. We all did our O levels in 1969 and many of us went on to Sixth Form and A levels in 1971. The venue did us proud with an excellent meal and service and the conversation flowed reminiscing our teenage exploits and the teachers we remembered fondly or otherwise. It was also interesting to see where life’s journey had taken everyone and good to see that all had made it this far.

Many thanks to Steve Pearce who now lives in Bermuda and could not attend, but generously funded wine for each table.

The climax of the evening was a rousing rendition of the school song – available from the Club website https://oldcryptians.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Co71SchoolSongTrim.mp4 . Incredibly many of us remembered the words and the tune!

We keep in touch via a WhatsApp group and will no doubt attempt further reunions in the future, though we may not wait until we all turn 80!

Great to see so many old friends – those in attendance were:

Coates Roger, Connett Richard, Dickerson Keith, Ewers Gary, Ferkin Richard, Gardner Gray, Gorman Geoff, Green Rob, Griffin Kieron, Jones Keith, Keller Mike, Lanceley Mark, Marsh Alan, Meecham Derek, Morgan Geoff, Nash Andy, Noon Paul, Odunukwe David, Partridge Charlie, Peacey Steve, Prior Arnold, Rossiter Mike, Sutton Hedley, Talwar Chris and Willis Richard

Stephen Peacey (1964-71)

stevepeacey@yahoo.co.uk