2015 Annual Reunion Dinner
On Friday 25th September 2015 the Annual Reunion Dinner was held in the clubhouse of Heath RUFC, West Vale, Halifax.
It was preceded by the well-attended AGM, at which the main items were that the recommended membership donation of £5 is now a suggested £10. Jim Farrell was elected chairman of the association, replacing Mick Orlic with thanks for his term of office.
As last year, around 50 Old Boys tussled for the best positions at the tables, before the traditional Latin grace was professionally read by Andrew Connell. The sumptuous repast consisted of soup, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings, followed by a pudding and the cheeseboard.
We were again privileged to have three speakers, interspersed throughout the meal. First up was the ebullient Wendy Moffat, who reported on the excellent year had by the ever-expanding school, which remains one of the leading schools in the country for overall excellence, being 23rd on examination results, and 1st in the North of England, also leading in terms of happiness! The new sixth form centre is due to open in October, with an official opening in December. The staff produced six babies last year.
Karen Lomas spoke with verve about the recent refurbishment at Heath, passing round photographs so that we could see for ourselves. This has now opened after many a failed handover as ‘Savile Park Primary at Heath’ — the delays apparently being congruent with the current building genre!
The refurbishment has included the entire ground floor of the old building, the gym and the hall, the latter being transformed into ground floor rooms with a mezzanine classroom above. The school is also resplendent in maroon carpet which is Savile Park‘s colour as well as that of the former Heath. The outer facade of the building now hosts a children’s activity area. The entire works have been carried out with the Council and listed building assistance.
There will be an official opening at the end of October when hopefully some Old Boys will be able to attend and report back.
Finally to the eloquent Rob Sumner [Heath 1975–82] who had travelled 3,695 miles from Senegal to be with us. He held us enthralled and had us in stitches with his hyperbolic account of his rise from the inspired French lessons of Tony Edwards and Gordon Stansfield to French at university and his career with West Yorkshire police and Interpol, mixed with his dubious dabbling in golf, table tennis and rugby league.
There followed a mercifully brief version of the stand-up, sit-down game, which raised £370 for YoungMinds, the charity chosen by Rob Stollery following the tragic loss of his son. A plethora of prizes had again been donated by Jay Chatta and Jon Hamer, plus a packet of chocolate fingers from the guest speaker.
Socialising continued deep into the night, and a great time had been had by all. Those attending were:
Messrs J. Greenwood; C.Gostridge; A.Connell; M.Bingham; J.Bunch; J.Robertshaw; J.Davey; T.Ward; B.Kerfoot; J.Hudson; G.Smith; R.Dixon; R.Crossland; J.Charnock; D.Turner; R.Eastwood; A.Baigent; R.Stollery; P.Stollery; E.Broughton; S.Harrison; M.Baxendale; G.Mason; D.O’Callaghan; J.Denwood; C.Tindall; T.Stringer; J.Travis; A.Edwards; N.Shields; N.Shields; C.Scott; J.Russell; M.Hynes; D.Turner; S.Milligan; G.Stansfield; M.Orlic; J.Farrell; J.Hamer; R.Sumner; W.Moffat; K.Lomas; A.Lomas; O.Scholefield; M.Seery; N.Holden; Scarborough; Bird.
Thanks again to our committee for organising the event.
Rod Eastwood with additional material by Jim Farrell
