APS Reunion 2005.

Friday 30th September & Saturday 1st October.

The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate

In 2005, our APS Annual Reunion was held during the weekend of Friday 30th September / Saturday 1st October in the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

26 people came on the Friday and spent the evening sharing their news and photos in this charming and very historic hotel. We even managed to survive the extensive renovations which were going on whilst we were there!

On Saturday, another 20 past students and our guest, Beryl Stringer from Lady Mabel College, arrived to join us for the day.

Four groups celebrated special Anniversary Reunions: four past students who left College in 1945, two who left in 1950, five who left in 1955 and fourteen who left in 1965. Some of the ones who were not members of the Association enjoyed themselves so much that they decided to join APS after the Reunion.

On Saturday we enjoyed a very busy day, with more news and sharing of photographs and a lively discussion at the AGM in the afternoon. Beryl Stringer shared her experiences of helping to gather Archives and compile a History of Lady Mabel College.

17 people stayed on to a special meal in the evening to complete the Reunion.

We hope that many of them will wish to join us again at our Reunions in Bath and Market Bosworth in October 2006 and 2007.

We have included some photographs here taken at the Reunion and a few comments from people who were there.

Joy (1945) wrote: ‘I enjoyed the Harrogate Reunion so much that I have rejoined the Association. I should like to thank the President and the Committee for all the hard work that they put in to make it such a memorable, friendly and well-organised event. The four of us from the 1945 Set chatted happily together as if the years between were as nothing, even though we were meeting on of our number for the first time in SIXTY years! We had great fun listening to the recollections of the younger members – much younger!!’

Marion (1950) wrote: ‘Our Set Reunion planned for April was changed to October so that we could represent our year at the College gathering in Harrogate. Maureen and I thoroughly enjoyed being with some older and many younger ex-I M Marsh students and we were presented with a card and chocolates to commemorate our leaving College in 1950.’

Snippets from an article written by Pat (1955) for the 2005 Journal: ‘… 10 seconds was all it took to recognise one another, and then we were away! … The intervening years fell away and even though we had not been close friends at College, the weekend flowed with reminiscences, laughter and chat – non-stop. It was splendid. We all enjoyed the entire weekend thoroughly.’

Cherry (1965) wrote: ‘It was fantastic to see everyone in Harrogate … weren’t / aren’t we a great Year? If you didn’t make it, I’m sorry, you missed a treat!’

Jean (1965) wrote: ‘I really enjoyed our Reunion in Harrogate. It was great catching up with people … Staying in a hotel made it easier to get to know the other Years … ’

Trish (1965) wrote: ‘It was good to see 14 of us at the Reunion in Harrogate. There never seems to be enough time to chat with everyone, even though we now make a weekend of it.’

Members of the Committee were delighted that everyone seemed to have an enjoyable day and they hope that members will join us next year in Warwick. If you would like to become a member of the Association you can apply through the ‘How to Join’ section of the website.

You can view photographs of the reunion by clicking on the ‘Gallery’.