The 1950s Decade Reunion Report
8 March 2003, the 1950s decade reunion with 260 attendees...
Prayers in the PH was the same, but 50 years on... the atmosphere is the same, but we are now allowed to see the wonderful frieze above the arch. I wonder why it was covered for all those years, as it is truly wonderful; maybe we would have spent too much time daydreaming and not enough on the hymns, etc.
After prayers, it was on to the LH, welcome coffee and tea and the chance
to start the order of the day, peering at labels and tracking down friends.
We could also arrange tours to see the present girls at their usual Saturday
morning tasks, and last but not least see the 1953 videotape. This was of particular
relevance to us as so many of us were at Coll. when it was filmed. I had seen
the original with all its wobbles, but the transformed version
is so much better, with no cuts. I was particularly impressed by the jars of
bottled fruit, as it was my recollection we never got any in SL, so I wonder
which was the lucky house! It was also fun to hear people recognise themselves
as the video progressed and to see that age is a great leveller. Senior Prefects
no longer looking frightening, but women like us.
The present girls have a very different life from us, and nowhere more evident than in the subjects they were studying that morning, dress design, fabrics, electronics, art ...the list is endless, plus the inevitable computer room.
Lunch was served in the PH, small tables and a lovely selection of food being passed round; after the food rationing of the early 50s it was even more astounding. A very apt speech at the end of lunch by Vicky Tuck hit the right note for us all and I do believe that many of us did lay our ghosts to rest. Lunch was also a chance to find anyone we had missed, and our last chance to sign the guest book.
Buses
were organised to take us to our houses for tea, though we hardly needed more
food. SL had changed; it has expanded in the last 50 years! We were concerned
that the playroom had gone, but again some things were the same and we were
able to pool our collective memories and yes, we did manage some of the lovely
tea and cakes. Buses back to Coll. and home after a truly fantastic day.
Our thanks go to College, Vicky Tuck and the day's organisers headed by Mary Price. I hope the next reunions are as memorable for the next groups.
Adeline Rucklidge (Rawcliffe 1950-55, SL/FH)
The 1950s decade representative on the Guild Committee