25 Oct 2021
Written By Matthew Eastley

Back Home? Class of ‘70 roll back the years

Ah 1970. What a great year that was. A famous World Cup in Mexico where, in the build up, Bobby Moore got stitched up like a kipper in Bogota and was wrongly accused of stealing jewellery and Gordon Banks mysteriously suffered food poisoning just before the heart-breaking quarter-final against West Germany.

That summer was all about Spirit in the Sky, Back Home, In The Summertime and The Wonder of You. On the telly, it meant The Double Deckers, The Banana Splits, Catweazle and Ace of Wands.

And, that September, sixty plus new boys started at St Mary’s along with a number of new faces in the staff room including Rod Turner, Graham Field, Patsy Sinicki, Richard Earle and Wrio Russell.

Just over half a century later, nearly a third of this new intake of boys met for a reunion dinner in the Boot and Flogger wine bar near London Bridge.

No fewer than 19 old boys (five As and 14 Alphas) made it, starting the evening at The George Inn on Borough High Street at 5.30pm for a few liveners before heading to the wine bar for dinner.

The night was arranged by Pete Linnett who said: “Just prior to the meal starting, we raised the roof with a rousing rendition of ‘Exaudi nos, Maria’, the school hymn.

“An enjoyable evening was had by all, so much so that early plans are are being considered for a second reunion in the Summer/Autumn of 2022. After dinner a sizeable number of the group retired back to the George Inn (see below) to continue with the evening’s enjoyment.”

The main picture shows, left to right, Andrew Carmichael, John Ross, Jerome Martin, Francis Mahon, Paul Burton, Mike Bealing, Ian McKinnon, Tony Damer, Peter Linnett, Chris Baldwin, John Moulange, John Talbot, Ken Mendes, Kevin Hawes, Phil McCarthy, Paul Mattison, Ricky Stanton, Peter Alexander and Tony Deans.

And as a 1970 song to sum up the occasion how about either Marmalade’s Reflections of My Life or Stevie Wonder’s Yester-me, Yester-you, Yester-day. A bit laboured but you get my drift!

Dinner over, a hardy few continued the celebrations in the courtyard of The George Inn.