The 70th year anniversary of the 1955 Wimbledon College intake was held as follows
Date Friday 12 September 2025 Time 12 noon to 17:00
Place The “Garden Room” at the “Hand in Hand” pub, 6-9 Crooked Billet, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4RQ.
Report
A very successful lunch was attended by 19 classmates including one, Harro Hopfl, who was celebrating his actual birthday. On the next day (Saturday 13 September 2025) an informal lunchtime get together was held at the Raynes Park Hotel. The pictures below give an idea of the cosy room where the reminiscences flowed as strongly as the beer and wine. It was generally agreed to be very enjoyable and equally necessary to hold another event next year.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of this page is a form which can be used to for those any of the Class of 55 to share thoughts or stories about the event or anything else which will then be added to the page after authorisation.
The Welcome Board
Harro Hopfl birthday card
The morning after in Raynes Park
The pictures are here
2025 70 Year Reunion – Messages from those unable to attend
Malcolm Bolton – Congrats on your organising this. I am very sorry I will not be attending. I am going through some horrible dental treatment and Lesley is having continual eye treatment so cant drive at all. I hope you all have an enjoyable meeting and I send my very best wishes to all the OWs
Kevin Tingay – I still get news of your meetings so thought I would let you know that I am still alive and relatively well but do not get to London these days so could not make a trip to Wimbledon. You may care to share news of me to any that remember me. I retired from Anglican ministry 15 years ago and live in Frome in Somerset. As in the Church of Rome priests do not really retire if they are able to take on locum work. The Vicar of my local church retired at the beginning of 2024 so for all of last year a colleague and I covered the liturgical and pastoral work in the parish, It was a joy to be able to celebrate mass regularly but I am pleased that from January this year with have a youthful replacement and I am less pressured with priestly duties. Do give my best wishes to the faithful remnant when it assembles. Every Blessing
John Dickson – I’m very sorry that I won’t be able to make this reunion, although I certainly would if I could, since my wife, Madeleine, is handicapped and lacking in mobility, relying on me to do a lot of things she is unable to cope with. Do keep all of us informed, however, since at the very least it enables us to participate somewhat, even though at a distance. We live in Oradour-sur-Glane in central south-western France – in the eastern hemisphere, unlike most of you. Love and best wishes to all and sundry.
Bernie Edwards – Much as I would liked to have attended I regret that will not be possible for me due to my immobility (My Zimmer frame dislikes travel!) and the fact that I have just had my gall bladder removed and am convalescing. I hope that the gathering goes well and that rest assured I will be thinking of you all.
Greg Brooks – Sorry about this, but I’m having to drop out of our gathering on the 12th September. My wife Maxine has just been told that she has a tumor and swelling on the brain and this has thrown all our plans into disarray. I hope it goes well for those who can get there.
Brief video during the pre-lunch apertifs
“Name the Masters” was a popular game with decreasing accuracy and recall as the afternoon evolved.
The thoughts of the Class of 55
Contribute to the memories
Whether you attended any of the reunions or not, a comment with a recollection or story can be added in the comment form. After validating, it will be added to the report.
4 responses to “2025 Reunion”
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Congratulations and thanks for compiling the photos and video. Happy memories. Could it be termed “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?”
As I suggested previously, I think another meeting at the H in H is in order in a few months. Maybe early spring? -
Its impressive that 19 of you actually made it on the day and that quite a few others are keeping in the loop even though we couldn’t get there.
Best wishes to all and sundry
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What a great time was had! The pictures clearly show the great conviviality, friendship and good vibes.
I am sorry I could not make it.
I had a knee operation set for 10 June which was switched to 16 September.
In the mean time my partner and I bought a new residence and sold the old one and a one-bedder.
I’ve been in hospital pretty much since 16 Sept. The hospital involvement will end on 10 November.
I’m hoping to become more normal after this.
All the very best to you all from Down Under,
Shaun Lennon -
Who’s talking to Mike Lattimer in the video and as for the birthday signatures, to left and right of what might be (although not quite) McDonough, are as illegible as the centre one itself, so what do those represent?
As for the masters, I can get all but one at the top, only Luke and Collie on the next down, all except 2 between Sammons and Kelly on next down, and Curtis, Brum, Jack, Iggy and Bats.
Did anyone have 4 or more children? (I had, and indeed have, 4 – 2 of each). I also had 2 occupations, but no boss except me.
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