The beginnings
The real beginning was in October 1965 when we all arrived in Cambridge. At that time most first year undergraduates at Queens' were in digs found by the college.
Also, in those days Queens' had separate sittings of compulsory Hall for each of the various years. So in Hall and at lectures we tended to mix only with our year group. This meant that, living out of college, we mainly got to know the other Freshers.
As always happens, groups of people with similar backgrounds, attitudes and interests tend to coaless. By the second term a number of us had got into the habit of going for coffee after Hall in the upstairs room at The Anchor.
Being in college for our second and third years enabled firmer friendships to develop. Friendships which have now lasted most of our lives.
First Reunion
How the idea of holding a reunion came about is lost in the mists of time. Suffice it to say that a couple of us got in touch - by phone or letter in those pre-internet days - with as many of our friends as we could and floated the idea.
Happily, there was sufficient enthusiasm amongst a sufficient number to be worth going ahead. More phone calls and letters later we had agreed on a date and a venue. In May 1970 ten of us spent the weekend together in Stratford-upon-Avon.
We visited the tourist sites, watched Richard III at the RSC, had dinner after the show and went boating.
More significantly, we agreed to meet again, in a different location, at about the same time the following year.
50 Years Later
Since that fateful weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon we have kept up the tradition every year. Apart from meeting in Cambridge three times, we have never been back to the same town or city.
Over the years our numbers have varied because of people's work and family commitments, and other factors. Wives joined us for the first time when we met in Cambridge for our tenth reunion in 1979. Since then, wives and partners have always been part of the group.
Although finding suitable cultural entertainment in some venues has not always been possible, the basic formula, which has served so well over the years, remains unchanged.
Sadly we have lost one devoted member of our group, but we hope as many of us as possible can carry on meeting for as long as possible. Although the coronavirus pandemic means we can only meet virtually in 2020.