Maine B House Reunion 30th November 2001
The Re-union was organised by: Richard McGregor (48-57).
Sixty-five Maine B Old Blues attended the Reunion on 30 November 2001 for all or part of the day, which was "for all those who knew Maine B as a senior house". Guest of honour was Morton Peto (Housemaster 1949-65) who was celebrating his eightieth birthday on that day! He was in very good form and was supported by members of his family including his daughter, Katherine and his son, James Peto (La A 1970's), both of whom were born in the Maine B days.
Maine B House Photo 2001
Back: David Kruger, Michael Short, Tom Smith, Alan Knight, John Ind, David Ind, Colin Chivers, David Robinson, Andrew Pye
Middle 1: Walter King, Geoff Tillotson, Colin Faers, Randall Peart, Peter Shuttleworth, Jim Cook, Chris Lewis, Chris Littler, Ernie Maile
Middle 2: John McGregor, David Hill, Mark Ransome, Don Carter, John Carr, Anthony Hurst, Alex Ranicar, Andrew Nimmo, Jim Davidson, Maldwyn Osborne
Middle 3: Tony Rutherford, John Smith, Roger Dixon, Dennis Quinn, Paddie Drake, Michael Luther, Graham Thornton-Norris, Richard Parris, Chris Chopping
Middle 4: Roger Lovegrove, Arnold Allen, Andrew Bellars, Geoff Russell, Chris Godfrey, Chris Bugge, John Williams, John Evans, Derek Mumford, Bob Vogel, Richard Goodfellow
Front: John Grosvenor, Michael Gray, Michael Hewitt, Peter Hill, Laurie Ogden, Morton Peto, Graham Phipps-Jones, Ian Lee, Brian Tucker, Eric Staunton, Peter Attenborough, Richard McGregor
Not in photo (arrived later): Peter Bugge, Charles Corp, John Farrant, Robin Lawson, Stuart Leamy, Peter Stevenson
Maine B Old Blues Roll Call
We assembled in Maine B dayroom and there was an immediate "buzz" as old friendships were renewed and new connections were formed. Richard McGregor (48-57) took the house roll call and a very warm welcome was extended by the current houseparents, Jonathan and Damini McCulloch. Attendance was from far and wide including three from the USA - Randall Peart (45-52), Derek Mumford (52-59) and Chris Bugge (56-63) - and also Chris Littler (54-60) from Spain and Michael Hewitt (47-55) from Egypt.
Perhaps the most remarkable connection was when Commander Richard Goodfellow (56-64) met Commander John McGregor (49-53). After a brief double take, they realised that they had previously met during the Falklands War in May 1982, when a rather shaken Richard (who was engineer officer of HMS Antelope which had just been bombed) was brought on board HMS Fearless and was met by John (who was his counterpart engineer officer on Fearless). Unaccountably, in the heat of the battle, they had omitted to ask each other where they went to school - let alone which house!
General Sir Michael Gray (42-50) announced to general approval that marching practice was cancelled (as we all knew how to march!) and delegated the responsibility for lunch parade to Colonel David Kruger (47-54).
The scene then changed to the lecture theatre in the new Science School, where the Head Master and the Clerk conducted a very informative question and answer session and dealt confidently with all questions including the 'catch all' one from Randall Peart - "can you give me a brief resume of all that has happened at the school since I left fifty years ago?"
David Kruger then marched us in to Dining Hall in surprisingly good order where we enjoyed lunch with some of the boys. Photographs were then taken on the dais under the watchful eyes from the portraits of our former headmasters. Paddie Drake (39-47) asked for a photo of the alleged twelve house captains present but by then we were at least two house captains short of a cricket team!
After lunch some enjoyed a visit to Grecians East, which was followed by tea back at Maine B. Then there was a 'free period' in which some found their lodgings for the night and others continued to explore or reminisce. ,strong>Michael Gray presented his 'red bather' to the Museum, to the bemusement of the Curator, whilst suggesting that Roger Dixon (39-48) would explain the significance of 'nude bathing'! And there was also a fire alert which, according to one of his contemporaries, was fairly inevitable with Alex Ranicar (54-60) amongst those present!
The show got on the road again with a nostalgic chapel service, for which our thanks go to the Reverend Mitra and Bruce Grindlay and his choristers. The lessons were read by Ernie Maile (41-49) and the Reverend Walter King (56-63).
We then moved to the Court Room for a very convivial reception which was followed by dinner in the eastern end of Dining Hall, as our numbers had outgrown the Court Room. Ninety-eight persons sat down to dinner including twenty-three wives or partners and eighteen guests. The guests, in addition to the Peto family, included his former colleagues David Jesson-Dibley, Martin Barker and Michael Carrington, the current houseparents, senior boys from Maine B and the Head Master and the Clerk. Also present were Mark Curtis and Anne Sartain from the Partnership Office, to whose smooth organisation of the proceedings we were all greatly indebted. The first grace was said by the senior Old Blue present, Graham Phipps-Jones (24-33) and the second grace was said by the House Captain, Ben Barber. (Sadly John Veal (20-26) could not come at the last moment but sent us his best wishes.)
Mark Curtis proposed the Housey Toast and the Votum was sung lustily accompanied by Charles Corp (48-56) on the piano. Peter Attenborough (48-57) then eloquently proposed the health of Morton Peto and presented him with an engraved glass bowl depicting scenes from Christ's Hospital, to which many of his friends (both present and absent) had contributed. Morton replied, in his modest and disarming way, to a standing ovation. Peter Shuttleworth (51-58) then wrapped up the proceedings by thanking all those concerned who had contributed to the success of the day.
The evident enjoyment of all those present was a delight to see and the timing of the Reunion was opportune as Maine B has now regained its rightful place as a senior house!
Written up by Richard McGregor. Email him.