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ModLang72
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The "30 Years" Reunion, already being dubbed the "Wheelchair" Reunion by those in the know, took place on 12-13 July 2002. Here's organiser, Derek Megginson's, account of another memorable reunion: The "Thirty Years Later" reunion - July 13th 2002 The third Mod Lang 72 reunion took place at the Midland Hotel in Bradford in July 2002, to commemorate the lapse of thirty years since we completed our university education. There were fewer participants than for the previous two reunions, but nevertheless it was an occasion enjoyed by all. We were very pleased to have made contact with Nick and Erika Panagakis and with Alan Toms, and pleased to see them again after a gap of thirty years.  In the run-up to this reunion - apart from an initial mailshot - all information was given and received by email. Whilst this reduced expense for the organisers, perhaps the lack of printed matter caused participants to be a little tardy or forgetful when it came to making arrangements. Whatever the reason, the 29 who attended the 1998 reunion had reduced to 23 for the 2000 reunion and a mere 18 for the 2002 occasion. At this rate, I will be on my own at the 2010 reunion! Most of us arrived on the Friday evening. Indeed, some arrived early and were already in the hotel bar (albeit drinking tea!) when others arrived. In order to be social, the arrivees cancelled plans for showers or baths and got straight on with the drinking. It was soon time for the short walk to Morley Street to the Kashmir, where we all enjoyed the vegetarian starters, the main meals and the cans of drinks from the off licence. The "Grand Day Out" had been a bit of a problem this year. But the internet is a wonderful thing isn't it? So Skipton, only a short train journey away, was chosen by the Social Secretary as the destination, and the highlight was a sightseeing trip by canal boat  . I had
been on canal trips before - in Venice, in Bruges, in Hamburg, in Amsterdam, in
Copenhagen, for instance, so it sounded interesting. And "Pennine Boat
Trips" seemed ideal. So, without personal knowledge and without an
"inspection visit", the trip was booked. 
Originally we had planned to have a leisurely start to the day by leaving the
hotel at around 10 a.m., but a conductors' strike on the local train service
had led to a much-reduced timetable and we had to take a rather earlier train
at 8.40 followed by a change of train in Shipley. The weather was gorgeous, so
a walk around Skipton (or, in some cases, a walk around Skipton market) was
much enjoyed.
 The
boat trip got off to an interesting start, when what should have been a routine
three-point turn evolved into a lengthy performance where at one stage the
outcome seemed likely to be either a collision or a canal boat wedged
lengthways across the Leeds Liverpool canal. Once properly underway we enjoyed
the sights of the weed-covered towpaths, private backyards and derelict garages
until finally emerging into the glorious Dales countryside - at which point we
turned round and chugged back to the wharf in Skipton. OK, so maybe we won't do
that trip again, although the comments that it was about as interesting as a
submarine trip were perhaps a little exaggerated!
 However,
from the wharf it was only a thirty-second walk to our chosen pub, the
highly-recommended "Cock and Bottle"(where we saw plenty of bottles
but definitely no cock). An internet success, this time! Some people are
obviously slower eaters than others, so our stay in the pub lasted in some
cases for an hour, in other cases for three hours before returning to Bradford
by train. For some the train journey back was just too exciting! The
evening's festivities started in the downstairs bar, which was very crowded as
the hotel was hosting not only a lavish wedding ceremony but also a meeting of
the Trolleybus Appreciation Society. We then moved upstairs to the Forster
Suite and a plentiful buffet. As we had yet again failed to book a guest
speaker, Mike Willcox said a few appropriate words and Chas Baker provided a
quiz which was much enjoyed. To a background of 1968-1972 music we conversed
and reminisced for quite some time.
 Those
present at the 2002 reunion, in addition to those mentioned already, included
Fiona Preston, Jenny Thomas, Mark Hepner, Steve Cook, Pamela Powell, Richard
Winborn, John Hodgson, Janet Fauret, Kath O'Donovan, Edwina Moreton, Anne
Brewerton, and we were also pleased to be able to greet Arthur and Liz Williams
as our guests.  So,
we'll get together again in …. 2005, maybe?? Put a note in your diary (and
then throw away your diary, as usual, on January 1st 2003). Derek A request from your webmaster (Chas): have you any digital photos of the occasion that you would be prepared to let loose on the website? I'm still sorting mine and they will appear on the website soon. If you have any, please email them to me, preferably in jpg of gif format, and if possible compressed (not essential - just saves my phone bill!)  |
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| The invitation Have you ever noticed how you don't see one for 25 years, then, you get three in quick succession? Seriously, how do you explain the fact that we've done 1997, 2000 and yet we're still proposing another reunion for 2002? The answer, of course, is - popular demand. You said you wanted another chance to practice bi-labial plosives with consenting adults (or maybe just without being arrested). Whatever, you've got another chance. Same place, same price'ish and the same, great bunch of cunning linguists. So here are the details:
So if you haven't already done so, BOOK NOW! for the ModLang72 event of the year (well actually it's the only ModLang72 event this year)! Contact Mike Willcox or Derek Megginson without delay! Also, why not look at the Past Reunions page to remind yourself what fun these occasions can be? |