reunions

[lastchance]

I am thinking of organising a school reunion, have any of you been to one? was it ok or dreadful?

[lastchance]

sorry i put on wrong site but answer if you want, thanks

[zharniwhoop]

Hi,

Go for it!!!

I set one up a few years ago. Great fun. Wonderful to see how people " ended up "

I also had 18 people stay at my house. One even slept in the bath there was so little space. We got through a veritable mountain of bacon and bread the following morning!

Cheers

Z

[heathfield]

Depends on the anniversary. After 5 years, no-body has much to say - lives and careers are still in a state of progress. After 30 years the only ones that will turn up will be those who want to boast about how much better they've done than anyone else!

[Catso]

I went to an unofficial one, years ago. It was awful. After 10 years, I was having trouble even recognising the people. And, or course, you've now nothing in common with them, and nothing to talk about except 'do you remember so & so'. You can't really say no, so you have to guess/make things up.

Wouldn't go near one again. Your life moves on.

[scoobydooby]

A fantastic idea. I went to one after 10 years and then another after 20. Both were an absolute success but particularly the one after 20 years. A hall was booked with a DJ, who was asked to play 80's music. Most of us (after a few too many drinks) were remembering all the dances we did in the 80's and having a whale of a time. I'd be bopping away with a strapping handsome guy (who I didn't recognise) only to find out he was the geeky spotty one from 3rd year! Hire a hall, get a disco and then have a collection tin for contributions. You'll get your money back easily. You've got to do it - best fun ever.

[shaneystar2]

I left school ..ooooh....forty odd years ago .My two old schoolfriends and I went back two years ago.It was lovely .We didn't meet any one from our year but an ancient teacher recognised us. Ahem !!
It was more of an open day than a reunion really and they had "afternoon tea" ! It was just nice to look round the old school really and reminisce.

[what..the?]

I have a question as follows -

Is it a certain type of person who sets up these reunions???

Is it the clever ones from school,
the popular
the sporty
or just the ordinary kids - but was there such a thing??

Is it the people who are now successful and bloody big headed!! Or does it make no difference, surely someone who has done naff all and sits around gaining weight while on benifits is not going to want to organise one???

[maviscoull]

we had one in 2000 and it was brilliant. definately go for it !!

[cameo]

went to one a few years ago.
it was a 15 year reunion held at the old school.
it was funny how most people were still in the same kind of groups eg: the quiet 'geeky' ones or the 'i fancied myself like mad at school and still do'.
i found i could recognise people but couldn't remember their names!!

[Everhelpful]

Went to a works reunion of 40 years ago. First 3 or 4 years were great but numbers shrink alarmingly after that.Probably because the years fly by too quickly nowadays.!!

[lastchance]

thanks everyone I think I will go ahead, my plan is to hire the local townhall where the disco every other Friday was held and book the same D.J. as he is still doing discos now.
What..the? my reason for setting up the reunion is because I returned to the town to live 8 years ago and I have noticed that many others are doing the same. My life has been nothing to write home about and I hated school but I still liked everyone there so would hope to have fun with them again.

[ACB312]

My mate and I considered trying a reunion of our final primary school class (approx 1962/63). We researched and found almost all the current whereabouts of our classmates and made contact with them but found a reluctance to participate in any form of event - they seemed happy with a thumbnail sketch of their peers - so and so is married to someone, has two kids and does whatever. As a previous post indicated - conversation could soon run out when you have not been in contact for almost forty years. As for old romances, that's another story.......

[glesga123]

The type of person who organises these things is generally the ' look at what i've got ' sort. The type who go only want to talk about themselves and make sure they are doing better than you are.
You only have to look at Friends Reunited to see what you're getting into. So unless you've got a beautiful home / car / partner, or bank account !!!! i wouldnt bother.
p.s. You wont be surprised to hear ive got none of the above.........

[lastchance]

no me niether, rent my house , don't drive , single parent, no annual holidays abroad yet! I have bank account but have only just got in credit after many years in the red, i wonder why i want to have reunion then.

[Snowy Owl]

Three of us, and our respective OHs, met up last month, 49 years after we had last seen each other going our separate ways to secondary school. It was GREAT! We`d been in contact for a while through FR and it was rather like moving away from somewhere you have lived for ages and getting to make and know new friends. Yes, we three talked about what we could recall of our primary days together, but mostly we chatted like you might expect 6 `new` friends to talk. It was a relaxed and comfortable experience.

I can see where some of the comments are coming from regards the good and the great being the organisers who want to boast about their success. You`ve either got to go really big, and hope that dozens turn up, or keep it small like we did. You can always walk away......

[glesga123]

Hey lastchance you sound like your putting yourself down there. Listen, i would never say not to do a thing to someone just cause I didnt fancy it. You go and do your own thing and enjoy yourself. Some of the best people i ever met had no a**e to their trousers and not a penny in the bank. One crackpot at my old school goes on for three paragraphs about her �1000 fridge for Christs sake. If you can see through other peoples falseness and stuff go right ahead and have your reunion. As snowy owl quite rightly says, you can always walk away. Good luck.

[lastchance]

Thanks glesga123!

[shaneystar2]

Just a last comment ..our old school has a commitee (democratically elected )and an Old Girls Association who organise this event every year.Therefore more organised ,not just a drink and disco kind of thing and all members receive regular newsletters etc.Plus a school website.
I think that these sort of one off reunions with just people from a certain year turning up can be a flop whereas a regular ongoing thing is bound to be more of a success because of all the different age groups .
You are what you are and if people cannot accept that and only turn up to these sort of things in the hope they are better than anyone else then I despair.
Schooldays are supposed to be the happiest days of your life.Mine certainly were and it was great for "us three" to be able to take a picture in the same place as we did when we were sixteen albeit forty odd years older and wiser !!

[shaneystar2]

Oh dear ..hundred lines ....must have pressed the button twice somehow ...sorry about that.