1954 intake reunion

L-R standing: Richard Mavro-Michaelis, Ken Saunders, Geoff Dawes, Paul Edwards, Roy Stevenson, Roger Engledow, Roger Melling, Tony Hemmings, Bob Harris, Doug Fussell, Ray Humphreys, Tony Moffatt

Seated: Alan Williams, Andy Wick, Ron Johnson

Apologies: Martin Brown, Graham Ling, Richard Phillippo, Ian Smith, Bob Townsend, Mike Weatherley, Peter Weeks.

CLASS OF 1954 ANNUAL REUNION – OCTOBER 2025

Another reunion of the Class of 1954 – amazingly 15 octogenarians arrived in central London, all looking in pretty good shape to share stories, reflect on the past year and look forward to what the future holds. Our inaugural reunion had taken place in September 2004 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 100 boys starting their education at Stationers School. We had contacted 60 from that cohort and 30 gathered at the Melton Mowbray pub in Holborn. We met again in 2009 and since then have met annually with our 16th consecutive annual reunion taking place at the Red Lion in Moorgate last October. Despite the ravages of time, we have maintained a pool of 20-25 regular attendees, with 15-20 joining our reunions on every occasion since - travelling from far and wide.

Roger Melling noted that we are still learning about one another’s interests and activities after more than 70 years. Some of our friendships were formed through sporting activities. A previous issue of the Old Stationer noted that most of the 1956 Under-14 football team were regular attendees at our reunions, and Bob Harris noted that the school team that won the North Middlesex Swimming Championship in 1959 included three of the day’s attendees – Ray Humphreys, Roy Stevenson and himself, along with older brothers John Harris and Les Humphreys. Bob also noted that he was in the same scout troop as Geoff Dawes, Ray Humphreys and Geoff Tucker – and slept with at least one of them at scout camp!

Much of our discussion was about topics of the day after we had shared brief updates on our various ailments and those of absent friends. Naturally there was discussion about the prospects for Arsenal and Spurs, but it would be tempting fate to comment here given the time lapse between writing this report and the publication of the next Old Stationer Magazine. However, we all agreed on a few things: that the proportion of foreign players is too high, the use of VARs still needs improvement, and the misbehaviour of parents supporting junior players.

Paul Edwards was admiring Roger Melling’s walking exploits – regular walks of 10 miles with his wife at a pace of around 2.5 miles per hour – when our leading scientist Tony Moffatt asked what that was in metric units. Having consumed several pints of beer by this stage, Paul had to seek assistance from Roger Engledow who consulted his mobile phone to seek the answer. Unfortunately, the answer was not recorded so we cannot award any marks for accuracy.

Richard Mavro-Michaelis had once again travelled down from North Yorkshire to join us. He and his wife have decided to phase down their dog-breeding business, so they now have just three old dogs who are past the breeding stage. Rather like the attendees at the reunion!

Ken Saunders has written a haiku as a contribution to this report:
They relish this date
Friendships remake, old tales relate, the meds they take, while of ale partake.
Old Boys in a pub.

Finally, many thanks once again to Roger Engledow for making all the arrangements and for chasing us all to attend and keep in touch. The 2026 reunion has been set for Tuesday 6th October.

Bob Harris

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Our 9th reunion took place on Tuesday 4th October 2016 at our usual venue of The Cheshire Cheese.

Roger arrived at 5 minutes past noon to be greeted by 6 others who had beaten him to the pub! Overall numbers were down this year but, as one of the early attendees said, at least the “hardcore” are here. At 3.45 there were nine of us left – and we stayed until a little after 6 o/c so he was probably right.

Once we had got our medical updates out of the way, discussion turned to reminiscences of the past, current activities and of issues of the day. It is impossible to capture all of these, but a few of these included:

• The 1958 football trip to Denmark to play at Struer, and the return trip in 1959
Tony Hemmings still performing as an Assistant Referee (that’s a linesman in old currency) in the Southern Amateur League
• Bob Townsend regularly playing golf, and still trying to beat his wife Marguerite
Andy Wick’s frequent visits to Thailand and his lack of success in persuading the British Consul to issue a visa to his lady friend
• The last time that Geoff Dawes and Bob Harris slept together – which was at a scout camp in the 1950’s.
• Martin Brown still undertaking dental work one day per week
• The email to Alan Williams from Ian Hartwell in Canada, where is still a practising realtor (that’s an estate agent)
• The day that Ray Humphries and Bob Harris cycled to Brighton and back, and then got plastered in The Railway Inn on Tottenham Lane.
• Why Spurs never finish above Arsenal in the league.
• Who voted Leave and who voted Remain
• John Brackley agreed to rehearse the School Song on the piano in case he is needed at the Christmas lunch

Apologies for absence were received from Tony McKeer, Mike Hiron, Geraint Pritchard and Ian Smith for medical reasons, and Tony Moffat had to take his wife to hospital. Richard Woods, Richard Phillippo and Roy Stephenson were in good health but unable to juggle their holiday arrangements!

Three from our year were known to have died since we last met – John Croker, Neil Oliver and Edward Partridge, and we also received confirmation that joey Hodson had died back in 2006.
After drinking a toast to “Absent Friends” we gave our usual rousing chorus of the School song.
Next year’s event will take place at the same venue on Tuesday 3rd October 2017.

Roger Engledow & Bob Harris

Attendees

John Brackley
Martin Brown
Geoff Dawes
Roger Engledow
Doug Fussell
Bob Harris
Tony Hemmings
Ray Humphries
Ron Johnson
Graham Ling
Roger Melling
Bob Townsend
Mike Weatherley
Peter Weeks
Andy Wick
Alan Williams