As snow and ice seemed to be covering the entire country during the few days leading up to our Plymouth dinner, I was a little concerned that there would be some large gaps in the table plan come the evening. But this was West Buckland and I hoped that it would take more than a challenging road to keep those hardy souls from their dinner.

In the event only two had to cancel and forty three made it to the Royal Western Yacht Club on time for what turned out to be a very good evening.  Unfortunately due to ill health, our president Kirsti was unable to join us and all wish her a speedy recovery. In her absence Charlie Popplewell stepped forward to call on the head of school Rebecca Markham to say grace and, later in the evening, to introduce our Head Master, John Vick.

John was able to bring us up to date with all that is happening at WB in his usual relaxed way. I noticed a few comments of surprise and delight from his audience when John detailed just how much the old place had developed in very recent times. Thank you once again John for your enjoyable contribution. It is always a delight to welcome new (old) faces to the dinner and this year there were several. Charles Welchman (54-60G) and Rosemary, came all the way from London, James Jenkins (59-64C) from Princes Risborough, Andrew (Fred) Jenkins (51-57C) from Bradford-on-Avon and Piers Rogers (63-68). 

The call to make this a 50’s /60’s gathering worked well as most of those present represented those years. A complete list is set out below. The date for next year will be Saturday 26^th. November and there has been an interesting suggestion made, that we have a luncheon gathering instead of dinner. There is some merit in this, for instance, assuming that the weather is half decent, the view from the club dining room out across the Sound is superb: Meeting at 12.00 for 13.00, there would be little time constraint after lunch for people to relax with friends either in the bar or over a cup of tea. And finally, those good souls who have a drive home afterwards can do so in the early evening rather than late at night. I would be very interested in some feed-back on this, so if you have a view, please let me know.

Thank you as always to all who did come this year and especially to Graham Tucker who, once again, provided some lovely gifts for the raffle. I think that Tom would be very pleased that a tradition he started seventy one years ago was still going strong and with your help, it will continue to do so.

Terry Curtayne.

The following dined at the Tom Hitchins Plymouth Dinner 2011:  John Vick (Headmaster), Lynne Vick, Angela Avens, John Avens, Robin Start, Pam Start, David Avery, Jacki Avery, Charlie Popplewell, Rebecca Popplewell, David Clark, Helen Clark, Richard Statton, Evonne Statton, Charles Welchman, Rosemary Welchman, Mike Bowles, Ros Bowles, Sue Pollard, Steve Pollard, Piers Rogers, James Jenkins, Robert Cattell, Graham Tucker, Tom Mitcham, Rebecca Markham, Sarah Priest, Mark Wightman, Liz Uren, Chris Uren, Nick Priest, Mike Hannaford, Terry Curtayne, Fred Jenkins, Nick Squire, Kate Squire, Brian Gilchrist, June Squire, Richard Squire, Bill Hitchins, Sue Hitchins, Mike Tinkler, Derek Gilchrist