Old Crosbeians and their guests arriving at our Wessex Luncheon venue were reassured to see the sun umbrellas being placed ready on the outside tables. Sadly, they were to remain furled since the day was one of those that have characterised this year’s June, even in normally warm and sunny Hampshire. However the grey and chilly day was invisible from the interior of The Fox at North Waltham where the party enjoyed both the meal, the venue’s welcoming hospitality and the customary sociability that marks this occasion. As ever, a summer Saturday causes competitive demands from holidays and family occasions for many OC’s but we still managed to occupy our usual three tables.

The rural charm of the surroundings must have made a striking contrast with those at the Paris Dinner, an event that caused this lunch to move from its usual date in May. Yet it was apparent that our President, Phillip Marshall Q.C., enjoyed this sole OC daytime event. In his address that followed the traditional toasts, he remarked on the longevity of friendships and good memories that he had heard about that day from Old Crosbeians. It also gave him the opportunity to remind the company that preparations are already underway to celebrate the School’s quatercentenary in 2020. To conclude, those male voices present then provided our small recognition of that history by a reasonably tuneful rendition of ‘Crescat Crosbeia’.

This year Amanda Hassell and Sylvia Scott were our ‘Old Girls’ representatives whilst the ‘Old Boys’ and their partners comprised David Anderson, Norman Dixon, Steve & Gisela Duckworth, John, Robert & Mary Goble, Stan & Barbara Holden, Jeremy Myers, Michael Purse, Michael & Maureen Sharp, John van Gelder and Alfred & Isabel Witham. Unfortunately, Richard & Shirley Cropper found themselves stranded within one of those traditional lengthy A 31 traffic jams and had to join us in spirit as they lunched near Salisbury instead. For most of us, this venue is just a comfortable drive away so thanks are due once again to Jeremy Myers who accepted the challenge of making the long rail journey down from Merseyside. John van Gelder was our most intrepid traveller, however, finding his way albeit within other visits from Germany’s Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. A tribute to those map-reading skills learned from his military apprenticeship in the CCF in Crosby, no doubt.

(L to R) : John van Gelder, Amanda Hassell, Jeremy Myers and Phillip Marshall

(L to R) : Gisela Duckworth, Sylvia Scott, Mary Goble and Steve Duckworth

(L to R) : Barbara & Stanley Holden, David Anderson

Alfred & Isabel Witham