Extracts from Correspondence

Yes, I would love to come! Best Wishes, Viv Bishop

How lovely to see all those names again! I do hope to be there. I don’t think I’m a member of the Association, I guess I would know if I was! Can I still come to that meeting? I can also probably offer accommodation for someone. It’s fantastic to hear from folks after all this time. The only person I’m in contact with is Drain. I’m in Cambridge working as a counsellor and also for VSO occasionally in London. Still singing plus lots of other music. I am certainly planning to come to the reunion and very much looking forward to meeting up with everyone and, like you, would also love to hear from anyone...or indeed meet up if Cambridge or London is where you are...California might be pushing it! With best wishes to all of you, The Lady Julia (Tomes)

Best wishes from Hilary Giles

Great to hear from you and to know of this plan. Of course I shall come! Also would be delighted to hear direct from anyone else meanwhile. Glad to hear Brian Manners has recovered from his illness and that Mr Coates will be there too. Hi Julia, Dave, Adrain and everyone else too! Fancy Dave you going to California…still, it goes with your image – as I recall a kind of Rod Laver style. Speaking of which, did you keep up your tennis? You had real talent there. I played a little at University (UEA), but got sucked into the cricket so comprehensively I had to abandon the tennis. Still wielding the bat occasionally, but the muscles seize up very quickly these days. The Lady Julia…viola(?) player par excellence I seem to recall. I am in London daily, so could meet anyone there quite easily. The memories that Dave Read (scooter crashes), Bill Gooderham (beer in Bremen!), Helen Snook (piggy back fights with Bob Pitfield, I think?) inspire….! It would be great to meet everyone again. Unfortunately I had to miss the only previous reunion because of pressure of work. I now realise that work should definitely come second to an occasion like this as it is likely to be our last opportunity before we all start dropping off the twig. Am working in education, as I have all my life, and living in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire with my two children Sofie, aged 13 and Robin, aged 9. Settled down v late in life! William Pedley

Many thanks for the mail regarding the impending "get together". I am in contact with Deb Shilling quite regularly so will see if she is able to come from Nottingham. We usually meet up in Lyme for our year reunion in the summer - I guess she would be the youngest one on the list - we were certainly the youngest ones to sing in Dubrovnik! Best wishes, Sarah Vincent

What a pleasant surprise to receive an e mail from you. I recall coming along as an honorary member to the last Madrigal Group reunion, and I enjoyed it very much, so I should really like to come along to this one. …Since John and Peter have both gone to university our house seems very empty; such a contrast with a year ago when their friends often met at our house. Also, Pat now works in Stoke on Trent and comes home alternate week-ends. Oh well, I have guinea pigs for company!… This sounds like it really will be fun. I will certainly come along. I don’t know at this stage whether Pat will be able to join us; we’ll have to see how that fits in with her work pattern later. Also I don’t have any contact details for the people you are trying to trace; most I have not seen since we left the school. If any of your invitees (is that a real word? Mr Coates would know!) are in need of transport from the Southampton area I will be glad to give a lift. I did have two cats called H…. and G…. many years ago; the two guinea pigs I now have are Dougal (he looks like the dog in The Magic Roundabout which I am sure you remember) and Willow (because of his colouring.) Steve Evemy

Hello there. Thanks very much for the information on the reunion. I hope that I can make it. Regards to you. Tich Searl

William has now forwarded me your e-mail to the Berlin and Yugoslavia 'madrigalers'. As you will have gathered I am no longer working at Surrey Heath (they gave me early retirement as part of ongoing restructuring). William has told me of your hopes for another reunion. I very much hope that this succeeds. The last one was a real success. Judith Pedley

I look forward to hearing more about the planned reunion. Regards, Malcolm Broom

How lovely to hear from you. Yes, Alastair and I will be delighted to come to the reunion. I can’t believe that such a long time has passed since the last one! Best wishes, Belinda Taylor

Lovely to hear from you. Yes,as far as I know, I can come to the reunion and I may even bring my husband! It will be great to catch up on everyone's news. I am in a choir called Chromata in London and will be very sad not to sing in it after July (when I stop my part time teaching job in London). Nice to read all those familiar names, I hope that we will recognize each other! Kind Regards, Jane Greenshields

Thank you for your Email. Greetings! Sorry to be a bit slow in replying, but I wanted to check my availability for Oct 15th and it looks like I can make it. With Best Regards, Alastair Kennaugh

It was great to hear from you. Feel free to forward my e-mail address to others from school. I emigrated to the U.S in 1983, and have lived in California for the last 28 years. Don't have much contact with anyone back in the U.K anymore, except an annual Christmas card from the Reverend David F. I will really try to get to the reunion in October. I would love to hear from you all. (a good reason to update my Facebook page!) Best Wishes, Dave Lillington

Thanks for your letter about the Woodroffe Madrigal Reunion on October 15th 2011. I would like to come. John Lillington