Dear Colleagues,
Matt Sawyer has reminded me that next year is our 55th year since leaving Cranbrook in 1971. Most of us are now retired or thinking about it and there are so many stories of extending families, travel, renovations, illnesses, etcetera that I hardly like to give my own. For the record, I retired 2 years ago, dealt with some medical issues, continuing annual trips to Manhattan, Honolulu and Lord Howe Island. Now restored to bonza health my story is quite boring compared to some with exotic travel, awards, further education, books, films and so on.
My question is whether people are interested in an event to celebrate, perhaps next spring or early summer? Lunch may be preferable for some. The school can put on a dinner in their marvelous new buildings (or the old boarders’ dining room) or else we can go further afield such as Moore Park Golf Club, Chinatown, Malabar South Indian (Kings Cross or Crows Nest) as just a few options. Some partners are always keen, others not so I presume that would be optional for the celebration. Cost is another issue so I will do some research in that, initially with the school.
Les Schmalzbach’s son Joel left Cranbrook last year and is currently travelling overseas. Peter Richardson visited me in Bowral while I remain in touch with a small number of others:
I occasionally see Clive Lovell in the street in Kings Cross, Greg Deacon in St V hospital nearby and also have had occasional communications from Dave Gilray, Andy Hilton, Howard Barker, Alan Pearlman, Eric McCusker, Craig Tallard (in USA), Marco Belgiorno-Zegna, Tim Robins (UK, Portugal), Andrew Parsons, Graeme Smith, Nick Back, Bill Currey (recent video from Sth America), and Andy Bottomley. From other years I keep abreast with Andrew Sharp, Kim Ryrie, Peter Vogel, Richard Hunter, Andrew Small inter alia. Nick Sampson is a neighbour in the Southern Highlands. Terry Clarke rings occasionally from his flat in Edgecliff. I happened to toot Jeff Tobias in the street by chance recently. Also, I had a brief email from Mark Piddington earlier in the year.
As people may recall, Richard Wild died in January after a cancer diagnosis. Very sad indeed.
Please let me know if you have any strong views on some sort of get-together but quite understand this is not for everyone. Lunch versus dinner; school versus other venue; interested or not so?
Regards and happy spring season for all.
Andrew Byrne ..
