Readers Write
Many thanks to all those OM's
who kindly sent Christmas and New Year Greetings. I am sorry not to have been able to reciprocate at the time, but as many of you will know, life gets pretty hectic for clergy around that time and since then my wife Gillian and I have been visiting my parents (in their 90's), children and grandchildren. I thought I would just send a few comments to those who knew me.
The formative years are still well remembered - Gillian blames Roger Pott for my driving style - and my desire to redesign the traffic systems in places I live and visit - even here in Sweden where one thinks it's a traffic jam when there are a couple of cars in sight. My Latin is as basic as ever, and my French, despite a French daughter-in-law would make Mr. Taylor weep. German is better since we lived in Frankfurt/M for 7 years and Swedish is a distant relative so not so hard to read. Maths? - Thank God for computers and calculators. We wonder how we produced a son who graduated in Maths. My interest in photography (despite not being a member of the Film Team) continues apace and I still have photos and slides that one-day I will scan and send around - that's a threat! Music is of course a very important part of life. We had a super choir in Frankfurt that makes CD's and sings in Cathedrals in the UK and I know enough to be able to tell an Organist what I need. Miss Hayes Williams would have been pleased to know that my geography has improved since living outside the UK
Being an Archdeacon (as well as a Chaplain of a church with about a 100 worshipping every Sunday) is pretty demanding, with lots of visits to be made to Anglican parishes in Scandinavia, the Baltic and Germany. The churches consist of many nationalities - not just Brits - but also Americans, Africans and Asians and other English speakers from all over the world. We have a good mixture of locals too. Strange how one seeks what one remembers from the past - and perhaps I am now here because St. M's gave one the confidence and openness to the exciting possibilities of different groups and peoples working together. I sometimes feel that that is what I gained most from those teenage years, and a lesson, which I wish the more insular “Little Englanders” and other nationalists all over the world, would be able to experience and enjoy. Maybe it was different for you - but it wasn't the academic lessons at Ingoldisthorpe, but the ones about living in the community, which were the gifts that have helped me.
Well this wasn't meant to be a sermon - sorry folks - but I can't get to reunions often and I just wanted send a little more than good wishes and to record my appreciation of the friendships and experiences of those far off years. I wish more of those I knew were on e-mail. In addition, if you have forgotten what I look like - then look at our parish web site and take off a year or two! Many good wishes to you all.
David Ratcliff (by e-mail)
The Mitre finally arrived last Friday
Dear Martin,
The Mitre finally arrived last Friday. Thank you, it seems to be a particularly "full" edition. I marvel at your resourcefulness in gathering so much from such reputedly reluctant scribes!
I enjoyed all the Christmas and New Year Greetings from OMs. I had been away from my "machine" for quite a while.
I must admit there is very little news of my contemporaries (1947-1953) but fascinating, nevertheless, to read most of the articles. I particularly like Les Roberts's style. I must agree with his reminiscences of Henry Taylor. He really was as Les described. Poor man's bungalow was devastated in the flood of '53.
You asked had we been anywhere interesting/nice. Well we did a round the world trip. First from here to Perth for a couple of weeks. We toured south of Perth as far as Albany doing a lot of walking mainly in the Porongurups and the Sterling Range. We then flew to Sydney, rented a Campervan, and did a similar tour as far as 200kms N of Brisbane for almost 4 weeks. Stayed with friends for a few nights but mainly camping and walking whenever we got the chance. Finally to San Francisco and on to Washington DC for Christmas with our Daughter (Susan) and family. Our latest grandson (Alexander) now almost two, kept us on our toes. (Didn't have time to meet up with Cliff Wallington this time but hope to again when we are back there in September.) It was extremely cold - the temp didn't get above freezing for our entire stay: the Potomac was frozen over! Then home via London - just for the day, we rented a car to go up to Boston to see my (sick) Mother, and home and back to sunshine again early in January. Away for nearly 8 weeks in total.
It's back to work now. I work 2 months in 3 for a platinum, a gold and a coal company. The first company makes lots of money - the platinum group metals prices continue to go through the roof. Gold and coal are far less profitable. The last board meeting is mid February then we'll be off to the Cape for 6 weeks or so. A really tough life!!
I'm very much aware that the OMA is 50 years old in 2003. It will be here before we know it. I do hope we will be able to make it. I think the last Reunion attended would be about 25 years ago!
Regards
Mike Pleming (by e-mail)
