THE West Country burrs must have sounded a little incongruous when four old Grammarians caught up in an outer suburban pub in Melbourne, Australia recently.
Just for a while 'G'day mate' gave way to 'Ow be gwayne, me beauty' as the four recalled their school days in Tavistock 40-odd years ago.
Ex-Bere Alston boy, Paul Wheeler in Adelaide, surprised Merv Collins in Melbourne 400 miles away, with a phone call out of the blue. He told him he was bringing former classmate, Jenny Loader, on holiday from England, across the country for a visit.
Pat Tucker, formerly of Horrabridge, completed the party — together with Merv's wife Chris — and the four ex-students.
Over a good dinner, they recalled former school friends and teachers from the 1950s. Wonderful photographs, school reports and letters were produced and the memories and laughter came thick and fast.
Pat Tucker, one of the tallest boys in the class of '53, came to Australia first.
He arrived in 1958 with his parents, previously the landlords of the Leaping Salmon, Horrabridge, and settled in Hampton Park just out of Melbourne.
He owns his own business now as a carpenter in the building industry and returns to Tavistock almost annually to visit family and old friends.
Paul Wheeler migrated with a friend in 1966 intending to stay a 'couple of years'.
He found work immediately in the Defence Department of the Australian Government, got married, and worked for over 30 years as a senior chemist to the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation.
He has returned to England only once in that time and has taken out Australian citizenship in recent years.
Mervyn Collins, known familiarly in Australia as Merv, (all names are abbreviated 'down under') always had musical interests and enlisted in the RAAF Central Band in 1963.
He has made a career out of playing, teaching and conducting music and is still, while approaching retirement, Music Director of a large secondary college.
He married an Australian girl, Chris, and has two children. He has made intermittent visits to England, most recently in 1999 and 2000 and still loves 'Tavvy' and thinks fondly of the old school.
Jeanne Loader, the catalyst for the mini reunion, was the daughter of the senior foreman of works at Dartmoor Prison.
She arrived at Tavistock Grammar School midway through first form in October 1953, surprising the school administration who were expecting 'John' Lauder.
She has lived most of her life in Surbiton just out of London. She was married and has, she said proudly, three handsome sons (including twins), all in their 20s. She recently moved back to Devon to live in Totnes.
The four had a wonderful evening recalling their happy youth and expect to catch up again in 2001 when the class of '53 has its 50th anniversary celebration back in beautiful Tavistock.
The '53 Reunion Committee incidentally, would like to hear from anyone who commenced their secondary schooling at Tavistock Grammar School in 1953, and teachers who taught in that era, so that they can be included in the reunion celebrations.
l Anyone interested in attending the reunion contact John Owen at 2, Walkham Terrace, Horrabridge, PL20 7TR; telephone 01822 853989 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]