Aberdeen University 2019 Reunion of Biology, Agriculture and Forestry 1960-1970 

Never one to resist a challenge you can imagine the scenario on receipt of Dave Mardon’s comment, in February, and I quote, “This year is the 10 th anniversary of your very successful and enjoyable reunion, as I am sure you are aware.” I got in touch with Martyn and we tested the water. Initially I tried the easy route of just a lunch at the University. Of course a lot of us are so far flung across the Country, Europe and the Globe and some required a much more substantial reason to make such a long trip. Martyn came to the rescue by suggesting and facilitating what was to become the highlight of the weekend, a walk around the dunes, to the south of the River Ythan, to see the seal colonies, countless estuary birds, the remains of WW11 installations and to cheer the off-shore wind farm blighting the view from Trump’s golf course at Balmeddie. This was followed by a very tasty, light lunch at the Newburgh Inn. The weather responded to our pleas for clemency and only fell from grace with a downpour while we were having lunch. There was then an opportunity to do a partial tour round the King’s Campus offered by the Alumni Association. This incorporated KC Chapel, the new Conference Centre (on the site of the former library), Elphinstone Hall and the new Library with its remarkable design and stunning views from the top floor. We concluded the tour with a visit to the Cruikshank Botanical Gardens before retiring to the Chaplaincy Centre to relax, chat and order take-aways. We were joined by Andy and Joan, local friends of Annette, Margaret and George, Andy saving the day by negotiating the challenges of ordering (and paying for) the food for 10+ people on-line. (We did all reimburse him, I hasten to add.) The diversion suggested for the Sunday was the Highland Games at Crieff, the attraction of which was that no booking was required and people could turn up or not, as they wished. Only three of us went but it was a remarkable and entertaining experience, particularly for someone who had not been to such an event since her early teens (me) or ever (Bernard). Dave M., a regular attendee of such events in the region was highly impressed. There was an uninterrupted programme of events throughout from Highland and Sword dancing to athletics, cycling and Scottish Championships heavyweight events, a display from Nigerians performing at the Edinburgh Tattoo and a succession of Pipe Bands (I lost count of how many), some from as far afield as Canada, most of whom had come straight from competing in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow the day before. Again the weather was kinder to us than might have been expected from the forecast.
It was a joy to those of us not living in the locality to be back in Aberdeen and especially to be meeting with classmates and lecturers/demonstrators from student days, some of whom we may not have kept in touch with. The venue for the dinner, Hilton DoubleTree, Beach Boulevard, looked after us very well, the meal being of excellent quality and value, with discounted accommodation offered for attendees. The Alumni Association seemed pleased to see us, marking our visit by individual gifts of University lapel badges and key rings and the Chaplaincy Centre couldn’t have been more helpful putting their facilities at our disposal for the afternoon and evening.
I feel that mention needs to go to Gullan, John, Len, Alasdair, Helen and Antony for making the effort to travel from the Pyrennees, South Uist, Cambridge and the Home Counties, Duncan Heddle for joining in and remembering each and every one of us whom he had taught and Ken Thomson who had been a major element in the organisation for the 2009 Reunion. I think I am right in saying that Ken was entirely educated in Aberdeen, through the Grammar School and University, taking a post in Newcastle before returning, as I understand it, to be the youngest appointee, at the time, to the Chair of Agricultural Economics.
Thank you to you all for attending. If we do consider a repeat ‘get-together’ in 2024, as has already been suggested, it will certainly be just a lunch with any associated activities being entirely up to individuals.

Jacky Simpson August 2019