Grange '76ers 30th Reunion

(Phew!) Let's do it again...sometime

2006-07-02T19:10:00.000Z

Just got home to sunny Brum, the day after the night before...

WOW! I think we pulled it off! About 70 folks turned up at various times during the evening and we got some incredibly good feedback from everyone who attended. It was really great to see people re-connecting after so many years, as well as others talking to people who they would have totally ignored, or just never encountered at school. So many people seemed to be deep in conversation that we couldn't get them out the door at the end of the night!

Yvette and Graham did BRILLIANT jobs getting the place ready and keeping things moving during the night and also many thanks to all the folks who donated raffle prizes and helped with the clearing up.

My highlights of the night? Too many to mention really? I suppose the biggest highlight was the really positive feedback we received from everyone. I'm already being pestered to do it again....But what did you really think of the event? Graham, Yvette and I would love to know what your memories of the night were - good and bad. Just click on the comments link and let us know how it felt to see all those old friends (and enemies) again...

One Day To Go...

2006-06-30T13:13:00.000Z

...no, not to the big rematch of Engerland v Portugal, but to the (even bigger) reunion. The plans are laid and there's no going back now...!

How do I feel? Quietly excited, confident, hopeful, worried?

...all of the above. Will it be a disaster? Will it be a triumph? Will history remember this as one of my finest hours, or the day I completely screwed up? Have I forgotten anything? Will I receive the plaudits and adoration of old school colleagues or be reviled and shunned for the rest of my life....?

Or am I just taking this all a little too seriously?

Truth is I'm too busy to get worried - more worried about where I'm gonna get a telly to watch Brazil vs France during the reunion!

Let's face it, Benzo, Yvette and I have booked the hall, got the food and drink, sorted a dj and sold the tickets - our work is (almost) done. The rest is up to you....

We got a half century!

2006-06-28T22:00:00.000Z

YES! We've managed to clock up the half century of tickets already sold, with promises from other people who are definitely coming!

The current list of definite names is as follows (but its increasing all the time)...

Mike Barrows
Yvette Hallam
Graham Bennett
Shaun Allen
Sarah Benfield (Godfrey)
Jane Sorrell (Goodman)
Novlette Rennie
Angela Murray
Kim Wetherall (x2)
Jane Gelipter (Clay)
Dave Merrill
Paul Webster
Amanda Anderson
Angela Caplan
Gary Caplan
Caroline Frow
Carmela Claxton
Anthony Chapman
Christine Coughlan
Julie Street
Brian Kus
Darren Kus
Denise Pemberton
Dermott Dyson
Vivien Lindley
Ruth Porter
Kate Campbell
Sue Arandale
Martin V
Mark Terry
Carole Hope
Dennise Hardman
Diana Dale
Fiona Mazur
Sue Bellamy
Earl Anderson
Brian K
Hazel Gelsthorpe
Stepanie Kent
Paul Nichols
Karen Butterley
Lynn McGowen
Jeanette Cryer
Hazel Thornton
Debbe Bagshaw
Peter Bennett
Karen Evans
Alan Strawford
Steve Claxton
Bob Cowley
Elane O'Neil
David Townsend
Pamela Moseley
Martin Folger

If you haven't got your ticket yet, I've still got some - address below, or call Yvette Hallam (phone number below), or dash over to Jencel Beads and Jewellery address below) before closing time on Friday.

See you on Saturday...
Bones

Hot cakes - well, very warm anyway..!

2006-06-26T08:20:00.000Z

Had some good news that the ticket sales are going well. Remember you can get one from me by sending £12 to my address below. Alternatively, check out the other outlets below.

Must say "Nuff Respect" (see, I know the young folks' lingo) to Jude Calvert-Toulmin who has helped to publicise the event by talking about it on her blog

http://thewhiteroseofyorkshire.blogspot.com/

and on www.sheffieldforum.co.uk.

Thanks babes!

The rest of you, get off your ass and go get your ticket!

Bones

Don't Be afraid...!

2006-06-26T08:01:00.000Z

Only a few days to go and the stress levels are rising...but what the heck, I've got a holiday in Portugal to look forward to the following week! That's my way of dealing with potentially stressful situations - just look beyond it and realise that its only temporary, life goes on whatever happens.

Spent the weekend phoning and emailing people - getting some good feedback from people looking forward to it, but also been getting the message that people are very nervous about the whole thing; some are afraid that no-one will recognise them and talk to them, others that they're not in the best shape of their lives, etc, etc, etc...

C'MON PEOPLE! Its just a bit of fun! F.D. Roosevelt said "You have nothing to fear but fear itself" - couldn't have put it better myself. Just live a little for once, take a chance and see what happens...

I also heard that someone thinks its just an opportunity for people to show off about how well they've done. Kinda sad thought really after 30 years...the truth is that me and Benzo (Graham Bennett) thought it would be a genuinely nice idea to get people to re-connect again with childhood friends after such a long time...the spirit of Friends Reuinted and all that! The event is planned for everyone to have a good time, so obnoxious behaviour will result in a slap - or maybe we can borrow Jeppo's slipper for the evening.

BTW if you've gone into contract killing as a career, please leave all weapons at home - if you've seen the film Grosse Pointe Blank, you'll understand what I'm talking about!!!

Get ya tickets quick!
Bones

I'm a Radio Star - Again!

2006-06-22T07:44:00.000Z

Zapped some emails off to Radio Sheffield at the weekend to publicise the reunion and as a result I managed to wangle a 10-minute interview on the Alex Hall show on Tuesday night.

I was also invited down to BBC Birmingham yesterday morning to pre-record an interview which will go out on the Nu Black programme on Radio Sheffield on Sunday (25th).

All good fun - I used to do a lot of radio work at Uni (Nottingham), for the BBC (Radio Sheffield) and on pirate radio in Brum (don't ask- I'd have to shoot you!!), so it brought back a lot of memories. The main thing though is that I got some great publicity for the reunion. Tickets are now selling steadily - remember to grab yours by writing to me at the address below, or using any of the other ticket outlets further down this page.

2 weeks to go!

2006-06-18T12:10:00.000Z

Two weeks to go to the big day and - as Alex Ferguson would say - its squeaky bum time!

Do you know those times when you start waking up in a cold sweat, wondering if you've made a BIIIIIG mistake? I keep imagining that I'm gonna turn up at the School on 1st July, and there's gonna be about 5 people there in that big empty hall...needless to say, I'm anxiously sifting through the post every day to see if I've received any more ticket requests.

What possessed me to even suggest this in the first place?? But hey, who gives a sh*t - never fear failure...remember the end of Field of Dreams? "Build it and they will come," or in this case, "put on enough booze and they will (hopefully) come.

The good news is that the tickets have started selling...if you haven't claimed yours yet, just see below for details of how to get one. If you want one from me, just send a cheque for £12 (payable to M Barrows) to:

37 Westbury Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B17 8HY
But gimme a shout first at mwbarrows@yahoo.co.uk to let me know you want a ticket.

It's gonna be great - HONEST!

Bones

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE…

2006-05-31T12:36:00.000Z

OK folks,
The countdown has now begun to that historic day in July….no stooopid, NOT the World Cup Final on 9th July, I’m talking about the Grange ‘76ers 30th Anniversary Reunion Party on 1st July!

The Abbeydale Grange Reunion Committee (AGRUC) have been beavering away over the last year to put this event together and now, after many months (well… at least a couple of weeks anyway!) of planning, preparation and negotiation, we can now announce the (almost) full details. Lots to tell you so, without further ado:

WHO IS INVITED:

Anyone who:
1.Was in the year that completed the 5th Form in summer 1976
2. Was in the year above (5th Form 1975)
3. Was in the year below (5th Form 1977)

Or anyone who:
4. Was in the year that completed Upper 6th Form in summer 1978
5. Was in the year above (Upper 6th 1977)
6. Was in the year below (Upper 6th 1979)

Ex-teachers

EVENT DETAILS:

· Date: Saturday 1st July, 2006
· Venue: Abbeydale Grange Upper School
· Time: 18.30 – 12.30
· Ticket Price: £12.00
· Dress Code: Smart-casual
· Features: Food, drink, music, dancing, raffle, entertainment, comparing of bald patches and beer bellies (and that’s just the women!), lots of laughter, probably a few tears, plenty of moaning and introspective musing on wasted lives, possibly the odd punch-up, maybe a bit of flirting, endless cries of “where did all the years go?,” …and much more. Sounds great – can’t wait!!

TICKET DETAILS:

Tickets are available from:
1. Jencel Beads & Jewellery, 621 Ecclesall Road, Hunters Bar, Sheffield, S11 8PT., tel: 0114 267 9633
2. Yvette Hallam; tel: 0114 221 7224; work: 0114 205 3171; mob: 01358340597
3. Michael Barrows; tel: 01214298852; mob: 07985 561070; email: mwbarrows[at]yahoo.co.uk
4. Graham Bennett: tel: 01454 776394, Mobile 07880 9803

You can:
1. Buy tickets direct from Jencel Beads and Jewellery
2. Send a cheque for £12 to any of the other names above – contact them for address details.
3. Use Paypal - contact Michael or Graham for details

Tickets available by post or as an E-ticket.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

1. MONEY! Get in contact and get your ticket asap. We have made all the arrangements – now we need to get an indication of the numbers coming asap so that we can finalise the food and drink.
2. RAFFLE PRIZES! Let us know if you have any raffle prizes you can donate for the evening. Beg, steal or borrow any you can. We will be holding a raffle to help cover the cost of the event. Any surplus will be donated to Charity.
3. PHOTOS! We want to put a dvd together, with photos, video diaries and other stuff, that we will make available to everyone. Bring your old photos – don’t worry, you’ll get ‘em back!
4. HELP! We desperately need some volunteers to help on the day with decorating the hall, dealing with the food, signing people in, clearing up afterwards, etc – all the usual event management stuff. Get in contact asap if you can help out.
5. NOISE/ACTION! Tell all your old mates, dig out your address books and call the people you haven’t spoken to for years. Pass this email on. Get the word out and tell people to get in touch and buy their tickets. Better still, buy their tickets for them! Also let us know if you know the whereabouts of any ex-teachers. We’ve made all the arrangements, but the event will only be as successful as YOU make it, so get busy!

AND FINALLY:

We’ve set up got this blog for the event, where we will be uploading information and updates. You can also post your own thoughts and start making contact with old friends prior to the day. Post a comment before you leave - we wanna hear from you!

See you on 1 July!

Regards

Michael (Bonehead)
A.G.R.U.C.

Seems like yesterday...

2006-05-29T19:20:00.000Z

And then it was today...

It was all so much simpler then. Damn! Where did all the time go?

Do you remember...?

The Reunion starts here!

2006-05-29T16:32:00.000Z

This is the new blog for the Abbeydale Grange 30th Reunion party taking place on 1st July 2006 at Abbeydale Grange Upper School. We'll be posting information and updates over the next few weeks.

Feel free to post your own comments and info! Look forward to hearing from you.

See you on 1st July!!