The Kent Regional Report

On the 28th March 2007 Caroline Long and Jo Hopkins travelled to Kent to host another regional reunion.

The Grasshopper On the Green pub stands in the centre of Westerham overlooking the green which was for many years the local market place. This was the venue for the Kent regional reunion dinner.

A number of OGs that haven't been in touch with the School up until now were able to travel to Kent for this get together. The list of attendees and their "Class Of" appear below:

• Reverend Canon Bailey (43)
  
• Carmel Bodenham (82)
  
• Patrick Bodenham (81)
  
• James Dow (69)
  
• Peter Hamilton (64) and wife Jillian
  
• Brian Leahy (56)
  
• John Lobo (55)
  
• Caroline Long (89)
  
• Ken Marsh (59) and wife Sue
  
• Brian O'Gorman (54)
  
• Peter Wilson (70)
  

The owners of the pub had kindly set up a function room for us to hold our get together and the group were able to mingle easily and chat about their time at St George's and what they are up to nowadays.

A surprising number attending had been boarders at the School and told us a few tales!

We discovered that some of the OGs attending had actually retired. The Bodenhams were the youngest OGs at the dinner, Patrick is a Chartered Certified Accountant and Carmel is a Payroll Manager. Carmel told us that they met at St George's and have been together ever since.

There were a few keen golfers, one of which being John Lobo ('55). John and his brothers all attended St George's. Unfortunately Victor ('53) and Lawrence ('65) were not able to attend on this occasion.

From left to right: Rev Canon Bailey, Peter Hamilton, Brian O'Gorman, Ken & Sue Marsh

Peter Hamilton ('64) (brother of Fr Robert Hamilton CJ) has been working part-time for the London marathon ever since he retired from teaching. His devotion to marathon running extends to 26 marathons including the London marathon six times!

Brian O'Gorman likes to play golf but many know him best for his involvement with the OGA Cricket Club and is President of the OGA. He is once again organising the cricket matches against the School this year for the Annual Reunion Day in June.

Ken and Sue Marsh married in 1999. Ken's three children, a daughter and two sons, attended St George's in the '80's. He has been linked to the School in various capacities, he was Secretary of the Old Georgians' Hockey Club for five years and Chairman of the Old Georgians' Association for eight years in the '80's. He and Sue are very busy involved with the local Church, Hospital and Housing Trust for the Elderly and he is about to become Chairman of the Village Hall at Bidborough near Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Left: Peter Wilson came to the regatta last year and we managed to coax him into rowing in the OG race, to which he was part of the winning team - Peter keeps his fitness levels up with a mixture of sport nowadays including swimming, cycling and golf.

Right: Brian Leahy is one of our most devoted supporters of the Reunite events. Brian's interests nowadays include photography, cars, classical music and the opera.

Left: The Rev Canon Bailey took active retirement in 1997. He was very keen on hockey and played for the 1st XI Brighton & Hove Hockey Team in the 1960s and the 1st XI Croydon MOs Hockey Team in the 1970s.

Right: James Dow is an avid Margate FC fan and follows them to as many matches as he can.

We would like to thank you all for attending and hope you will be able to attend another event in the near future. See the Events listing for dates and events during 2007.