March 2023 – this update has been a long time coming and includes a variety of materials as well as a return to the use of WordPress to provide upkeep to the site. The site has needed to be relocated to a new internet service provider as the old site no longer provided the necessary security certificates. Then the software I was using has been dropped by Adobe. A perfect storm. Add to that the fact that I am bouncing around the world (as I type this I am not in Umbria, but ‘down under’ in Melbourne Australia)
We have had the 50th Anniversary of our leaving the College – it was quite the event! It was preceded by a get together in the Brecon Beacons that lasted a few days and was quite well attended.
While at the college, Dagfinn, Meg and Anne made a presentation about the then, just released book ‘trained and trusted’ and the book was for sale.
Of the 60 or so from our year who went (or tried to go) and more than 30% came down with Covid. Poor Richard and Vickers got to spend their time in a hotel room in London rather than with us in the Brecons and at the College
in addition to the stuff that was reunion specific:
- the book ‘trained and trusted’ – it is also available on amazon and the publisher Brown Dog Books
- the video of the book presentation at the college
- a pdf of Dagfinns support slides
- a short video of support images from ‘trained and trusted’
- the latest version of ‘before and after‘ pdf
- the images from the 2022 Wales pre-reunion and reunion
- some additional images of the Brecon and College 2022 Reunion
I have also started the page for the next reunion for our year, Sept 2023 in Greece
So again, sorry for the delay – Ross
Dec 2020 – The world now has one official vaccine and a few others that are to be approved soon. That is in addition to one being administered in Russia and another in China. It is to be hoped they are all effective and we can get back to ‘normal’ – what ever normal is with Brexit unresolved, the american elections hardly decisive, and assorted wars continuing around the world.
I have finally got around to sorting out the scan of the 1971-73 yearbook, when our 1st years were the second years and they were completing the initial year of the IB’s.
It has been uploaded here and you will also find it listed under Other Stuff
July 2020 – The world world wide death-rate for Covid -19 continues to rise and scientists are rushing a variety of vaccines through pre-clinical and clinical trials as nations try to limit damage to their people and their economies. Here on my hilltop town in central Italy all is calm. Not much happening, but calm. I have managed today to scan the second of the three yearbooks that are related to our years – this one, when we were first years and the house images in particular should bring back a lot of memories, wonderful and otherwise. It has been uploaded here and you will also find it listed under Other Stuff
I have also come to the slow realization that I might have many if not most of the colleges historical images. These were passed to me by DBS when I helped him create a video of his RIB book that we did for the occasion of Desmond Hoares posthumous award of a gold medal for creation of the RIB. I gather the college is not a very willing source for providing these to others.
May 2020 – The world is a bit upside down with Covid -19 and I have just returned home from Melbourne Australia where I have been for some six months. Residency rules require that I spend at least six month each calendar year in Umbria. Its a hard life.
I have today added to this site the slide show I created for our first reunion in Istanbul. As this years reunion has bit the dust and there have been some mentions of old images of the lot of us I thought you might appreciate them.
You will find them at this link – http://www.ac-70-72.com/Istanbul_AC_Images– as usual the thumbnails lead to larger images and if you tap the first thumbnail you can then proceed from larger image to larger image. I have them larger still if you want a copy – let me know. Enjoy!
At the request of one of our cohort I have scanned my copy of the 70-72 Yearbook and uploaded it here. you can have a laugh at how young you looked way back then – 50 Years ago! You will also find it listed under Other Stuff
Its been more than a month since we again left each other in Helsinki, Finland – where does the time go? And our fellow classmates – where do they go – We can only hope a better place, but they are remembered, each of them, by ourselves. These get-togethers seem more meaningful each time we do them.
Once again, a fantastic effort by Kai to put together a wonderful trip for us. The three boats of the last time were eclipsed by a fleet of 4 this time under his direction as ‘Admiral of Fleet’ and fellow captains, Ole, Simon and Satu. What a brave lady to join our group and very much part of the group she became!
Click here or choose the link under Reunions above and to the left for Finland 2019
And all the best
Ross – Oct 2019
Another Re-union has come and gone – This one in September 2018 in Turkey and organized by Ferruh. Unfortunately due to family circumstances he was unable to attend it himself but we did meet him and his wife Nazan on the first and last evenings. As I add this Kai is busy organizing another sailing expedition for us in Finland for next fall. Mark the third and 4th weeks of August and contact him at kai.torvi@sci.fi if you want to be added to the list.
As always if you do not want a particular image of you posted here, let me know and it can be removed. If you want a larger version, depending on who took it, that might also be possible.
Since I last updated this I worked with David Sutcliffe and created a film version of his book on the RIB. It was completed for the awarding of recognition to the college and Desmond Hoare for its design. It can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/242455495
As always – Enjoy – November 2018
What can I say – it has been some time since I have updated this site. But life has been busy and filled with much change as most of you know.
Since the last update, there was a mini reunion of the Williams House girls in Rome in 2015 that I was lucky enough to be invited on, the 2016 reunion here in Italy that included time in Rome, here in Monte Castello di Vibio and at Badia di Coltibouno in Tuscany and the recent reunion at the college in May 2017 that marked out 45th year of ‘leaving this bloody college’ as we used to heartily sing.
After the last reunion at the college, that in 2015, we were anxious as to what we would find – It was good. Click here to find out the details or use the menu above.
All the very best
Ross
June 2017
It is now July 2014 and I have been home nearly two weeks. I have added the material to the reunion page for 2014 – the itinerary and links that Richard and Vickers so painstakingly assembled – bloody brilliant – and included a local ink to Ben’s movie if the YouTube link won’t work in your country (has to do with rights to the music he used, grrr) and to my images which I have processed.
As I post this I have heard from a few others who are having issues with the DropBox link I provided – But I have just got an email from Celine with a link to her DropBox folder and they are currently being downloaded – so more updates tomorrow or Friday.
When I have got images from a representative group I will start to layout the reunion publication – I think this will be multiple formats – Hard and Softcover and and electronic multimedia version – I’m going to have some fun
I need somebody to read the stuff I have put up and someone who attended the other two parts of the reunion to add their editorial comments – Step right forward – I know you have not got anything else to do!
It is a great pleasure to provide this memento of our times together
All the very best – Ross
July 2014
Once again I do this site – technology changes and I keep playing. I have reordered the pages and tried to include all the content I have access to. If something is obviously missing or has been included in error please drop me a line. You will have to send me an email – I have dropped the blogging feature as I got too many unwanted comments that were not related to the site content – such is the nature of the web today.
Mostly this is about our own reunions but in 2012 I have included a link to both ours and the one at the college, and the 50 Year event in London.
Other stuff includes the video by Geoff Launchbury or the 72 seafront and the before after images that were compiled after the 2012 reunions.
Enjoy – Ross.
May 2014