On this page, you find only 1 day - The Windsor Experience, with LOADS of photos!
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11th day
Windsor - Old Boy's Day Reunion
Saturday June 30th
This was the best part of my trip - I write about it, not on the evening of the 30th, but the next evening of the first. I'm a bit behind my
writing, having not yet completed my write-up of Friday night - but, while Windsor is still fresh on my mine, I'll start there!
Saturday started slow - it was raining outside...initially, we were planning on going to Borough Market (which is a famous market...I
think I talked about this earlier). We were going to pick up food for the picnic that we would have at Windsor for the Cricket Match.
Because it was raining, we assumed that the Match would be cancelled. It later wasn't - they played for 30 minutes before the rains
came, and THEN it was cancelled. ANYWAY - it's good that we didn't get food, cause it gave us more time to get ready for the evening.
Tracy and I left Kingston at 12pm...and took the train over to the Windsor and Eton Train Station. We arrived shortly after 12:30pm
and made our way over to the hotel. We were staying at a lovely 5* hotel, called the "Sir Christopher Wren" Hotel. This is one of
those hotels that was always oogled at when we were at Windsor. It was known for being very posh and upper-classed. One chap
later said to me "The Christopher Wren, huh? Flashing the old American Money around, huh?" Yes...quite...actually...Tracy bought it
online from the US. It was only 92 pounds sterling for the two of us. Not bad considering others staying around town paid the same
for a basic B&B.
The hotel room was lovely - although TINY - just enough space for a double bed, table and chair. There was a nice bathroom, and tea
and cookies/biscuits for our arrival, with flowers on the bed. Rather quaint!
Outside, there was an alley-type walk-way, with two chairs and a table. They were
a bit wet, but we cleaned and dried them off so we could sit outside and enjoy the
cloudy weather. It was not raining, but was just warm enough to enjoy it - and was
nice and quiet, away from the bustling Windsor traffic. On our way into Windsor, I
was called on the phone by my old friend, Donan Vye. He and his (American) Girlfriend
(Andrea) had just arrived at Windsor...and had a picnic....which they also brought for
the Cricket Match. As it was cancelled, they invited us to join them eating it.
We happily accepted, but had them join us at our little table outside our room at
the Wren. It was very pleasant - Donan and I caught up - and the two Americans
chatted away like long lost sisters! Marvellous! We had organic foods, dips, fruits, cheeses, champagne...tea...a truly lovely picnic.
Around 3pm, Tracy and I made our way over to the School Reunion (literally
directly across the street). Donan and Andrea went off to get ready at their
hotel - a B&B about 20 minutes away. We didn't see them again until evensong.
The school has changed immensely since I left (at aged 13 in 1993). New
buildings...huge changes inside - no more dormitories where there were 20
beds and students crammed into one room. Instead, there were mini-dorms
(3 to a room), with single individual beds...and heating...luxuary compared to
what we had back when. There was also a new part to the school - a pre-prep
school, for children aged 2-7, and of all things...the addition of GIRLS! Shock horror!
No...seriously...anyway...
The school looked very
good, despite all the changes.
I brought Tracy inside to see the school - showing her around as best as
possible (many classrooms were locked). She seemed quite impressed. She
was more impressed with the Beautiful gardens, the Veranda, and the stunning
overlook of the castle above us.
Tea was not being held on the Veranda, which is rather unfortunate, because when
the sun is out, the gardens are wonderful, and the views spectacular.
Instead, the tea was held in the old gym and in the new pre-prep department. The
thing I always have liked about these reunion type things is the tea time. Not only
are we served Tea and coffee, but also typical British sandwiches and fruit cakes.
The best of all, are the scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Jam. Always my favourite and a fond memory from former years.
Around 5pm, we all mustered and made our way up to the castle for Evensong. From the school grounds, there is a back way up to
the castle, known as the '100-stairs' - far more that a hundred steps. They were built when the school was build 200 years ago, to
grant easy access to the choristers as they make their daily movements to and from
the castle to sing their regular duties. This year is bigger than all the rest...or rather,
more important. It marks the 100 year anniversary of the Old Boy's Club - and present
on this day were more than 150 Old Boys. We all climbed the stairs, some faster than
others, in our tuxedos/DJs and Tracy in her Ball-room dress (it looked interesting) and
were up there within 5 minutes. Upon arriving in the chapel, we took our seats. It would
have been nice to have the regular evensong in the choir, but with so many old boys
present, the service tonight was being held in the Nave. It was quite a sight - to see all
the young strapping lads and older gentlemen in their DJs, attending a service in her
Majesty's Chapel. After interesting chats and reunions, the Service began at 5:15pm.
Here is the music that was sung for the evening:
The Rose Responses
The Mag & Nunc in A, by Stanford
Blessed be the God and Father, by Wesley
As the Whirlwind passes, by Sir Walter Scott
and...my favourite British Hymn, for which I'll insert the verses:
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight, I said I would criticise every
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand service, but for loyalty to my own,
Till we have built Jerusalem I'll keep this one...to myself. As
In England's green and pleasant land. say, 'mums the word'.
Words by William Blake, Music by C Hubert Parry
After the service was finished, we were all supposed to make our way to the Undercroft
of the Castle for dinner. This was to happen by 6:30pm. I chose instead of arrive a bit
later, so I could take some photos of the castle. Tracy also decided she wanted to go and
do her HAIR!! Which meant that she had to leave the castle and go back to the hotel - I won't
go into this here, but basically, one you leave the castle, it's hard to get back in - especially
and American with no invitation. I was able to get in later, with some difficulty - she was
not - and had to be escorted by the police to the main entrance to be ... ID'd haha...
Anyway - I took photos of the outside of the chapel and castle, of the Lay Clerks private
residences, the round tower, the song school...etc...here they all are:
DINNER in the undercroft - didn't start until about
7:30pm - this was preceded by a lovely
champagne reception in the state rooms and Great
Hall (Burned and Completely destroyed int he fire of 1992). Despite the fire, i actually
looked as it did before - quite magnificent. Photos were not allowed, so I cannot show any
there. Pity! The reception itself was hosted by her Majesty, and the school musicians. The boy and girl students of St. George's
showed us that they also were musicians, and we saw 10-13 year olds playing music which not even I can play - very hard - on the
cello, piano, flute, clarinet...etc..and they also sang. Actually - for the final 'song', something by some modern composer, whose
name I have forgotten, I was enlisted to sing countertenor, with some of the other former 'now-singing' choristers. A good
sight-read - we all did it perfectly - and made rather a good sound if I might say so myself!
After the final song, we were all ushered into the Great Hall, for a Year-Book type photo. Why not! There were over 150 people there,
all former pupils of St. Gs. It was a momentous occasion - all of us crammed in there - with our other halves...for a photo. Scott (my
brother) tried to take a photo later of us all together, but was attacked by the royal guard, and forced to put away his camera....bloody
muppets that they are!!
Dinner - was pleasant. We were all attached to separate tables, mainly based on generations, but some of the unlucky few were on
tables with many oldies. Tracy and I were on a table with another 12 people, some being former class mates. It was wonderful to
catch up and chat. For the most part, every Old Boy I chatted to told me the same thing that they did for a living..."I'm a
Consultant"...Me replying...quite...or...indeed.... Of what? There was non-stop wine refills - and Very good food. The dinner went on till
about 11pm, during which I ate, drank...hehe...and conversed with many of the others in the room. It will be a memorable event, and
me writing about it here in this Blog, will help me to remember it for a lot longer.
After the said event, the younger chaps; myself,
Donan Vye, Andrea, Tracy, A fellow called Dan
Stewart (now a free-lance journalist...and a Fine
Tenor), Michael Bayston, who
used to be in my year, Leo Townsend, and his g/f
Rachel, William Konitzer (now a DJ...and countertenor...
They make interesting people these CTs!!), and a chap
from "The Apprentice, UK, Mr. Rory Laing". We all went
to the pub across the street for a few pints...till they
closed. Then we all went to a local club for some
dancing and more drinks....which closed around 2am.
Lastly, they ALL came to our 5* Hotel, the Wren - to our
24-hour bar - and drank more. I, who is a complete Light-
Weight, made it until about 3:30am, before I had to turn in...
I made it back to the Hotel room, and collapsed on the bed. You will see an interesting photo here too, and I'm sure, many more on
facebook! I will post the remaining photos of th night here, now. But I'd like to say, this was a fabulous evening...and one I shall not
forget anytime soon.
