November 2003
Although Sally and I were a little worried about getting our year wrong, we needn't have been. Everyone made us so welcome, although to be honest I still did not recognise a single face from my school days. I think I must have spent too much time peering over the wall into the boys playground.
I can't wait for the next reunion, I have spent many an hour since Saturday thinking about old friends and all the things we used to get up to, I can't believe that it is such a long time ago, I still feel about 14.
I really did have a fantastic evening
Judith Beasty


Glyn's Reunion Story
I started planning to come to this reunion back in February 2003 but when the war in Iraq started I got nervous about traveling anywhere. By March things had calmed enough to at least get the passport renewed. It had been 10 years since I last came to England and over 40 years since I left Hanson.
In April I received my passport and in May felt brave enough to book my flight and request two weeks vacation!
June,July & August were busy months at work for me as other people were taking time off and I had to cover for them while my vacation seemed to be aeons away!
In September and October I was starting to pack my bags and when November came I had to repack because nothing fit, I had lost 25lbs over the summer!
Well the time finally arrived for me to leave and I was really ready. I said goodbye to the family and had no snags with connections or flights until I arrived in Manchester!
Susan Lawrance met me and a 30 miles train ride turned into 2 hours. My 'welcome present' from British Rail! I had been traveling over 12 hours by the time I finally arrived, exhausted, in Bradford on Thursday 6th November, I had just missed Bonfire Night.
After a good night's rest I was game for anything and couldn't wait to meet the old gang. Saturday night I enjoyed my first bonfire since I left England 38 years ago and met a few old Hansonians there; Beryl, Valerie, Janice and Margaret. What a wonderful night that was!
I met another Hansonian on my return trip from Scarborough on Saturday afternoon, but I didn't know it at the time. Andrea Hibbert was also traveling to Bradford for the reunion and was sitting across the aisle from me. I asked her something and we exchanged smiles, just strangers exchanging pleasantries I thought. Later that night Andrea was one of the first faces I saw as I entered the lobby at the Midland. It was just the first of many surprises!
The whole evening was pure magic. The meal was first class, the view was splendid and the warmth and camaraderie exceptional. I was amazed at how easily I was accepted and included in the conversations and hugs. Everyone seemd relaxed and happy to be there. I was especially blessed to see two old friends who went back even further than Hanson. Christine Foster and Pamela Wilson, who were both at St Augustine's Primary School with me as well as at Hanson and the memories started to fly when we three got together.
I hated to see the evening come to an end, but on Sunday I had one more old friend to meet, Anne Gregory. Anne went to both Hanson and St. Augustine's and now lives in Hereford. We met in Birmingham and that was a very special ending to a great week for me.
Soon I will be back in America, but I will take the memories and photos of this reunion with me and long remember you all.
Until we meet again
Fondly (Marcia) Glyn Rice 11/24/2003