Recent Events

School Visit Dec 1999

I took Kevin up to the school when we met in December 1999. Do you recognise the corridor in the background? Who remembers standing outside Room 2 trying to work out how to ask in French for a forgotten book?

Drinks at The Lodge June 2001

As I was in Malton with my wife for a week at the end of June 2001, some of us met at The Lodge for a evening drink on the 27th. My wife Verena and I were joined by Joanna with her friend Paul, Jennifer with her friend Mark, Anna, Libby with her husband Ken and Ian. Out of the blue there was a call for me at the Bar and it was all the way from Canada. Dave joined us, if not in person but in voice. Nice gesture Dave, it was great talking to you. It was a little uncanny though, not 5 minutes before he called I had just said to everybody that it would not have surprised me if Dave were to come through the door! Maybe next time?
Ken then produced a camera.....

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Sat facing the camera from the left is Anna, me, my wife Verena and Joanna's friend Paul. Jennifer, sat on the very right, is hiding her friend Mark with Joanna, Ian and Libby sat away from the camera to complete the circle. Tom, Libby's husband behind the camera, sat at the end on the empty chair. Thanks Tom!

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Jennifer's friend Mark, Jennifer, Joanna, Ian and Libby

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Anna, me, my wife Verena and Joanna's friend Paul

Around Town in Sep 2001

Kevin Arbuthnot put out the word that he was planning to meet with John Wardle on 15th September, starting at The Lodge. Richard Chandler, Amanda Steele (Fenner), Ian Dodgson and Barry Dalton with his wife all followed the call. Kevin had his usual joy with the train connections but he made it for the 12.30 deadline, no doubt ready for the first pint to wash down the railway dust.
Later Kevin, John and Richard went on a tour of Malton and stopped for "one of each" at Jacky Taylor's or, as Kevin put it "whatever the new imposters call it". They also called in to The Crown, famous for its brewery and where Neil Suddaby is the landlord. They had a good chat with Neil, no doubt about the days back at school among other things. Neil is hosting a Beer Festival at The Crown in December and this could well be the venue for the next gathering. Any excuse!
The day ended with Kevin getting a lift back to York (thanks Richard) where the joys of the railway started again and he finally arrived home via bus. Kevin, what have you done to deserve this?!
Among all the excitement, nobody thought about a camera so I have added a picture of The Crown to make up for this.

Lunch at The Lodge Dec 2001

I was in Malton at the end of November and into December so I had put out the word about meeting for Lunch on each of the Saturdays. Barry Dalton joined me on the last Saturday of November, as he was not able to make it the following week. The following Saturday 7 of us met for lunch at The Lodge. Richard Dawson, Ian Dodgson, Valerie Hickes and myself met Mike Carey and Amanda Fenner (now Steels) for the first time since leaving school back in the early 70’s. Val had popped in during her lunch break and so had to leave again after an hour. Shortly after that Mike Hardy joined us. We then spent the whole afternoon talking about the school days and trying to remember everything, including items of green uniform! Lunch was, as always, delicious and few could resist the dessert as can be seen in one of the photographs!

Suddaby's Beer Festival Dec 2001

Kevin and John had put out the word about the Beer Festival and so on Saturday 15th December they met up with Amanda (Fenner) and husband Nigel, Val Hickes and Sue (Lee) with husband Dave. Host Neil Suddaby was full in stress and so little was seen of him but there was plenty of good beer to make up for that. A good day was had by all I am told and that included Kevin actually getting home on the train instead of a replacement bus or taxi!

Dave & Susan Preston visit the School Feb 2002

Dave Preston from Victoria/Canada and his sister Susan, MGS Head Girl 1969-70 who now lives in Rome/Italy, visited the school on 1st February 2002. Dave presented a copy of his latest book "Rails & Rooms, A Timeless Canadian Journey" to the school library. Dave travelled by train from Halifax to Victoria, a historical journey from coast to coast covering 4,414 miles. The book is about this journey and is well worth reading, I have read it myself. Link to "Rails & Rooms"

Lunch at The Lodge Feb 2002

Main Picture (The Lodge) Mike Carey, Simon Crozier, Barry Dalton, John Wardle, Joanna (Carr) Kelly, Kevin Arbuthnot, Dave Preston with thanks to Barry's wife for the camera work! Inset (The Crown) Val Hickes, Mike Carey, Anna Lupton Dave had invited us all to join him for lunch as he was over on a fortnight's working holiday from Canada. After lunch we moved on to "The Crown" where we briefly met Neil Suddaby. Having started in glorious sunshine, the afternoon ended in pouring rain.

Kevin meets Dave in Victoria/Canada July 2002

Kevin jetted over to Victoria on Vancouver Island/Canada at the beginning of July 2002 and spent a weekend with Dave. He then headed over the Rocky Mountains to visit the bears (at a distance) in Yellowstone Park where he also met some bison and some geysers.

Christine (Bean) meets Dave in Victoria/Canada July 2002

Christine (Bean) was in Canada all the way up from Perth/Australia in mid-July 2002! She was travelling through the Rocky Mountains with her husband, heading for Vancouver Island. As Dave lives there, they managed to meet at the Harbour Canoe Club in Victoria one afternoon for a drink. She just missed Kevin, but still, what a small world it is!

Germany meets America in Yorkshire Sep 2002

While visiting "Yorkshire Lavender" near Terrington with my wife on 23rd September 2002, a lady tapped me on the shoulder and it was Susan (Collier) from South Carolina/USA! She was over on holiday with her husband, also originally from Yorkshire. We spent a couple of hours in the tea room (where else in Yorkshire?) chatting before we had to part again. Susan was unable to make it to the reunion as they flew back on the Thursday, just as we were gathering for our first drinks. Now what a coincidence that all the way up there in the Howardian Hills above Castle Howard our paths should cross like they did! Click Here for Yorkshire Lavender

Lunch at The Old Lodge and Drinks at The Crown Nov 2002

I was at The Old Lodge on 23rd November and was joined briefly by Richard Dawson and Ian Dodgson. We had a good chat, during which I was encouraged to continue with my work and to keep the emails coming! Malcolm Smith then joined me for lunch before we headed down to The Crown to meet up with Neil Suddaby. Neil showed us around and let me sample one of his best brews (thanks Neil). We popped back up Castlegate to catch Richard Dawson helping his parents move into their new house, just opposite The Old Lodge. We then parted and I headed to the Sports Club for a quick chat with Andy Leadill.

Suddaby's Beer Festival Dec 2002

Lunch at The Crown June 2003

With a change of venue I once again put out the word about meeting for lunch while I was in Malton. I was joined by Kevin Arbuthnot and Barry Dalton together with his wife who had all battled their way through heavy traffic. Kevin and I later walked up to the school to take a look at the buildings and check on the trees.

Kevin in Germany July 2003

My wife Verena with myself and Kevin on our terrace in Leimen Kevin enjoys a glass of "Kölsch" beer with me in Cologne It was an exchange of emails about Kevin’s wish to improve his German that started it all off. Kevin flew over in early July and spent a week with my wife and I. A tour of Heidelberg and trips around the local area were on the agenda. A visit to Cologne on the Sunday gave Kevin the chance to see all the streets he had read about while studying the language from books and tapes. The final day was spent following the "Deutsche Weinstraße" (German Wine Road) into Alsace/France on a Trike. Click Here for Impressions of the German Wine Road

Suddaby's Beer Festival July 2003

Photo not yet available (Bribes to Kevin please) Kevin Arbuthnot was joined by John & Wendy Wardle, not forgetting Neil Suddaby of course, who was running the festival.

Andy Elliott in Victoria/Canada October 2003

Towards the end of October Andrew Elliott emailed me with a plea to forward a message to Dave Preston that he would be in Victoria/Vancouver Island (Canada) that very week. Andrew had Dave’s old expired email address but thanks to the power of the Internet I was able to pass on the message within hours. Armed with Andrew’s mobile phone number, Dave got in touch and they finally met up for lunch on Halloween in Spinnakers Brewpub overlooking Victoria Harbour. Andrew was in Victoria for a conference so Dave goofed off work for a couple of hours, as Dave himself put it. Andrew lives at the very opposite end of the Canadian/USA border to Dave, so in a way I suppose you could say this was “East meeting West”. As you can see, good Canadian beer takes you back to the 1970's and the days of long, thick, dark hair. Should try it myself one day!

Huddersfield Oct-Nov 2003

"The Maltings" York Nov 2003

York was wet and windy but we were warm and dry in the “snug” corner of "The Maltings" in York. Kevin Arbuthnot, Val Hickes, Linda (Hutchinson) Brabbs, Anna Lupton and Amanda (Fenner) Steels joined my wife and me for lunch. Linda only joined our group earlier this year so it was a “first” for her. I hadn’t seen Linda since leaving school and would not have recognised her had we bumped into each other in the street. After several hours chatting about everything under the sun we braved the elements and parted in the hope that this change of venue will encourage more to gather at the next opportunity. The Maltings Website

Heathrow Airport June 2004

Andrew Elliott and I met for a couple of hours in Heathrow Airport on 19th June 2004. Andrew was on his way home to Canada via Yorkshire from a conference in Norway on that day and I happened to be visiting my brother at RAF Uxbridge only 6 miles away at the same time. Once we knew about this crossing of paths numerous email exchanges and Internet searches took place and finally we had a plan on how to best to meet. The result was a very enjoyable chat about the past, present and future over a few drinks and lunch before Andrew had to catch his flight. I was quite amazed at how much we fitted into those 2 hours after some 31 years of not seeing each other.

Book Launch (2 Oct 2008)

A History of Malton School 1547-2006 Stephen Fearnley For More Information Click Here