Grads and guests gather on the lawn at Uplands Golf Club on Saturday night.
On Saturday night, our class president Richard Fraser took to the podium and reminded us of our days at OBHS.
Here are his words.
Good evening – I’m Rick Fraser aka Ricky Fraser for those from Monterey Elementary or Richard to those who met me after age 40 when I thought I was sufficiently mature to use my real name.
When Rick Humber nominated me in 1963 to run for Class President I didn’t think it was for life but here I am - and I am very honored that the Reunion Committee has asked me to say a few words of welcome to this great event.
On Graduation Day 50 years ago some 340 of us got on our finest clothes, which for me was made to measure suit from Joseph Grosso for $70.88;
heard Bruce Wallace give the class valedictorian speech;
and do you remember what we sang as a mass choir ???
Yes it was “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Rogers & Hammerstein
I am not sure we were the greatest mass choir ever but I have fond memories of that event every time I hear that song.
Interestingly it was adopted by Liverpool FC as their song about the same time – not sure it was our rendition of it that caused them to take it. It just may have been the version by that other Liverpool band, Gerry and the Pacemakers – can you imagine if they are still playing they would all likely need pacemakers!
As the actual leading edge of the baby boomers we were given great opportunities and it has been wonderful to hear how you have capitalized on them both close to home and far and wide. It is also interesting to see that some of you actually did what you said you were going to in the Oak Leaves Yearbook and that is completely amazing.
Of the 340 of us who were there 50 years ago, there was unfortunately a group who were unable to attend tonight as they had passed away over the intervening 50 years. Sue Hope and Bob Wicks have done a lot of research on this group and would like to tell you about it.
Thanks Sue & Bob.
Again of the original 340 graduates your intrepid reunion committee has been able to track all but about 80. You can see the list of the missing on the reunion webpage.
And speaking of the reunion webpage that has been set up, the committee is looking for an enthusiastic webpage master to carry on the updating of it and perhaps add a few “remember when” stories and photos from the reunion and others over time – if anyone is interested please talk to Barb Hendel.
Many others were unable to attend for various reasons including probably not having to put up with another speech from me.
And so this brings us to this wonderful group in attendance tonight.
Being an engineer, I need to organize things and people into groups – not necessarily logical groups but groups just the same.
Looking around I see three sort of groups:
Firstly the fortunate few of our class who were able to stay in beautiful Victoria, get jobs, get married, have kids perhaps get married again etc. Perhaps you thought you were simply getting on with your lives but for those of us who moved away and who were lucky enough to be able to keep in touch with one or more of those who stayed here, you provided a wonderful link back to our high school days – for me it was very special to visit over the years. Coming back to Victoria and catching up with old friends was like an emotional reboot in what was sometimes a crazy and busy world. I was fortunate to have such links and I am sure many others did also. Of particular note of our Victoria group, there are three couples here tonight who married their high school sweethearts - please stand:
Rick & Di Humber
Dave & Irene Barker
Dave & Jane Higgs
My second group, of which I am a member, is those who went away but have managed to come back at least reasonably close. Among these are:
John Ritchie who lived in Niagara Falls, Nepal, Australia and now Vancouver;
Steve Bigsby who went to Milan, Montreal, Toronto and now has a place in Victoria;
Barb Hendel who lived in Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and now Victoria;
Barb Bulman-Fleming who made it to Kingston, Germany, Waterloo and now Victoria:
Maureen Godwin who spent time in Washington DC, Halifax and is also in Victoria;
and Val Dennis who worked in Edmonton and now lives on Salt Spring Island. And there are many more.
And in the last group I have are those that had to make some effort to come to the reunion as they live outside of BC:
From elsewhere in Canada we have –
Robin Olsen from Dawson Creek;
Bruce McKean and Joanne Riley from Ottawa;
Bruce Wallace from Quebec City;
Jack Sommers from Nova Scotia; and
Gwen Shortt from Newfoundland.
From the USA we have:
Graham Sommer from Palo Alto, California
And from farther away we have:
Mary Kendrick who came all the way from Germany
I am sure we have a few more that I have missed but we very much appreciate the efforts of those who had to travel to come tonight – it really makes the evening.
As we can see from last night and the school tour this afternoon, this event is for reminiscing. For example it is hard to believe that such a thing as a “Beatle” haircut where the hair was actually clean instead of greasy could be so controversial – especially when you see what hairstyles are currently in vogue at school. Also who remembers any of the performances of the Stench on Bowker Creek Players? Or when the Senior Boys Basketball team took on the BC Lions including Joe Kapp and Willie Fleming. We had to arrange and cover their costs to come to Victoria and Hugh McDonald’s father, who worked for Air Canada arranged the flights over – at $9.00 per seat! Oak Bay was the only team that they didn’t beat that year – we tied – due in part to some incredible outside the zone shooting by Mike MacAvoy and Jim Green
However besides reminiscing - guys after 50 years you now have the opportunity to actually tell the girl you had a crush on and she likely won’t laugh at you – and girls you can do the same but they will likely laugh in disbelief and then start wondering what might have happened had they known – at that point run!
Lastly we all need to give a big hand again to the great committee who pulled this event together – Barb could you come and introduce them –
Have a great evening.
When Rick Humber nominated me in 1963 to run for Class President I didn’t think it was for life but here I am - and I am very honored that the Reunion Committee has asked me to say a few words of welcome to this great event.
On Graduation Day 50 years ago some 340 of us got on our finest clothes, which for me was made to measure suit from Joseph Grosso for $70.88;
heard Bruce Wallace give the class valedictorian speech;
and do you remember what we sang as a mass choir ???
Yes it was “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Rogers & Hammerstein
I am not sure we were the greatest mass choir ever but I have fond memories of that event every time I hear that song.
Interestingly it was adopted by Liverpool FC as their song about the same time – not sure it was our rendition of it that caused them to take it. It just may have been the version by that other Liverpool band, Gerry and the Pacemakers – can you imagine if they are still playing they would all likely need pacemakers!
As the actual leading edge of the baby boomers we were given great opportunities and it has been wonderful to hear how you have capitalized on them both close to home and far and wide. It is also interesting to see that some of you actually did what you said you were going to in the Oak Leaves Yearbook and that is completely amazing.
Of the 340 of us who were there 50 years ago, there was unfortunately a group who were unable to attend tonight as they had passed away over the intervening 50 years. Sue Hope and Bob Wicks have done a lot of research on this group and would like to tell you about it.
Thanks Sue & Bob.
Again of the original 340 graduates your intrepid reunion committee has been able to track all but about 80. You can see the list of the missing on the reunion webpage.
And speaking of the reunion webpage that has been set up, the committee is looking for an enthusiastic webpage master to carry on the updating of it and perhaps add a few “remember when” stories and photos from the reunion and others over time – if anyone is interested please talk to Barb Hendel.
Many others were unable to attend for various reasons including probably not having to put up with another speech from me.
And so this brings us to this wonderful group in attendance tonight.
Being an engineer, I need to organize things and people into groups – not necessarily logical groups but groups just the same.
Looking around I see three sort of groups:
Firstly the fortunate few of our class who were able to stay in beautiful Victoria, get jobs, get married, have kids perhaps get married again etc. Perhaps you thought you were simply getting on with your lives but for those of us who moved away and who were lucky enough to be able to keep in touch with one or more of those who stayed here, you provided a wonderful link back to our high school days – for me it was very special to visit over the years. Coming back to Victoria and catching up with old friends was like an emotional reboot in what was sometimes a crazy and busy world. I was fortunate to have such links and I am sure many others did also. Of particular note of our Victoria group, there are three couples here tonight who married their high school sweethearts - please stand:
Rick & Di Humber
Dave & Irene Barker
Dave & Jane Higgs
My second group, of which I am a member, is those who went away but have managed to come back at least reasonably close. Among these are:
John Ritchie who lived in Niagara Falls, Nepal, Australia and now Vancouver;
Steve Bigsby who went to Milan, Montreal, Toronto and now has a place in Victoria;
Barb Hendel who lived in Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and now Victoria;
Barb Bulman-Fleming who made it to Kingston, Germany, Waterloo and now Victoria:
Maureen Godwin who spent time in Washington DC, Halifax and is also in Victoria;
and Val Dennis who worked in Edmonton and now lives on Salt Spring Island. And there are many more.
And in the last group I have are those that had to make some effort to come to the reunion as they live outside of BC:
From elsewhere in Canada we have –
Robin Olsen from Dawson Creek;
Bruce McKean and Joanne Riley from Ottawa;
Bruce Wallace from Quebec City;
Jack Sommers from Nova Scotia; and
Gwen Shortt from Newfoundland.
From the USA we have:
Graham Sommer from Palo Alto, California
And from farther away we have:
Mary Kendrick who came all the way from Germany
I am sure we have a few more that I have missed but we very much appreciate the efforts of those who had to travel to come tonight – it really makes the evening.
As we can see from last night and the school tour this afternoon, this event is for reminiscing. For example it is hard to believe that such a thing as a “Beatle” haircut where the hair was actually clean instead of greasy could be so controversial – especially when you see what hairstyles are currently in vogue at school. Also who remembers any of the performances of the Stench on Bowker Creek Players? Or when the Senior Boys Basketball team took on the BC Lions including Joe Kapp and Willie Fleming. We had to arrange and cover their costs to come to Victoria and Hugh McDonald’s father, who worked for Air Canada arranged the flights over – at $9.00 per seat! Oak Bay was the only team that they didn’t beat that year – we tied – due in part to some incredible outside the zone shooting by Mike MacAvoy and Jim Green
However besides reminiscing - guys after 50 years you now have the opportunity to actually tell the girl you had a crush on and she likely won’t laugh at you – and girls you can do the same but they will likely laugh in disbelief and then start wondering what might have happened had they known – at that point run!
Lastly we all need to give a big hand again to the great committee who pulled this event together – Barb could you come and introduce them –
Have a great evening.