It was Tom Pulling's idea to get a few of us together for a beer about this time last year and he asked me to organise it. Unfortunately for one reason or another it fizzled out and the project was aborted. He asked me to do the same this year and although it was at relatively short notice, we managed it, thanks mainly to the computer age and telephones. E-mail messages were criss-crossing  the Atlantic Ocean and the width and breadth of the UK several times a day on some occasions. Well five of us got together at the Victoria Inn in Threemilestone on Saturday 22nd of March 2003. Tom Pulling, Graham Weekes, Nick Griffin, Steve Webber and yours truly.

I had previously arranged to meet Graham and Nick at the Tyacks Hotel in Camborne where Nick was staying. On arrival I saw a man and woman sitting in reception and they appeared to be waiting for someone. I approached them when the man nodded to me in recognition. "Hello, you must be Nick" I said tentatively, "No," he replied "and I guess that means you're not Dave". Apologies were exchanged and I sat down on the other side of the room. Soon I saw Graham whom I have known since we were kids at Basset Road Junior School and he hasn't really changed that much, except for the short trousers. Anyway we were met by Nick and his wife Theresa, who wanted to meet this group of 'old men'.

We arrived at the Victoria got a drink and sort of stared at each other for a short while I suppose that I for one was looking for the friend that I had last seen 34 years ago in 1969 in the face of a 49 year old stranger. We chatted about the old days as was to be expected and then Steve Webber turned up (strange I don't remember him having grey hair when we were at school) and a silence ensued as the guys who had not seen each other in so many years took stock of the situation and each other. I have seen Steve over the years as I had done with Graham so he was instantly recognizable. Steve like me has remained anchored to the foot of Carn Brea and has lived here since time began, Graham and Nick had made the hazardous journey from England. Plymouth and Manchester, to be precise. I'd like to thank Steve's wife at this point for allowing him out to play even though it was her birthday, he did manage to stay for a beer or two. Happy birthday from us.

The star of the show turned up last but not least, Tom Pulling. A lot of handshaking and more inquisitive looks followed before we all settled down once more and chewed the fat. We had now retreated to the quieter lounge area of the pub where the ambience suited our more mature outlook on life, ahem. We left the kids in the games room watching a far too noisy MTV channel. Ahhhh old age beckons. We found out that Steve was a grandfather as was Nick, sort of, due to Theresa's child having a nipper. I think that Tom has forgiven me for punching him in the face 35 years ago, well at least we didn't fight this time. As I said earlier Steve had to leave to celebrate his wife's birthday but he put a tenner on the table for a round as he left, good man. You're ok Steve the round came to £8.80 we pocketed the change.

Next we decided to hit the flesh pots of St. Agnes, first stop, The Driftwood Spars. More beer for the guys and another non-alcoholic beverage for me, someone else can drive next time fellas. More tales of schoolboy mischief and bravado. Who was it got hit in the leg with a javelin during a lunchtime? Who fancied Miss Wyatt (we all did)? Who had a scrap with Taffy Jones (Hugh Rowe)? We also heard that one chap at school had died recently, Neil Hendra. We also found out that Joff Brown Snr. was still alive, shudder..........

Last stop the Aggie (St Agnes Hotel). Live music, two guys with acoustic guitars, Nick was in his element, my ears bled from the noise and I awoke the next day with a hoarse voice from shouting to be heard. Tom was sniffing around for female company by this time and kept wandering off on little scouting sorties. Not much to say about our adventures in the Aggie mainly because as I said you couldn't hear yourself think. We left Tom around 11pm and all promised to meet up again, hopefully next year. Graham has offered to take on the job of arranging it and I'll liaise with him. I'm not sure if this will be a reunion of our year or a more general reunion of the school, we will keep you posted. Click here to contact Graham Weekes or here for me Bob Trevena

Well I for one had a great time and can't wait to do it again, cheers boys!