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Many of the class have been in touch expressing their best wishes for our reunion tomorrow and mentioning memories of our school days. Below I've passed on comments from Pamela (Hutchinson) Sainsbury and Ian Dring.

Many thanks to all the rest of you who cannot join us tomorrow but have forwarded your best wishes for the occasion—Anne, Jane, Barbara, and many more!

Pam forwarded the following update to keep you all informed:

I wish I could be there. I would love to see the school again, and all my old buddies, but am back in Africa again. Funnily enough I was in Belfast last week, but the cost of changing my return ticket was quoted as $899 USD so this was not on. Also I need to be in Cape Town for a meeting on Monday so it would have not been feasible. I will try to send you a short summary of what I have been up to and send a photo but in case I run out of time here is a summary:

• I am a retired lawyer
• I have lived in Harare Zimbabwe for 30 years
• I have been married to Gavin for 31 years
• Two boys 27 and 25

People can find me on Facebook.

Who remembers Latin cricket with Hector Simpson? If right you got a seat by the window, radiator, if wrong on the other side of the room. And him throwing the blackboard rubber when he was cross with you. He wouldn’t be allowed to get away with that in this nanny state day and age!

Amo, Amas, Amat etc.

Hope the reunion goes well and look forward to seeing the pictures.

Regards, Pam Sainsbury (Hutchinson)

Ian has compiled a document for you all to let you know what he's been up to and mention some of his lasting memories of Friends. See "Dringo's story" by selecting the PDF document link below.

A reminder of activities inside and outside school.

The newspaper print may be fading, but the memories never will now!

A selection of newspaper cuttings from the scrapbooks!

For any of you who, for whatever reason, have not signed up for the 40 year reunion dinner on Saturday, please remember that you are still very welcome to join us at any stage without having dinner:

• come along to the school tour at 15:00 at front of school on Saturday
• have a drink with us in the Ramada before dinner from 17:00 on Saturday
• have a drink with us after dinner at the Ramada from around 21:30 (Green room)

No need to confirm, just turn up and surprise us!

The new Principal of the school, Stephen Moore, has kindly offered to host a tour of the school on Saturday 1st October. He will be there at 3pm to open the main gates so that cars can park in the drive. He suggests meeting at the main door (remember the red-brick entrance to the Head's office?) and he will show us a new building and recent refurbishments in the original buildings. This will take approximately 40 minutes. I will mention this tour to Arthur Chapman in case he wants to see you again.

People coming from the hotel or the airport without a car, let's try to match you up with someone who is driving a car to get you back to the hotel. Let us know.

15 people have expressed an interest in the tour, anyone extra is very welcome, no need to register!

http://friendsschoollisburn.org.uk/

I've selected the playlist you'll see in the PDF document linked below as reasonably representative of the music during our class of 76 years at Friends. I've tried to cater for all tastes—tracks that will make some cringe and others squeal with delight (well maybe).

Bringing this along on Saturday evening to play in the background provided it doesn't take away from a pleasant ambiance!

Now I wonder what our esteemed music aficionados of our school years would think of this mix... Robert B, David W...

George

I just recalled today that at the 30 year anniversary dinner quite a few photographs were taken and we managed to pull them together on Flickr using the "fslclassof76" tag. (We didn't have our own web site then).

You can still see all those photos using the following web address:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=FSLclassof76

Of course we've probably all slowed down a bit and won't be dancing around like that on Saturday. (Is that a challenge).

George

Who knew we had so many poets in our midst? Cheer yourself up with a smile at these...

A few photographs from Past & Present magazine featuring your classmates.

Was that hairstyle really tolerated by Mr Gillespie!

Was Michael really that short at one stage!

Can you spot the picture that has the left to right assignments the wrong way round?

How come Jenny B doesn't look any different than she does today?

Can you spot which girl stands out with the best makeup?

Wasn't that a formidable looking rugby team, first XV 1975-76!

Sporting stars of the past we salute you!

Select the PDF document below to view our menu options. All those attending should select their desired starter, main and dessert in the next few days. To make your selection please visit the following page and type your name against the starter, main and dessert you would like:

http://bit.ly/classof76-40-dinner

Thanks!

George