20 February 2025
Some Past Caldecott Reunions at Mersham-le-Hatch:
I wrote various pieces last August about Caldecott reunions. The first old Caldecott scholars reunion was in 1923 when the Community was at Charlton Court, East Sutton, Kent - repeated in later years when Caldecott was at other locations. The first reunion held at Mersham-le-Hatch was in 1948. In my time at Hatch and for some years afterwards reunion was held there generally every other year on the first Sunday of September, just before children arrived back for the start of the school year. Some of you came to reunions even before my time. I have been at quite a number of reunions. From your old diaries or photos etc you may be reminded of reunions that some of you attended.
CA members can see on our website a few b/w pics evidently taken at a reunion on 2 September 1962, for instance with staff then including Miss Leila Rendel, Miss Ruth Rowson, Miss Agnes Travers and Mr Simon Rodway, also former children.
There are lists possibly made by Miss Ethel Davies of some former staff and also some former children (plus others) invited to attend reunion on 6 September 1964, including reminders of maiden names. CA members can see on our website some photos taken at that reunion by Barry Northam, including staff then such as Miss Leila, Miss Travers and Miss Ruhl, also Simon Rodway.
I do not recall seeing pics of the reunion evidently on 4 September 1966.
There was a big reunion on 8 September 1968 which was the last attended by Miss Leila.
Subsequent reunions held at Hatch were as below:
6 September 1970
10 September 1972 (last attended by Miss Dave)
1 September 1974
5 September 1976
3 September 1978
7 September 1980
5 September 1982
2 September 1984
7 September 1986
4 September 1988
9 September 1990
7 September 1992 (last prior to retirement of Mr James King as director)
4 September 1994
8 September 1996
6 September 1996
6 September 1998
3 September 2000.