2009 Reunion

2009
MOSA & BOSA Joint Reunion

8th-10th May 2009

A wide variety of activities were again planned and a most enjoyable weekend was had by all who attended.

Report by Joy (Timberlake) Saunders

A Great Reunion 2009!

The Cast

Christine Johnson, Joy Saunders and Hester Willink

Christine Johnson – a much loved and respected MOSA stalwart. Secretary, chairman, Reunion secretary, and now president. Congratulations Christine, and keep steaming up the motorway!

Jocelyn Bell Burnell Our distinguished last president, who gracefully handed over the badge of office to Christine. Thank you Jocelyn for your much valued support.

Diana Gant A great supporter of MOSA. With great sadness we said farewell to her in her final performance before her retirement as headmistress of The Mount. As she is a member of MOSA we hope to see her often in future.

Julie Lodrick – our future headmistress – we welcome her warmly to her new role.

Heads Past, Present and Future
Joyce Pickard, June Ellis, Barbara Windle, Diana Gant and Julie Lodrick.

Susan Hartshorne – A farewell to another key player! She is now handing over her part as chairman to Ali Baldwin – member of the school Committee and a vital York link.

We shall miss those who are retiring, but welcome the newcomers warmly.

The Plot

The Prologue. A splendid concert on the Friday evening, gave members the opportunity to admire the range of school musical talent.

Act 1. MOSA members reassembled on Saturday in the Sports Hall for the annual school awards giving. The headgirl, Pip Harland, gave a breathtaking review of the year – a great contrast with the experience of the older MOSA members who were at school in the 40s or before. We much enjoyed the brief life histories of all the leavers, which were amusing, witty and very impressive in the range of interests and achievements.

Act 2. The AGM provoked some interesting controversy. An unusual departure. After the normal business we got down to the main issue of the day – should we or should we not carry on singing the school song? Is it out-of-date, sexist, and corny? Should we carry on with it if younger members have never sung it? Or do we find it full of memories, admirable in its sentiments, and redolent of Mount history? Opinions were very divided. If we do give up singing it, perhaps a beautiful copy could be printed and framed where it can remain part of the school. We shall sing it at the next two Reunions anyway, as our new president wishes, but after that? What do you think? Write and tell us.

Act 3. A huge cast assembled at the Racecourse for the dinner. About 160 MOSA and BOSA members came, and enjoyed much chat, a delicious meal and our new president’s address. She told us a lot about her interesting career in physiotherapy, and finished with a rousing call to us all to continue to support Old Scholars.

Act 4. Meeting for worship at the school was followed by tours of the school and an enormous roast lunch. Sadly we said farewell, and were off once more, by car, by train or simply by foot for a nice postprandial snooze.

And behind the scenes

 A heartfelt vote of thanks to all those who laboured to make the weekend so wonderful: the school staff, the clerical, administrative and grounds staff and of course the school catering staff, who provided the wonderful meals during the weekend. And above all to Diana Gant, whom Old Scholars will remember with great love and gratitude.

June Ellis and Margaret Gravely enjoy a chat and a "cuppa"

Some of the Leavers

We would be delighted to have any more reports or comments you have about the event or. indeed any pictures you have taken.  Please send them to joy@mosafriends.co.uk  so those who could not be there can share some of the fun.

A full report of the weekend will appear here shortly