Reunion of 1965, '66 & '67

01/03/2007

Reunion of the intakes of 1965, ’66 & ‘67

Remember when Jim Morrison and José Feliciano were trying to light a fire, Jimi was way out along Dylan’s watchtower, Mick was jumpin’ jack flash, Dustin was trying to graduate and Keith Holyoake was telling the country it was better to fight on the Mekong delta than on the Ninety Mile Beach?

How about school assemblies when a future head of Television New Zealand played the grand piano? Or a school concert when a future Team New Zealand boss did a decent impression of James Taylor?

Yes, we’re talking about Otago Boys High School in the mid-1960s, when stove pipe jeans and brothel creepers were all the rage, along with sideburns down to your chin (for those who could grow them) and rat-tail ties. It was also a time when those saucy St. Dominics and Otago Girls students sashayed along Arthur Street with their box-pleated gym-frocks turned into rather fetching versions of the mini-skirt.

For those who always wondered why the dreaded ‘train boys’ were regularly asked to stay behind after morning assembly, the weekend of June 22-24 2007 promises to be a revelation.

That’s because one of those ‘train boys’ is organising a reunion for all former Otago Boys’ High School students who were in the intakes of the years 1965, ’66 and ’67. Not only does he promise to reveal all about the ‘train boys’, he will also give his take on boarding school life, digging a new beer cellar under the Victoria Hotel (now deceased) when he should have been in church and the exalted life of a neophyte rugby star playing in the exalted First XV.

It is possible there will also be other revelations, such as which Campbell House school prefect was involved in a well organised sly grog network selling beer to ‘day’ boys, why the House boys gained control of the Quartermasters store during Army cadet training, who was involved in doing up houses in North East Valley during the weekends and how fast Paul Wright’s Kawasaki Mach III was really going when he took a dedicated Triumph lover for a rocket-ride up Stuart Street one lunch time.

So…………for Otago Boys High students who joined up in either 1965, 1966 or 1967 and would like to know what was REALLY going on, contact Ross ‘one-eyed Gloria’ Graham via e-mail at: (61)(2) (96887552) rmgraham1@aapt.net.au,fax or his partner in crime, the karate kicking nudist Michael Esdaile, at: mail@takeme2.net or 308 East Coast Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland. Telephone: 09 416-5013 (bus.), 09 410-4340 (ah) or 027 495 4510.

The Programme

Friday Afternoon: 22 June – Otago Boys’ and King’s High School will be contesting their annual interschool, offering the chance to visit any of the games and follow on with refreshments after they finish.

Friday Evening: 22 June - will kick off at 6.30p.m. at The Savoy, George Street, Dunedin with food and drinks and light music and the opportunity to catch up on school mates possibly not seen for over 30 years (has it been that long???). Partners welcome. We expect the night to go through to around 10.30 -11.00p.m. Food will be served with your ticket including four drinks.

Saturday Morning: 23 June - will start with a tour of School and School House at around 10.00a.m. followed by photos and sausage sizzle and refreshments at the Shand Building. This should finish around midday, which will allow Old Boys to play golf, watch a rugby game, just relax with mates or nod off till the second round that night! Partners welcome.

Saturday Evening: 23 June - commencing 6.30p.m. at the Dunedin Town Hall will be a Dinner and Dance for all. This function will feature live music, a Disc Jockey, 4-course meal (wine included), comedian, MC and guest speaker. A great night has been planned so bring your partner along to the reunion. At this stage the numbers are looking great - don’t delay and get your tickets as soon as possible. We are expecting around 500 to attend, possibly more. The night should be a cracker so get on your best boots, unhitch the plough and get on down to town!

The organisers would love to see you there. The more, the better. However, the dinner is llimited to 500 capacity.

Ticket information is available from Ross or Mike (as per their contact details above) or through the Foundation’s office (0064 3 4778977, 0064 027 4370335, info@obhsfoundation.co.nz)