What's it all about? - A Cling-on Viewpoint

by Anne Wilkin

I had heard a lot about the history of Malta, about the old school, of teenage life in Malta, of the apparent ease with which achievements were made and what a fun social life was had by all.  But the closeness of the bond between past pupils and staff only dawned on me after that first Northwood reunion.

I was aware of the effort it took to compile lists of personnel and to try to track them down.  How rewarding it was to have folk travel from as far afield as Japan, Australia, America and Malaysia just to meet up again with old chums.  Thank goodness for the Internet.
The reunions have been great fun and I have looked forward to all of them.  It has been wonderful to hear how the conversations readily swing back into recollections of beach trips, boyfriends, girlfriends and parties.  I have not heard too much about work – but then it was all about fun I suppose.  For me the best moment of the whole reunion activities was to witness the deep joy expressed as those 2 old Malta buses drew into the school yard.  The age and experience of the passengers made no difference – time had stood still and the fun was starting all over again.  It was wonderful to see everybody mark out their own place in the School Hall and to swing back into rock ‘n’ roll with an ease which belied the passage of time.  Then there were the impromptu performances on the stage, the classroom memories, the photo opportunities, talk of NAAFI dinners and the tuck shop.  You were all so privileged to enjoy such happiness in your youth.

The school had never been described as smart and it certainly lived up to expectations!  Nevertheless, those days must have been written indelibly on the memories of you all and, as a bystander, I can only say that it has been a great pleasure to meet you all and to have been so readily accepted as a TH cling-on.  Thank you for letting me join in on the fun of it all.