The Toddy Times

Close Encounters

of the friendly kind

It’s always lovely to meet up with friends you haven’t seen in ages. Some lovely surprise reunions this year too.

It was great to see the whole Thacker family this year for a joyous occasion - Amy’s wedding to Tom on Hayling Island in the spring (pictured right). During the reception at the sailing club we also discovered two friends of Amy’s, Claire and Bea who both attended Rake School when I worked there. Lovely to see them again!

In August we were sad to learn that our dear friend Jenny Wilcox, with whom I taught for a number of years, had died. But at her funeral we were able to catch up with Joe, Jenny’s husband, and their children Simon and Angela, all grown up now and with their own families.

Rake School reunion - Mrs Todd (former teacher), Mr Arnold (former head), Bea, Mrs Studd (former lunchtime assistant) and Claire

John and Gerry Arnold, Liz and Liz Studd, Lynne and Rob Todd in the garden at Halfway Bridge

 Round the Edges - John Burchett, Steve Bullen and Basil Lodge playing at the Havant Art Centre in November

The Thacker Family - Dan, Sandra, Tom, Amy (Mr and Mrs McGuigan) and Andy

Jenny Wilcox

In September we met up with John and Gerry Arnold and Liz and John Studd again for a Harvest lunch/afternoon tea made with produce from our own gardens.

John Arnold also organised a reunion of former staff from Rake School where we were delighted to get together with some former colleagues we’ve not seen in ages - Penny, Joan and Sue H. Also still in touch a few othere from Rake who couldn’t attend on the day - Jan (now living on the Isle of Wight) Jane and Sue T.

Sorry to have missed the music of the excellent Round the Edges at Havant this November- Steve, John and Basil - friends since our college days - next time!

We had a brilliant time with our dear friends Steve and Alison in London for one of the Open House weekends enjoying access to properties in Lambeth and the City as well as taking in the Brick Lane Curry Festival (and a number of refreshment stops!)