Introduction

The thirty fifth anniversary meeting of the '69 Club was held in the exotic surroundings of Mauritius in 2004. Recognising the passing of the years suggestions were made for an interim gathering prior to the expected fortieth in 2009. This led to the planning and organisation by Mike Harris of a reunion in Kinsale, Ireland over the weekend of September 21st and 22nd 2007.

Kinsale is a small town characterised by quaint buildings in narrow streets clustered around the harbour and spreading up the adjacent hillside. It stands on the estuary of the River Bandon and lies some fourteen miles south of the city of Cork. It boasts its reputation as Ireland’s centre for Good Food and is popular amongst tourists for fishing and golf. The town and surrounding area is steeped in an eventful history, foremost of which was the battle with the Spanish against the English in 1601, and sports many interesting monuments and ruins.

The Trident Hotel is a five minute walk from the centre of Kinsale. It is situated at the end of Pier Road overlooking the harbour and marina and its guest rooms and restaurant command magnificent views across the bay.

From Thursday evening onwards, delegates began arriving in Kinsale. On Friday morning over breakfast in dining room of the Trident Hotel acquaintances were renewed and cheery hellos were exchanged. This was repeated through the day as small groups of people congregated outside the Wharf Tavern, on the balcony of the Yacht Club, inside the Vista Bistro for a coffee or wandered into town to take in the sights.

Our hosts, Mike and Anne Harris, had laid on a Welcome Reception for us on the Friday evening at their apartment which overlooked the marina. From 6:30pm onwards, guest would arrive (tapping a code which suggested “The Bells of Shannon” into the gate control) where they were met at the door or on the first floor veranda with a welcoming drink and a finger buffet. Accommodation was such that it brought everyone into quite close proximity and a general level of hubbub persisted for the next couple of hours. This put everyone at their ease and set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

A Golf Tournament

Golf, '69 Clubbers and reunions are inseparable and this gathering in Kinsale was to be no exception. As part of the arrangements, Mike had paid holding deposits on a number of slots for the Saturday morning at the nearby Farrangalway golf course. Described as a challenging course it is laid out in the meadow lands of the Bandon River valley just to the north of the town. The eighteen holes stretch in two loops over 6609 yards, starting and finishing at the club house.

Ten of us played golf at the Farrangalway course. It wasn't the Old Head course but at 6,600 yards off the regular punters' tees it was certainly no pushover. The greens certainly got the better of your correspondent and I suspect a few others as well - playing very fast but true. Overall it was a very pleasant course in beautiful pastoral surroundings.

At the end of the day the ladies showed the men the way once more producing first and second in the forms of Helen Gordon and Aileen Priestley with John Orr keeping the men's end up in third place.

The hospitality of the members and staff at Farrangalway was everything you would expect from Irish hosts and a very enjoyable day was had by all.

Sailing and swimming

On the Saturday morning Mike Harris had agreed to take a group of us out sailing in his boat. The weather was fine and sunny and it promised to be a lovely day. There were six of us on the trip: Mike, Peter, Ian Coxon, Duncan and Liz Galbraith and me. At the outset there was very little wind and after casting off we motored out of the harbour. By the time we sailed out into the open sea the wind had picked up a bit of strength. Mike's boat, which was built in Kinsale, had a lived in feel about it. Our first target were two large round rocks, locally known as "monarch's b*ll*cks" - a reference to their shape and events from Kinsale's past. All the time we were regailed by Mike's stories and anecdotes, including his description of a row of new houses on the hill opposite the harbour known as "Heineken Heights" as they were built by a Dutchman. They are renowned for the best view in Kinsale as they provide the only place you cannot see them!

We sailed on and moored by Sandy Cove. The day was also the day of the harbour swimming championships which involved a circumnavigation of the island. Mike had swum round it 80 times this year alone and about 1000 times in all. He told us that his four daughters have also done it. So, we rowed Mike ashore and he joined the 220 others for the swim. It was darned cold in the water and none of the rest of us on the boat felt at all inclined to join him. We were moored alongside the finishing straight and it was surreal to see all these yellow capped swimmers swarming around us. Mike put in a most creditable performance and had a moment to pause and wave to his admiring public.

We were joined for the trip back by Brian and Pauline Cathcart and Marie MacDougall. There was plenty of wind now and we made good speed. Mike seemed not in the least tired from his exertions and full of beans. All in all it was a memorable day.

Department of Scilly walks

Those of us who did not swing the clubs and who could not find a berth offshore came together over breakfast to make plans to enjoy the warm sun and fresh air. Marshalled and directed by keeper of the map, Norman Corfield, and accompanied by “Quartermaster” John Thompson and rucksack, our platoon of thirteen left the hotel just after ten o’clock in the direction of Charles Fort some two and a half miles distant. Built in the shape of a star in the late seventeenth century, it is one of the largest military fortifications in Ireland and stands across the estuary from James Fort. It has historical links with the Williamite War and the Irish Civil War and is now a National Monument (2).

Our route lay first through the town and along the eastern side of the river. The road was narrow with sweeping ascents and descents, bordered by thick hedges and flowering foliage (ably identified by botanist Peter Semple along the way). Our pace was appropriate to the most rookie hiking tyros amongst us but also recognised recent traumas amongst the more active-bodied. There were ample places to pause and admire the view.

Continued in column 2...

We were greeted at the fort like long-lost travellers. After some discussion as to who was (or even wanted to be!) a senior, we were admitted on a concessionary group ticket. Alison Langley, Margaret Farquharson and Ken Chambers went one way to search for “Patrick” who was said to deliver a good account of the history of the place (including its use into the 1960s as a hippy commune until one of the children was drown when it fell down the well). The rest of us headed for the refreshment hut where a similar discourse was given by "Bridie" from the counter. We sat for some time around trestle tables enjoying the sun, the air and the crack!

The company took the lower road back electing to follow the Scilly Path proper along the estuary bank. In the pretty little village of Scilly itself we stopped at The Spaniard pub and restaurant and had a rustic lunch accompanied with pints of Murphys and Kinsale Lager. We returned to The Trident with a rosy glow inside and out.

Dinner

As night fell, the weather turned inclement. The wind blustered and sheets of rain cascaded across the harbour but it is unlikely that many of the company even noticed what was happening outside. The Reunion Dinner Dance was held in the Harpoon Suite on the top floor of the Trident Hotel on the Saturday evening. We had been advised that dress was to be “smart casual” and several of the party had donned their kilts or tartan trews.

The evening began at 7:30pm with a Champagne Reception, hosted again by Mike and Anne who had provided the bubbly. They were on hand to greet the '69 Club members to the Dinner Dance.

When everyone was gathered, 60 of us sat down to dine arranged in groups of eight around each table. There was no obvious seating plan but there was no dissention about placements. Dinner was scheduled for 8pm and consisted of three courses with an attractive choice of dishes.

When the coffee had been served we settled down to be regailed and entertained by our speakers. Mike Harris took to the rostrum first and once again welcomed us all formally to the reunion. He brought us up to date with his own activities and reminisced about the distant past in St Andrews and Dundee pausing to remind us of the (unappreciated at least by this writer) high failure rate in the Pharmacology examination. John Orr marvelled at the phenomenon of the Year Club as a whole, noting some of the events which had occurred when we were in our formative years. He also noted our mellowing with the passage of time and charted the progress of these meetings from Mauritius to Kinsale. He proposed the toast to the Year Club. The final speaker was Terry Wilkins who also brought perspective to the lengthening history that links us. He then proposed the vote of thanks to Mike and Anne Harris for their organisation.

The next item on the agenda was the announcement of the results of golf tournament. Linda Wilkin was on hand to present their commemorative trophies to Helen Gordon (Ladies Champion) and John Orr (Defender of Male Honour!)

Finally Lisa Orr presented a bouquet and a voucher for dinner for two to Anne and Mike Harris as a token of our thanks.

After the formalities had been completed, partners were invited to take to the dance floor. A five piece band had been retained for the evening who maintained a steady output of music to accompany the dancing. Their repertoire consisted of pop and jazz interspersed with a selection of 60s favourites and traditional themes. They also invited requests. The proceedings continued to be lubricated from the cash bar.

Although some tender folk admitted the effects of "tempus fugit" and retired early, some of the more hardy souls danced on to closing at 2am.

Sunday and beyond ...

By Sunday, the main events of the weekend were over. Our departure schedules were spread through until the Tuesday and members of the party took the opportunity to explore the town, venture into Cork and take walking trips into the countryside under their own steam. The final large spontaneous gathering occurred when twenty five of us sat down for a Sunday evening meal in the hotel's restaurant.

Tailpiece

Mike and Anne: The '69 Club salutes you! Congratulations on your excellent organisation. We thank you for a marvellous weekend, an enjoyable programme, good company and superb surroundings.

The baton now passes to Ken and Fiona. We are all looking forward to getting together again at the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews in October 2009 for the 40th anniversary reunion.

References

1. The Trident Hotel, Kinsale, Co Cork, Ireland.
2. Charles Fort, Cork: Heritage Ireland Visitor Services of the Office of Public Works, 6 Ely Place Upper, Dublin.
3. The Spaniard Pub and Restaurant. Scilly, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

First edition: October 5th 2007
Page updated: August 14th 2012

Return to Top of Page