Written by OC Alastair Scott (1961)

Way back, back before the days when brain fog became a thing, I must briefly have had a rather blank diary and as a consequence begun to wonder whether the fact that I had not maintained contact with a single member of my cohort at Caterham meant that I had lost touch with a dimension of my earlier life – ‘my cohort’ meaning those who left from U6th in 1961.

Back in the blank diary days, it also occurred to me that 2021 would constitute a 60^th anniversary of our graduation and therefore a date worth celebrating ………. were I able to find anyone else who had survived thus far. However, it quickly became apparent that the small number of this group that I could find were notable for their currently having only the tiniest number of Old Cat friends – though many could recall lots of names. However, there were eventually six enthusiasts and a few ‘maybes’. Covid then struck and such plans as had been laid had to be put on hold. Age and illnesses reduced the numbers further, but four of us hung on in there.

Although hanging on in was necessary, it was not sufficient as we each live in a different country! Arranged by distance from Caterham, there was Alastair Scott (Cheltenham), Elwyn Moseley (Cardiff), Erik Thomassen (near Oslo), and Mike Daly (Melbourne). Getting from the far ends of the Earth to England is no small undertaking, and a further year or so passed – and Mike could then not be here at the same time as Erik. However, undaunted, a way was found for all of us to meet all the others: Alastair met Mike (and his wife Deb) in Bristol, Mike met Elwyn in Cardiff, Erik met Mike in Oslo, and Elwyn met Erik (and his wife Kari) and Alastair in Cardiff.

Many convoluted (and, presumably, sometimes true) stories were told (not all of which featured exploits on the rugby field), scandals were raked over, names – both of teachers and taught – summoned up from the depths of our unreliable memories, and various toasts were drunk to each other, to the larger number of those eligible who were not present, and of course to Caterham School.