Reunions - school, college, university, work etc - do you go?

I never have, and never really wanted to. But I would like to just look around my old school, as I loved it there, to see what changes have happened.

Absolutely not! Years ago I did receive an invitation for a grammar school reunion but it was obvious that the organisers had all done very well for themselves and wanted to brag and flaunt their success.

henetha

I never have, and never really wanted to. But I would like to just look around my old school, as I loved it there, to see what changes have happened.

My husband went to look round his old school about 15 years ago.
He found it interesting but somewhat depressing as so little had really changed.

That's amazing, NotSpaghetti. Sign of the times I suppose; no cash for updating. That is depressing.
My old school had extensive playing fields and I often wonder if any of it has been sold off.

I went to a school reunion 20 years after we left.

The old dynamics quickly re-established 🤣🤣

Two of our children attended my final school as does one GC, along with private functions have been visiting it ever since I left. I can remember doing a sponsored walk in the 5th year (11 now) for a roof over the swimming pool, it still hasn’t got one 🤣

I've been to several school reunions over the years together with my late husband, who attended the same school.
We went to a "bog standard" secondary modern as we were all 11 plus failures.
The Old place has been described as a cross between St Trinians and Hogwarts. It was staffed by a wonderful mixture of characters, a few of of whom were excellent teachers.
I can't say I learned much but the time I spent there was great fun.
Judging by the comments from fellow former pupils when we meet up, they feel the same as me.
We have another reunion coming up next week. There will be 50 of us meeting together, laughing and sharing a meal, probably having a drink or 3. I'm looking forward to it

I don't regard myself as a "saddo, with no friends." On the contrary, I'm quite a cheerful soul with a wide circle of friends. Some of them old school chums from 50 odd years ago.

I went to one of my old grammar school in 2006 as we were the class of ‘66. It seem to be the middling scholars who had kept in touch – the really high flyers were nowhere to be seen him, nor were those from the lower stream. It was a lovely afternoon, topics on a more sociable/family rather than achievement level, although lots of memories were unearthed.
A tour around the school was disappointing, as the central corridor had been stripped of all its wood paneling, the parquet floor had gone and there was no sign of the boards announcing prefects and head girls that had adorned the walls from the schools, but everything else was much the same. We had an evening meal in the private dining room of a local hotel and a few of us have a little WhatsApp group.

NotSpaghetti my old prof is a very eminent author in his field and although retired from the Uni continues to write and research as it is his passion. After I left full time employment we worked on several projects together. I continued to do private research and consultancy for some years until side hustle of antiques took over. I believe that old academics (like old soldiers) do not die - they just fade away and leave a legacy behind them.

So true biglouis.
I have worked on projects with one of my old lecturers - he is still researching and publishing as you say.

One of my husband's old professor colleagues (a leader in his field) totally stopped all new research about two years after retirement as he said he wasn't getting the same attention as he did when still in post. He wanted the accolades (and celebratory dining/lectures etc that went with it.
I was surprised he stopped as he still "talks" about his field whenever we get together but he clearly feels sad about retiring inspite of his life being full of other joys.

No, though I have been back to the junior school with my children and some of my grandchildren. Amazingly, it was clean, fresh and almost unrecognisable because of the extensions and obviously much newer furniture. The only place that looks the same was the PE store.
The only people I know from them are those I’ve kept in touch with. If I didn’t want to know them then, why now?

I met my very best friend at school when we both eleven. We don’t go to any school reunions, I’m not aware there have ever been any, but my life would have been so much poorer without my dear friend. My sister has mental health difficulties, and despite me trying hard with her, it’s too difficult to have a relationship with her due to her extreme unkindness and vicious behaviours, and so my school friend is my sister in my opinion.

My old school reunion turned out to be my worst nightmare and an absolute disaster. I was not keen to go but was cajoled by school friends that I have kept in touch with. We all agreed that we wish we had not gone it was just a fishing expedition to see who had done what with their lives and whose lives had turned out better. Lots of bragging and looking down on those whose lives had been less fortunate. Never again!

Judy54.
What an awful experience.
I have only had experience of one person behaving like that. He was a braggart aged 14 and at 70+ he hadn't changed!

Yes, I went to my school reunion 33 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had only been at that school for 3 years but still felt great fondness for it. The reunion gave me the opportunity to catch up with my then best friend, with whom I'd lost contact. Since the reunion, we have maintained the friendship and recently met up with several others from our old school - which was so lovely and such fun. I am not an overly confident or outgoing person but I felt very comfortable meeting up with old school friends.

I like looking back but only because I liked my schools and my school friends. I can imagine I would feel very differently if I had hated the schools.

It was a secondary modern by the way.