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

It was a secondary modern by the way.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 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 🤣

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.

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.

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.

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.

I have been to several college and youth club reunions, and enjoyed them. It is remembering the past, that is places, people and events, with affection and amusement, learning that some of your recollections are completely wrong, and meeting people to whom you gave a wide berth and realising actually what charming people they are, and were.
Then there are the photographs!

biglouis, I have kept in touch with two lecturers independently. One is definitely an oracle in the discipline (even now). The other is still a really interesting person and we call each other occasionally and send emails and links of interest. It's nice to stay in touch with these two. My husband stays in touch with a few former academic colleagues but other than a single Christmas card (to one couple we were friends with at university) we don't keep in touch with any ex-student friends.

I suppose we both made our friendships off-campus mainly.

Most of my school and university pals are spread across the globe, but we keep in touch . A few have come over here to spend some time with me. Since my divorce, I have lost the urge to travel. But I love having friends come over for a short stay.

Ive been to a couple of Uni re-unions and it was interesting to see how people had moved on. Most of the people I graduated with were much younger (I was a mature student) and had gone into social work, administrative or management roles or were now married with young children. I was the only one who stayed in academia and subsequently went on to start a business. It was also nice to meet my old professor/P.hd. supervisor who only retired in 2017 and lives about 10 minutes drive from me.

No.
I honestly can only think of two people I'd be interested in finding out what they are doing.
But I wouldn't bother to go anywhere to find out... 🤣

Yes I go. I was at a state school which had a Boarding House attached and the Boarders in our year started meeting up as a Reunion about 12 years ago. We've met nearly annually since. Although it had been nearly 40 years since I had last seen them, the years fell away and it was like time had never passed. It was wonderful. Over the years some of the group have fallen by the wayside at the gatherings but all but one keep in touch.

I haven't kept in touch with school friends, plus I live on the opposite side of the country now, so no, I haven't.

DH has had several reunions, and we have gone to all of them and really had a lot of fun. I have known all his friends since the age of 21, so feel more close to them than any friends I may have had as a teen.

I think because this is a northern, isolated town, everyone knows everyone else, so it is great fun when people come 'home' for a weekend.

Oh goodness, no.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Never ever ever....and I enjoyed school and most places I've worked....it just seems like a thing that 'saddos' with no friends or social life do....I don't know anyone in real life who's ever been to a reunion