Class of '46 reunites for 70th anniversary in Vancouver
'We were wartime kids; we were also depression kids and friendships were very, very important.'
Thirty members of the Lord Byng Secondary School class of 1946 gathered for their 70-year reunion Monday in Vancouver.
The group of seniors was accompanied by another 25 or so children and spouses at the Vancouver Yacht Club in Point Grey.
"They send out daughters and grandchildren to make sure we behave ourselves," said Manly Price, who travelled from Nanaimo to emcee the lunchtime reunion.
"There's a marvellous camaraderie. Some of us may not have been close friends then — you know little groups and that sort of thing — but we're one group now, very much so, he said."
Joan Henderson is the 87-year-old who leads the organizing effort each year to get the class back together.
"We had the first one for our 15 [years], then one at 25," she said, adding that this was the group's 18th reunion. "As we got older we decided luncheons were better."
The class of '46 decided to meet every other year after their 50-year reunion.
"In the last 10 years we've had them every year because we say, 'I might not be here in two years,'" said Henderson.
The group thought they were going to have 33 classmates at the event, but at the last minute three couldn't make it. One classmate passed away Sunday night.
"I can say, sadly, two ladies that sat at my table last year both passed away early this year," said Price, who said that's just part of being 87 years old.
'Times have changed, really changed'
The seniors all seemed to really enjoy reminiscing about their school days together in Point Grey, and some weren't too keen on how things have changed in recent years.
"It's changed a lot in many ways. The school is still there," said Price. "Times have changed, really changed."
"What people would be amazed to know today is we had a rifle range in the basement of our school. Could you imagine that with the tragedies that have happened around schools today?"
"Those days we were in the war years too, we were all in cadets. Army uniforms were issued to us all," said Price.
Classmate Jim McNiell uses a cane or walker to get around now, but the towering 87-year-old used to enjoy sports like rugby, soccer, and baseball.
"It was never a matter of having nothing to do. You had paper routes and that sort of thing," he said.
Henderson and some of the other seniors echoed McNiell's comments.
"You know, we were wartime kids, we were also depression kids and friendships were very, very important and I think that's why we cherish it so much," she said, adding that she's not excited about all the change over the years.
"Well, it's called progress, but we don't — I think it's awful," said Henderson.
Until next year
The Lord Byng Secondary class of 1946 plans to meet again in 2017, even if the group loses some members over the next year.
"Let's keep going if we get down to two of us," said Price. "There's so many memories and happiness together. Those were different years."
