30/05/2007

The Long Service Awards

The Long Service Awards took place on Wednesday 23 May 2007 in Orchard House commencing at 4pm. The good weather enabled people to make use of the gardens.

A total of 290 Years of Service was celebrated with Dr Norman Smith presenting the awards to the recipients celebrating 5 years to 30 years. Catering provided a range of tasty food which everyone enjoyed.

Hugh Buckingham, John Dickerson and Julia Jeannet who were celebrating 30 years at Richmond had taken time to write a poem and read this out at the event:

HB The Shah was on the Peacock Throne,
JJ Diana Spencer quite unknown,
JD Likewise the mobile telephone:
HB Were we downhearted?
JJ No. You could get a mortgage loan
When we first started.

JD Where tennis courts and libraries stand
Ron Millichip once roamed the land.
HB With trug and trowel in his hand
His daily marches
Preserved the gardens as were planned---
JJ Eheu fugaces!

HB But now is not the time for tears--
JJ Thanks, rather, after thirty years,
JD And hopes that all our younger peers
Will grow and thrive,
All 3 Glad that these three musketeers
Are still alive.

Thank you to all those who helped organise the event and made it such a success.

Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/n/266.aspx