Five and a Half Club Returns for the 56th Time!

Since they left in 1965, several members of this year group have returned every year to celebrate and remember some of the best years and times of their lives. It’s a staggering record, testimony to the magic of St. John’s College (as it was then) and the dedication of these alumni. (for more information of the origins of the group’s name, please see Billy’s earlier blog post.)

This year three returned with a couple sidelined because of illness. Terry, Peter and Roger chose a  sunny day to visit and we took full advantage, lingering long in the quad soaking up the warmth of bygone times and recalling some of the high jinx they used to get up to when students numbered barely a tenth of what we have today. Races around the corridors after lights out, climbing in through windows when locked out after curfew, and somehow miraculously surviving the defense of a thesis that was largely copied from a book by the very person who was the examiner! 

The club members were tremendously impressed with some of the recent changes including the Students’ Union where we had coffee. How one member ended up wearing about half his coffee will be a story added to the rich collection already in place. 

Lastly, time in the Heritage Room was spend pouring over photographs, White Rose magazines, and binder collections of the Rugby Club and Limes and Croft Hostels. They also watched a short video about the new Haxby Road Sports site. This was particularly meaningful for three who spent many hours practicing and playing at the Hull Road Playing Fields. 

We’re already looking forward to next year to the next visit of the Five and a Half Club!