Claremont News – 2011 A Big Year

A Happy Christmas from York

York Minster

York Minster

A significant year when we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, Joan brought her teaching career to an end with early retirement  and set off almost immediately on the longest bike ride of her life. At the other end of the age range Alexander entered the education system, starting school in Chelmsford.
We enjoyed a family holiday in the Lake District with the Stephenson family and said goodbye to Aunty Jean, the last of the older generation.
It’s been a year of moves for the next generation too. Wesley and Deborah moved to Chelmsford; Matthew and Laura emigrated to Aberdeen.
The stable member of the family, Warwick, went to Blackpool for his holiday. Barrie has been busy with a new housing charity, new groups at St Michael’s, being on the board of Riding Lights Theatre Company and co-ordinator of Neighbourhood Watch in the street.

 

Ruby Anniversary

Barrie and Joan - Ruby Wedding

August 28th 1971. The wind blew, friends gathered, Pastor Dave Playle rehearsed his lines to conduct his first wedding ceremony and a young groom and even younger bride plighted their troth in The Methodist Church in Brownhills.

August 28th 2011 – Forty years later many of the same friends and lots more picked up along the years gathered in York for what we described as “the evening do we never had”. Continue reading

Retirement – early of course

Joan looking at retirement cardsJoan embraced the opportunity to take early retirement when the school needed to balance the books and shed staff. It was very early retirement of course. After 18 years at Canon Lee Arts and Community College she had mixed feelings. She says, “It was the right time to go”. Her life has changed – with more time for what she wants to do. Continue reading

Joan’s first long distance ride

cyclists in Ripon

The three cyclists in Ripon Market Place

The rain is coming down in rods as Barrie, Joan and Ed leave the train in Lancaster to cycle to the start of the Way of the Roses in Morcambe. A tough start for the 168 mile ride across the country to Bridlington in mid September. By coffee time the three cyclists are very wet but well on their way to the first overnight stay near Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales. Continue reading