The Old Portmuthian Club

The Sydney Luncheon Table

Meeting 16 October 2001

A record number of ten met for luncheon at the RAC Club, Sydney on 16th October. Joining us for the first time were Barry Woods (48 - 58, bmbawoods@iprimus.com.au), Michael Bevis (60 - 66 bevis.rowntree@dial.pipex.com) and his son Paul Bevis (90 - 96, paul_bevis@hotmail.com). Barry recently retired after a distinguished career in the oil industry and ended his professional days heading the Australian refineries of Caltex. He and Cherry, our North Pole explorer, who worked for Shell, were soon busy with oil talk, conversation that , river-like, seems to run on and on with a life of its own. The Bevis' are fortuitously in Sydney at this time: Michael is in practice as a solicitor in Midhurst and Paul is in his final year of medicine at Bristol University. Part of his hospital studies are being undertaken at the Prince of Wales hospital at Randwick. Gardiner, who joined us for pre-lunch drinks, was unable to stay for lunch; however his place was taken by Philip Bond. Philip, an Old Pauline, just happened to be sitting at the bar at the time and has a sufficiently close connection with PGS to become one of our group. His uncle was none other than the much-loved master, S. F. Macgregor(45 - 66). Those unamiliar with Mr Macgregor were enlightened by Main, who, conjurer like, opportunely produced a copy of Washington and Marsh from his pocket.

We have received correspondence from Craig and Craddock (45 - 54, craddock@triumf.ca). Craig, who is arriving in Sydney next week, has located the whereabouts of Mrs Holbrook, the still-living widow of Commander Holbrook VC, the most distinguished OP who won his medal after diving his submarine under a minefield to sink a Turkish battleship in 1915; the township of Holbrook in New South Wales is named after him. Craddock is one of the westernmost as we are most easterly members of the OP diaspora, he lives in British Columbia. Craddock reads our accounts and commends our use of surnames. The conversation turned to the regrettable use of Christian Names by strangers in telephone call centres. A useful counter to this unwelcome liberty is provided by an Italian friend of one of us. When so confronted he says, 'When I was your age spontaneous use of Christian Names was only made when addressing servants or children. To which of these two groups do you think I belong?'

Spring has come to Sydney and none can recollect a more glorious one. The fields in the river valleys of New England (NSW) this year are as green as those in old England. Michael Bevis reports that the same is true of the Victorian countryside this year.

The numbers attending our luncheons have now become such that we need to consider renting a private dining room at the club. This would have the advantage that, short of being sick on the carpet, we can eat, say and do pretty well what we like. The club rules, though, are vague on the subject of de-bagging and Mrs Watson's suet pudding with golden syrup will not be on the menu. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 4th December. Any present member of school or OP is welcome to join us - after all you will get a first-rate lunch and superb South Australian wines for about the same price as a sandwich at an English motorway cafe.