The Society of Old Brentwoods

Since 2004, a group of fifteen or so Old Brentwoods living within travelling distance of Bournemouth meet twice a year in April and October for a convivial lunch in the Miramar Hotel in Bournemouth.

At the last lunch on 22nd October 2008, ten Old Brentwoods had a history lesson on the menu for the tenth lunch meeting of the Bournemouth Lunch Group - the day after the 203rd anniversary of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. After the usual pleasant three courses members were entertained by Alwyn (Olly) Dow (1949-56). Instead of playing his clarinet, he read an extract from the report of the great sea battle written by Cuthbert Collingwood, the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships on 22 October 1805. A silence descended on the gathering as the bloody and heroic actions of both sides were re-told. One could not help but feel that the ghosts of Lord Nelson and James Rennie, the former history master for the majority of us, were present in the room.

The next luncheon will be on Wednesday 22nd April 2009. Please contact Geoffrey Holland on telephone 01202 385381 or email to gt.holland@ntlworld.com for further details.