Chris (Roy) Bareford's Pictures,Report & Emails - UK Boniface Reunion 2003

The Official Report:



Hi Group, here is the official !!!! report of the family gathering.

I awoke at 5.30 in the morning, thinking what have I done, 130 plus
people coming to congregate in little groups not talking to one
another.
However Nuala and I got to the Fishermans club around 9.15, put up
a banner outside the club and a few balloons.
I put up the 15 inch by 20 foot printed tree of the 'Rich' descendants
that I had to print in 3 sections as my program will only do 9 pages
wide. The wall was not long enough so it had to go round the corner
into the next room. 
At 10 o clock the doors were opened and a couple of cars spotted
in the car park. very soon the club started to fill up and my fears
were dispersed. I tried to great most of the attendees but I am very
sorry if I missed any. Everyone was soon exchanging memorys, photos
and other trees appeared on the walls. I had brought my camera and
camcorder, I even splashed out on a new camcorder as my other was
getting ancient and a bit old and bulky, but with all the chatting
did not get a lot of time to use either. I have got a little bit of
footage of people seeming to enjoy themselves. 
I had just over 130 names on the list eventually but I think there
was in excess of 150 family members present. Although everyone was
thanking me I feel I didn't do a lot of hard work except play around
on the computer with a few !!! emails. 
Around 2 almost everyone left was asked to parade outside for a photo
session. I took the group in 3 pictures although on seeing the
finished product 2 would suffice. I will forward them to Steve and
Micheal for possible inclusion in the websites.
Allan and Dorothy Martin have already put theirs in their website, 
http://jacm.co.uk if anyone wants to look them up.
Just after 3 Nuala and I went with Pauline, Louise, Michele, Yoshiaka
and others up to Holywell for a walk !! along the beach to see whats
left of the old family hamlet site. It has deteriated a lot since I 
last went there.
From there we took Pauline and Louise along with my sisters up to the
Beachy Head Pub Restuarant for a meal and then back down to the
Fishermans where a few stragglers were still in attendance together
with late commer Caroline who had been working all day. 
We had to leave them there just before 8 to go and get ready for my
eldest grandsons 21st birthday bash.
Just after midnight we got home after an exhausting but very pleasant
day. Thanks to everyone for making it such a success, we really
enjoyed it, and judging from todays emails and the little survey note
I had left on the tables so did everyone else.
Thanks also to the Fishermans Club committee and staff for making us
feel at home.
Is it too early to start planning for next year ?? 
PS. As a glutton for punishment I have spent much of today helping my
daughter with doors for her kitcken cabinets.

Chris, also thanks to my wife Nuala for all her support.

Report Followup:



Hi group.
As the paper had no one to send to take a group photo a sent a report
and panaramic stitch up, by Andy Kerr, of the photos I took. They
were printed in yesterdays, Friday, edition of the Eastbourne Herald.
It was good of them to find space in view of 6 pages taken up by
tennis week, and they did the family proud with the report virtually
word for word as I sent it and a coloured photo, total size 6 1/4 by 4 1/2
inches.

Bit for Michael, I cant give you names for all in the group photos
but I will send you a list of most of the attendees soon. The cliff 
side photo from left to right is - my sister Pat Hutton, Louise Genge,
Pauline Mowbray, my sister Hazel Clark (back), Yoshiaka and 
Michelle Boniface Tsuji, Barbara and Jim Osbourne, Myself, My sister
Pam Allen. 

General response from the survey form that a lot of people filled
in is that the Fishermans is a good place for a repeat performance,
so unless anyone has other ideas for next year we will see what can
be done. Maybe some of the non 'Rich' families would like something
in their own area, or we could get several going !! It was just lovely
meeting such a happy and friendly crowd.

Betty, Louise asked to tell you she lost her Merc !
Chris.