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De La Salle College 25th Anniversary school leaving reunion – Class of 1981
On the 26th May, a group of ex-students from De La Salle College Cottonera reunited to celebrate their 25th anniversary from leaving 5th Form at the school. The idea had been cooking for some years and then took off early this year when an organising committee made up of Ian Crockford, Tonio Piscopo, Chris Sciberras, Sandro Schembri, Alex Grech and Ray Baldacchino started working on the project. Great effort was employed in order to trace past students. Many had lost contact and some had gone abroad. De La Salle was a boarding school in those days and many boarders unfortunately could not be traced. However, contact was made with more than 90 percent of Maltese students. Many of the teachers of the time were also contacted. The enthusiasm of all those contacted was felt by the countless emails sent by the ex-students to each other. Ex-students attended from the United States, United Kingdom and Belgium. Many teachers were also very keen to attend. The occasion was planned over two days. At 7.00 pm on Friday 26th May, the ex-students and their ex-teachers gathered at the school main entrance, where they were greeted by the Headmaster Brother Martin, as well as the other Brothers, Edward, Edwin and Patrick. There was a great feeling when people started meeting again after not seeing each other after all this time. For many, they had actually never met since leaving school. The meeting started with Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Joe Borg, also an ex-teacher. Here he expounded the values of union and solidarity between people. After this a welcoming speech by Bro. Martin welcomed the ex-students and an assembly as held in the very rows they used to occupy as students, under the amused eyes of their ex-teachers and Brothers. Afterwards a reception was held where everyone could reminisce on the very grounds they used to play in. Eighties music during the event was provided by ex-student and popular DJ Alex Grech. A multimedia projection of old photos was held and a DVD of this show was distributed to each student by Bro. Martin as a memento of the occasion. Telephone contact was also made live with ex-students who live abroad and could not attend. The attendees were later treated to a show by the Aceline dancers, and the event ended in the early hours of the morning. Impromptu compering for the occasion was very ably done by Ian (Crocky) Crockford. The day after, the students met again at 3.00 pm, this time with their families, on the school grounds. They were taken round the school by Bro. Edward and the ex-students had the chance to go into their old classes and sit on the very seats they used to occupy and take photos. Later they went on the playing fields for fun and games, mainly basketball and football. Sticking to school tradition, there was the odd injury during football of these now 40 year-olds with pulled muscles and also black eyes. The Brothers’ support of this event could be felt all the way through, even on the Saturday afternoon. Brothers Martin and Edward finally bid the ex-students goodbye, who promised each other to meet up again, but this time before a fifteeth anniversary! |
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