It's nearly 40 years since I last saw some of these people. They were some of my very best mates for three years at London Uni. These days they are successful practising or retired accountants, transport economists, psychological therapists, software educators, chief financial officers - and me.
See if you can match the current versions with the 40 years ago ones! Some are present in both photos.
The 40 year reunion experience goes like this. 1.You contact someone who knows one or two others, to let it be known you'll be in town. 2.There's a flurry of emails while people juggle their calendars and finally arrive at a mutually acceptable date.
3.Someone knowledgeable sets a time and place (in this case the cocktail bar of the Charing Cross Hotel). 4.EVERYONE TURNS UP ON TIME. 5.Unfortunately, half the group turns up in one part of the bar, the other half in the other, and it's a while before they twig.
6.When you first set eyes on the old friend, there's a moment of shock at the unexpected ancientness of the old bugger. 7.A minute or two later the image has transmogrified back into that of the same old young man you knew all that time ago, and the difference has vanished.
8.You're happily discussing the events of 40 years ago, and the years since, pretty well as naturally and comfortably as you did with these fine people all that time ago. 9. You're having to say your good byes because of other urgent commitments, and making sincere promises to do it again much more often.
