| June 2001 Edition
Editors Note About six months after finding Charlie Andrews site on the Web I was getting ready to send out the Roster to all those we had found so far. This was about three years ago (how time flies). For some unknown reason I decided to attach a cover letter. That letter is reprinted below. As you can see, by the numbers of those we had found at that time a lot has changed - as of this time we have found around 688 of those who attended between 1952 and 1962. The letter was just my thoughts at the time, and I am by no means a writer in any sense of the word, so please excuse any literary mistakes. Here it is: London Central High School Bushy Park London, England 1952 to 1962 Forty-six years have passed since our school first opened. Thirty-six years have passed since it was moved to a different site in England and the school lost the nostalgia of the school we all remember. True, it is still London Central High School, but it’s not Bushy Park anymore. No longer can seeing the NCO Club, the bomb shelters, the Dorms, or our old classrooms bring back the memories of the things we accomplished and the fun we had. Our Bushy Park no longer exists, except in our memories. We were all in a country far from our own, in a new school with no history except for what we, the students and teachers, made for it. The fifties were a great time to be alive. To this day on occasions people will dress and try to act the way we did in those days. They can dress and act the way we did, but they can never experience the feelings of those days. Even those who lived those days will never know the feelings and memories we had as classmates in our Bushy Park. We made many friends, some found their life long partner, while we were at Bushy Park. Over the years most of us have lost touch with those friends, but the memories are easily brought back by a name, a song, or a picture. Who would have thought that after all these years we would be able to find 124 students and 4 teachers from our Bushy Park? Well, we have and the list keeps getting bigger as time goes on. Many thanks to Nancie Anderson (Weber), Snookie Garrison (Mayo), Pete Garrison, Gary and "H" Baldwin, Charlie Clemens, Bob Lyle, Marilyn Burch (Harkey), Betsy Campbell (Thomas), Joyce Knapp (Holland), Wanda DeVary (Castor), Don Miller and Pat Terpening (Owen) for all their help in making this possible. A very special "Thank You" to Charlie Andrews who has given us our own homepage and Chat Room site on the Internet. He has also set up a "list server" so we can send email to all of our classmates who have an email address. To send something to all of us just address it to: <bushy.park@commobunker.com> The attached list is of the classmates whom we have found so far. If you are in contact with others who are not on the list, please let me know so I can update the list. Our next project is to organize a reunion of alumni through 1962 when Central High School left that original location. Any suggestions for a time and place are more than welcome. Gary Schroeder (Class of 55) The above was first sent out on March 25, 1998 to those we had found as of that date. Class Representatives These are the ones who have volunteered so far: 1953 - Jackie (Brown) Kenny JKYKNY@aol.com 1954 - Betsy (Neff) Cote JAPCOTE@aol.com 1955 - Nancie (Anderson) Weber nanciet@inland.net 1957 - Celeste (Plitouke) Brodigan Mbrodi1939@aol.com 1958 - Pat (Terpening) Owen nemoamasa@worldnet.att.net 1959 - Jerry Sandham Jerry.Sandham@aig.com 1960 - Ren Briggs renoldbriggs@mediaone.net 1962 - Dona (Hale) Ritchie DonaRitchi@aol.com This leaves ’56 and ’61 classes without representative - any one want to take care of your class? The job is not hard. Roster Changes Richard "Rick" Schroeder (55) SSchroe273@aol.com New snail mail address: 904 Honeysuckle, We will let you know the telephone number when we get it installed. Our car phone (410) 279-7883 will remain the same until sometime in mid June. Again, we will let you know as soon as we get it changed. William (Bill)Rumble (57) I have moved my office to my home. Had to give up my DSL, so I now have a new email address: gfgventura@worldnet.att.net Also still have home email address on Barb's computer: barbbill@worldnet.att.net Sherry (Gregory) Wayne'53 153 Becky Thatcher Ct. wcarson@mindspring.com Mary (Easley) Brokaw (54) She has an email through her daughter which is cbrokaw@centuryt.net Chris (Onufrock) Reppucci (57) Cmreppucci@aol.com I wonder if you could change my physical address on the list. It is now 401 Georgetown Road Phone # is (804) 977-7105 and email is cmreppucci@aol.com. From Beverly (Schroeder) Smith 56 Gooat60@aol.com I am thinking of changing my on-line provider so may not use AOL anymore. Please send e-mails to bsmith@redcrossaustin.orgWhere Are They?
In this issue we are looking for those we have not found from the Class of 56. Some of these may have been found and we are not aware of it yet. If you know where any of them are please let us know.
From: "The Great Waldo" Walt Costa 54! emicosta@tstar.net Hi fellow classmates and friends. (Both of you!) For those of you, who are unaware, I live in another galaxy far, far, away in a place called Kingsland, Texas. I live here with my wonderful Japanese wife. We live on a small airport called Shirley Williams where I keep my old biplane. I am also a published poet and write short stories, although my forte is writing articles against our national embarrassment, our present government. We have only lived here a little over a year after spending most of my life in California. The aliens at first were difficult to understand, but as time goes on we are beginning to comprehend the language, to a limited degree, but the culture remains beyond our comprehension. Dan Chew’s little blurb in the last newsletter brought back some memories of my own. I'm convinced my mind was permanently altered by consuming more than my share of "Stingos". It brought to mind some old friends; "Dicky" Musgrave whose picture, I am sure, is on a post office billboard somewhere. Johnny "Peterson" Meuerer our class president, a cross he bears to this day. Ray Chandonnet whose last name was pronounced ------ ah never mind! Does anyone remember the tub in the boys dorm in Surbiton? Hell, you could have floated the Queen Mary in it. How about the "Teddy Boys" and their "Edwardian" outfits. I gotta tell you. I was soooo cool in those days; "London Fogger", cigarette hanging' out of my mouth and a limey chick on my arm. (Outside of the base of course!) Anyone remember "Chain Link Love" on the base perimeter? Damn, those were the days, and it's a wonder we all survived. Well most of us anyway. Unfortunately our ranks thin as the days go by. For those of you that have peered into the class album and asked why I was not in the class of '54 photos and left in the class of '55, I got so many "F's" in my junior year they held me back most of the year. I finally did some make up work towards the end of the year, and together with threats made on certain teachers they let me graduate in '54. I was voted the most dusted at the grad party. We did have a party didn't we? Anyway, I thought I'd let you guys know I'm still kicking and looking forward to being sued for child support! If you’re in the area, stop by for an open cockpit biplane ride. Old classmates get a super discounts! Just Kidding! No discounts! More later! From Walt (Curly) Hunt 56 Walt6238@aol.com (Editors Note: These are the remainder of Walt’s memories from the last issue.) Going through all the museums. Eating that peculiar square bread with marmalade. Going to the movies for sixpence. Standing at the end to sing God Save the King. Smoking my first cigarette. I asked for Players at a kiosk. What I got was Pliers. Drinking my first beer: I ordered haaf and haaf. Probably heard that in a movie. Had no idea what it was (half ale, half bitter, I suppose). I remember Dusty well. He was my older classmate role model. But I have trouble remembering others. Guess I was pretty much a loner. Thursday nights I went to a local Boy Scout meeting. The scoutmaster (he was addressed S.M.) was also the Bellmaster for the church. After the meeting he would wind the clock & bells and rehearse for Sunday services. I always went with him, up the 87 steps (?) to the top of the church into the loft to watch him play the bells. What a treat. Life was good. London was great. I went back to cycle through England and Scotland during the summer of my junior year at Frankfurt and cycled across London on my way back to Germany. It was about 5 in the morning and the town was just coming alive. What a wonderful experience that was. It was like a surrealistic movie that I frequently replay. Julia Roberts and Notting Hill are old hat to me. The newsletter triggered all these wonderful memories. I'm sure there are dozens more. Although I spent only my first freshman semester at Bushy in the fall of 52, I have an enormous number of memories: Playing on the soccer team that never won a game, but the cheerleaders came and once even exclaimed my legs were beautiful! The killer fog that required an extra driver to walk in front of the school bus on the way home. The dances at the Teen Club in (where? Regent's Park?)?? Sitting in the front row of the Cinema squinting to see a film in spite of the dense fog. Seeing fog filter into the flat we lived in--seeing it at the end of the hallway at home. Bumping into an invisible (because of the fog) lamppost in daytime. Cycling from Putney Bridge to the Embassy in ELEVEN MINUTES! Going out on the town with Dusty Bowers, meeting two French girls, and sharing French kisses until we missed the last bus. Wow! Dusty and I along with others I can't remember sailed on the USS William O. Darby to England with our families. We were in the Boy's Cabin. I still have a deck of cards from the trip with a picture of the ship on them. Hanging out at Picadilly Circus. Hanging out at Penny Lane. Hanging out at Marble Arch on Sundays and heckling the speakers, especially the Communists. Falling asleep on the Circle Line one night and making the complete loop. Riding trains. Riding coaches. Riding the double-deckers. Sitting over the driver and stomping our feet to signal GO. Riding taxis. All exquisite vehicles with wonderful smells, textures, feelings, sights. From Dan Chew (54) chew@csd.uwm.edu During CHSBP school year 1952-53, dorm folks ate at the U.K.E.S. snack bar on base. I had occasion to take a few meals with them and recall that even though prepared by English kitchen staff, some were not all that bad. However, one particular offering was ghastly: spaghetti, French fries, and some other unidentifiable and incompatible fare. Many of the diners found this combination inedible and exhibited their dissatisfaction by making creative blends and piles of overly glutinous pasta, soggy fries, and whatever, on their trays and decorating them with Dixie straws, napkins, inverted paper cups (beverage and all.) and chanting their current definition of the U.K.E.S. acronym: Us Kids Eat S---! While I was a little embarrassed at their behavior (some were pounding tables and stomping feet as they railed on), some degree of protest was certainly justified in this particular case. I'm not sure what the outcome of this event was. Maybe the menus improved, perhaps not. Anybody remember? Peter (Phillip) Laughlin (56) Annlaugh@aol.com The first year at the boy's dorm in Surbiton built a very strong public address system, and hooked it up to girl's dorm. We called it KDLH. Dabney, Laughlin, and Hassel. It was a modest success. Somehow we figured out if you threw some sugar in the electric heaters they would flame up. I remember we took the bus every morning to school thru Kingston-on-Thames. If you said the magic F word, they would stop the bus and you could walk home. It happened more than once. It was a great time. I thought I would never hear from classmates again. One day I just punched in Central High School, Bushey Park, London England and there was the website. Gary, thanks to you, everyone is finding each other again. I hope to see you this fall in Branson. From Billie (Culp) Bules 54 BCBules@aol.com My memories of living in London are foggy (just like the weather there), but I do
remember how dark it was. It was usually dark when we had to leave home to walk to the
busstop and dark by the time we got home after school. And, walking in the fog was spooky,
especially when it was also dark. One night several of us went to a movie and while in the
theatre it got real foggy and this happened to be one time my Dad had let me drive the
family car. Well, it was so foggy that we had to open the car doors, and hang out and try
to watch the "cat-eyes" in the center of the road, in order to stay on the road.
From Jackie (Brown) Kenny 53 JKYKNY@aol.com Reminiscing about 1952-53 at Bushy Park. I wonder how many remember the great fog? A group of we girls from St. Mary's had gone into Teddington to the local cinema. When we came out of the theater it was as though a white sheet had been put over the entry way. It was pea soup, not having experienced this before we held hands and groped our way back to the dorm. On the way we came upon a double-decker bus with the motorman walking in front with a flashlight showing the driver the way and keeping him on his side of the road. The next day we were confined to the dorm and they brought our meals in we all felt very sad at missing the cafeteria food [Unable to display image]. ( From the editor or your choice, depending on how you felt about the cafeteria food)
Look Who We Found Donald Drasheff 62 LAWNOD@aol.com Harold E. Dilley, Jr., 56 hdilley@iceweb.net
Deep Dark Secrets of Bushy From Bill Bailey 58 bill_bailey63@hotmail.com Some time in the Spring of '58, an airman was electrocuted by 220 volts while working on his American washing machine. It seems he did not know that while the white is considered "common" or "neutral" in the US, and black was "hot" - it was just the reverse in the UK. Therefore when he had wired up his transformer, he had inadvertently wired it so that one output wire had a 110V potential and the other wire had 220V potential. I don't remember exactly how the chain of command sent it through, but as a "Safety Measure", the administrator of the girl's dorm immediately confiscated all transformers and would only return when the girls were getting on the bus to go home. My sister (Mary Jean) quickly complained to me (sometime during the school day) that all of the music had stopped in the girl's dorm. What could be done about it? I told her to get the transformer on Friday and tell the staff she was taking it home, but to also bring home the unusable record player (which belonged to me). The record player was purchased in the US, but was of British manufacture, and I had changed the shaft for the 50 cycle current. At home that weekend, I removed the cover of the transformer and the cover of the record player, tucked the transformer inside, closed it back up, attached a British power cord with a three prong plug and sent her back with it on Sunday. It passed the administrator's inspection on the way in and she was back in with music. Classmates Who Have Transferred To The Eternal Duty Station Our love and prayers go out to the family and friends of our classmates who have gone on before us. We will miss them, yet we can find comfort in knowing that one-day we will all join them for the greatest of all reunions.
Frances Dilley 58 is deceased. She died in 1991.
Below are copies of two emails I received from Lisa Meinhart (daughter of Betty Sullivan 54) I thought you might like to see them. From Lisa Meinhart lmeinhart@columbus.rr.com I see that you are attempting to locate my mother Betty Sullivan-Meinhart, who was in the class of '54. She unfortunately passed away in September of 1974. She has four grown children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She never forgot her days at Central High School. I am impressed with your web page and only wish my mother was alive to see it. Great job.
The second email. I am more than happy to have my mother remembered in your newsletter. It is actually very comforting to me to know that she IS remembered. If I can help in any way, I am more than willing to provide info. I still have her yearbook, articles from the two newspapers which ran stories regarding the decadent teenagers of Central High School, among a number of "High Times" newsletters. (In fact I think it would be a cool addition to your newsletter to incorporate some of the old newsletter items.) I am also interested in any anecdotes regarding my mother's high school days. She unfortunately passed while I was quite young and subsequently I don't know much of those days. I do remember her mentioning "Dusty", and see he has also passed. Do you know when that was? Again, I can't tell you how much it meant to have stumbled across your web page. It truly was a unique Memorial weekend experience for me. Thanks to all of you, I feel that my mother was very near to me this weekend. God bless you for that.
Reunion News
Branson Reunion Update Here is some more information on the Bushy Park Reunion October 1st and 2nd in Branson, Missouri. Reservations - There are 50 rooms (King or double Queens) at $72.00/night blocked out for the first fifty to sign up. There are options for three additional days, at our room rate, on either side of the 1st & 2nd . Don’t delay, however, in making your own reservations as there is a very large group coming in on Wednesday the 3rd and availability is tight. To repeat, all e-mails to Ted Hopkins prior to this notice were used only as intentions to attend. Ted is not making room reservations for attendees. Please don’t delay too long in finalizing your plans. We wouldn’t want to disappoint you. The Radisson Hotel Branson can be reached by phone at (417) 335-5767 or (800) 333-3333 (Radisson World Res). E-mail is www.radisson.com/branson . Be sure to indicate you are with the Bushy Park High School Group since that is the only way we will know our group numbers and who to contact with more details. Banquet Dinner Tuesday, Oct 2nd - The banquet dinner on Tuesday evening will cost $35.00 a person. The menu includes Steamship Round of Beef with Horseradish Sauce, Stuffed Pork Loin with Walnut Sage Dressing, Rotisserie Turkey Breast with Apricot Glaze, Seafood Newburg over Rice Pilaf, Chef’s choice of Vegetable, Fruit & Pasta Salads, Assortment of potato, pasta, and green vegetable dishes, Assorted breads and rolls, plus a selection of Chocolates, Cream Pastries and Specialty desserts. There will be a cash bar service for drinks before, during and after the meal. Jim Stafford Show, Monday Night Oct 1st - For those who want to join us for a dinner & show on Monday night, we have a block of 50 tickets reserved for the first fifty to sign up. Jim Stafford is consistently one of the most popular shows in town. He is an exceptional musical talent and comedian. You would remember him from the Smother’s Brothers Show or his own TV series in the 60's. Check out his web site at www.jimstafford.com. The show tickets will be $25.00 and the dinner will be $13.00. The meal includes both Chicken Cordon Bleu & Pot Roast, side salad, potatoes, carrots, cobbler, topped with frozen yogurt and choice of coffee, tea or soft drink. Taxes and tip included. The dinner is served at 6:00 PM and the show starts at 8:00. More information is forthcoming. Please send reservations and money for the banquet, show and /or dinner before the show to Nancie T. Weber, 22309 Canyon Lake Dr, South Canyon Lake, CA, 92587. E-mail nanciet@inland.net There are simply too many shows and activities in the Branson area to list or recommend here. There are many Branson web sites to help you plan a full eventful visit. The weather should be great, and just driving through the Ozarks in the fall will be a memorable experience. There are charming places to eat simply every where. Don’t worry about meals. Contact your classmates and plan an extended stay. Just be sure to make your reservations soon to be safe. Ted Hopkins "55" 10502 East Fernwood Lane, Scottsdale AZ 85262,
480-488-2219, Fax 480-488-4930, E-mail; MrTeddyboy@msn.com From Billie (Culp) Bules 54 BCBules@aol.com I have been told that the traffic in Branson is a nightmare, so I decided to take
a shuttle from the airport in Springfield, Mo. instead of renting a car. In case
there are others coming to the reunion, like me, would you pass on this information: Mini Bios. From Fr. Aaron (Sheldon) Peters, O.S.B (57) aaronosb@micoks.net My days at Bushy Park are indelibly imprinted in my memory and personality I think. Within the first week of my arrival, Bob Chandonnet (’57) invited me to reside in the wing of the dorm, Hampton Hall, called ‘Cat’s Cave’, with initiation ceremonies and all that. Thus began a happy sojourn in Central High. I was madly in love with Glenda (Fuller) Drake (56). We sang lots of duets together - and even sounded good too, I don’t mind saying. Then there was Cynthia Schofield (what ever happened to her?) and Carolyn Towner (great actress). By the time the spring of 1957 came around, my dad’s tour of duty was up and I didn’t get to graduate, ‘formally’, with the class of 57. Leaving a month early, I was so angry over the situation that I just up and joined the navy, volunteering for the U.S. Submarine Service. As it turned out, in spite of the original motivation, that was a good decision. Although I had always had a sort of religious personality (in my senior year at Bushy I had given thought to becoming Catholic and a priest), I lost all thoughts of a religious vocation while in the navy. That is until returning from a 6 month tour of the Mediterranean on mg first Submarine. We were mid way back in the Atlantic Ocean when a big hurricane blew up. Diesel submarines could not dive and stay down because of the need for air. So we had to ride it out on the surface. Being a lowly swabby at the time, I had to stand lookout watch on that tiny bridge with another seaman and the Officer of the Deck. One big gigantic wave after another pounding us to pieces so it seemed. Then this one huge, monster of a wave came tearing down upon us. I was the only one left on the bridge. That got me to thinking, and thinking really hard! Why was I left, untouched? So I began to take religion seriously again. I started with Instructions in the Catholic Faith. It took a long time, and a couple more life threatening experiences: One time there was a leak in the motor room of one of the subs I was on. We sank stern first some 800 feet before we could get it righted; then there was the time we cut right through the middle of a touring catamaran in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico. I served in both diesel and nuclear submarines. Put the USS John Marshall (SSBN611) into commission in the early 60’s. But it was on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN600) that I finally decided to actually become a Catholic and to also enter the religious life. And I did. After discharge from the navy in 1967, I entered St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas. I was ordained in 1977. I matriculated at our college., St. Benedict’s College (now known as Benedictine College), and at St. Meinrad School of Theology at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, and did graduate work at Indiana University and the University of San Francisco. I’ve had a variety of challenging and personally rewarding assignments and
duties. I taught Old Testament Scripture and Sacramental and Liturgical Theology in our
College, served in various parishes, and returned to the navy for two years active duty as
a chaplain. I also spent over 10 years as a chaplain and counselor at Valley Hope, an
alcohol and drug rehabilitation Center in Atchison, Kansas. At the present I am Chaplain
to the Ursuline Sisters in Paola, Kansas. In spite of the recent incident with the USS Greeneville, I’ve recently returned from a VIP Cruise on board the USS Jefferson City (SSN759). Not a hands on experience to be sure, but worthwhile one and a good reminder of the value of our military and the work they do for our all of us. So, while life has its ups and downs or angles and dangles as it’s called in
the submarine service, my life has been mostly ups. I am so very pleased to be in touch
with so many old friends again. Aren’t computers and the Internet grand tools?
"God bless every one!" We have 2 children - Stephen and Susan, and three grandchildren - Ben, Colt and Randi. Peter (Phillip) Laughlin (56) Annlaugh@aol.com I returned to the states summer of 55. We were stationed at OFFUTT Air Base in Omaha Nebraska. I had never been west of Pittsburg. What a shock. Graduated Hi School then went to the University of Nebraska. Entered the radio business while in college. Worked in Omaha, Des Moines, Iowa, Dallas, and Minneapolis. Married a lovely girl from Nebraska, Ann in 61. One boy, Sean, in the advertising business in Milwaukee. Came back to Iowa in 1981,VP Programming Stoner Broadcasting. General Manager of a 5 station complex until April of 2001. I am now in semi-retirement doing a little consulting on the East Coast, from Des Moines Iowa.
This and That From: Rev. Aaron S. Peters, O.S.B. (57) aaronosb@micoks.net Reading Don Miller's offer of scanned images of the 53-56 year books reminded me that I have they 53-57 year books on a Zip disk (in Macintosh format). I sent Pat Terpening Owen the same on a Zip in PC Format when I first got them. So if any alumni desire, I can offer the same as Don for Mac lovers. Just send me a Zip disk. Editors Note If you sent me something for the Newsletter and you don’t see it in this issue don’t be disappointed. Watch the next issue for your article, but don’t let that stop you from sending in something else. We want to hear from all of you and what you send will be published in some issue. Don’t’ forget to check the Guest Book on the Bushy Park web site at: http://www.bushypark.org/ |