Name: Mike Coleman
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: Dave Fletcher is still living in Leeds and has a partner, Andrea, and two grown up stepchildren. He works with computer systems (something to do with NHS email) for BT. I met up with him in November it was like no time had passed, nothing awkward or no long silences I suppose the loud music and the whiskey helped!! Dave and Andrea have invited Mary and myself to Leeds in the spring to see The Dales whatever they are??
I got Martin Essex email address from Sue but I havent met up with him yet although I have been in contact. From Martin I've got Min's (Marian Brooks) email address; she teaching in a college in Bradford.
I've been thinking about setting up our own reunion. Do you ever come south? Steve Lyon is happy to offer his house as a venue!! I hope that by applying a little pressure I can persuade Dave and Sue (and significant others) to say yes to a gathering. How do you fancy the idea or should we go for a northern chapter and a southern chapter?
Both myself and Dave have been trying to trace Hutton but with no luck we keep trying and are hopeful.
All the best for the future
Mike

Name: Mike Coleman
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: Hi Brian. A quick history of Mike (changed from Mick somewhere along the line). I worked on various building sites for a year after leaving Essex as I had no idea of what I wanted to do. I got married to Mary on 29 September 73 attended by a bunch of old Essexites and started an MSc course in Audiology on 1 October 73. Mary is still waiting for the honeymoon.
We moved to Bristol in November 74 to work for the NHS as a Clinical Scientist and in 79 I became Head of the Audiology Unit. I remained in that position until I retired (yes thats correct!!) in March 2001. I now consult from private hospital in Bristol. Mary didnt go back to teaching after we started the family but works full time for our company. She has recently started an Open University degree mostly Maths related subjects.
We have two boys Tony is 23 and has a BA and Msci in Chemistry from Cambridge and is training to be an accountant in London! Richard is 19 and more interest in pubbing and clubbing than work. He is currently doing a one year Arts foundation course in Weston Super Mare and is applying for various undergraduate degrees in art related subjects graphic design, etc. We also have Toby, 7, who is now the only hairy member of the family - he's the dog.
Until recently the only Essexite Ive seen regularly is Suzanne Richards (now teaching Chemistry in a secondary school in Nottingham). In April 2001 Sue and I went back to the University all Wivenhoe House and the Black Buoy! We even managed to get to Clacton it was really good fun, if a little cold and wet.
From your internet site I established contact with Steve Lyon through a roundabout route. I'e seen Steve Lyons and Babs 3 times in 2002 they live near Reading, only about 6 or 7 miles from where my mum and dad live. Steve and Babs are fit and well. They spent a few years in California. Steve has had an interesting employment career and Babs is now retired from HM Inspector of Tax Department.

Name: Danny & Irene
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: January 2003
Hi Alison, Brian & Ben, Happy New Year to you all. Hope you all are keeping well. Irene and I were viewing your web site last night and joining you on your stay over Christmas at Wooler. You all were having a great time. Although there was no sound we could still hear your laughter, jokes and chat during your fancy dress party. Brian suited his moustache and your Dad looked the part in his head scarf and skirt. And as for Father Ted...
You were an 'angel` in your little black number!!
Love Irene & Danny"

Name: Jane and Gary Fooks
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: December 2002
Hope all is well up in the far north.
We've both enjoyed your website - keep adding to it!
Take care,
Jane and Gary

Name: Geoff Oliver
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: Have been raiding the vaults to find some material for your photo pages.
Will send some once I've settled down a bit in Wales.
Jane asked why no photos of the Elliot?
I've got some fab ones of Enid somewhere. And Jane's birthday cake in the Metro canteen. And more from the Lake District... And... tons & tons - but where? Will have to buy a negative scanner methinks.

Name: Geoff Poyton
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: Hi Brian, fantastic to not only hear from you , but to get a full life history on your website. Brilliant photos of days at Abbs X. Some of them I've got and posted them on the Friends etc. website, no doubt you 've seen them.
Do you hear from any of the old gang? I did a fair bit of emailing before the last Reunion and 'spoke ' to Jane Field (see picture left), Martin O'Connor, Tony Plunkett, Jeff Eynon, Jim Britton, and Sheila Holmes. Sadly only Sheila, Jeff and Tony made it to the reunion where we met up with Bob Head. Ive been to a couple of other reunions there over the years , but this was the poorest turn-out for our year - surely we're not dying off already!
Reading your CV it looks like you've had a fun career . I dabbled in radio for a while in the 70's and 80's , having got the DJing bug with Radios Electra and Concorde! I presented the breakfast show on Radio Basildon for a while and did OBs on a Saturday from a kids club . I ran a mobile disco from mid 70s to mid 80s but then gave it up when I went to work in Abu Dhabi . I dabbled a bit out there DJing for the ex-pats and hosting quizes etc. I also did the odd stint on Capital Radio (Abu Dhabi) . When I returned to Blighty, I sold all my disco stuff (except the vinyl), got (re)married and moved from Basildon to East Sussex , where I remain. Ive got 2 daughters Stephie ,10 and Tasha 7. My wife Caroline and I run an amateur variety group in the village, called Northiam Showtimers, and basically put on shows very similar to the 6th form review! You know , a song , a dance and a merry quip or sketch. We've built up quite a following . I look after the technical stuff as well and got an amp, mixer and speakers.
One day I went to pick up the girls from a school disco and found it was really awful, you know no rapport and totally the wrong music for the age group- the kids were bored stiff . SO I volunteered to do the next one, coddling together a couple of CD players , some 'NOW'. CDs and using the Show sound gear. It went down a storm and I started to get enquires for birthday parties and more school discos , so I've gone full circle. I also got into Karaoke and do a night a month in the local pub.
In between all this I work as a Trading Law manager for Tesco. This has taken me far and wide in UK and abroad - Europe ,USA and the Far East.
If ever I know in advance that Im coming to your part of the country I'll drop you a note.
Happy New Year, keep in touch.
Geoff

Name: Stephen Lyon
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: I took the photo on my 21st Birthday outside Keynes. I lived in K9 with Martin
Hutton, Dave Fletcher (Alf Cooke as he prefered to be known), Mick Coleman, et al. Some of the folks in the photo weren't at Essex but were friends of mine from my home village of Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire. Some others were childhood friends of Simon Pannett, the guy on the right of the photo. They came from Dulwich. The woman 4th from right front row is now my wife, the dark haired girl next to Min. She wasn't at the Uni, but at Colchester college.I was doing a
Google search for Martin Hutton .
You're very welcome to use the photo, and my commentary. If you need me to identify old Essexonions on the photo let me know. I have some other photos if you are interested including one of Mick Coleman with some engineers that I don't recognise as I was in the year below. One of them might be you. I met with Mick and Mary about 15 years ago when they were living Bath/Bristol way, but lost touch again.
Wally used to visit us on his bike aswell. We tried moving but he still found us, although we haven't seen him in over 10 years. I tried looking on the Essex Foundation web site for people in the photo and the only one that's there is Martin Essex. He is Economics Editor of the Sunday Business.

Name: Mike Coleman
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: We're still alive and well and living in Bristol. Dave Fletcher sent the picture on to me. I'm still in contact with Suzanne Richards (extreme left - position in picture and not political view point). I last met up with her about 2 weeks ago (Oct 2001) and I was back at Essex University in April. Look fordward to more contact.

Name: Martin Essex
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: Grand to see that pic again. Gave my work colleagues a good laugh! I'm third from left, front row. And I'm not at Sunday Business any more. Now working as an economist. Can't say I remember you but then, as you say, if you can remember those days you weren't there. All the best.

Name: Amy Walden
E-mail:
Date posted: -
Message: Ha Ha! Fantastic. It's just fab, scary but fab. She's a cracking bird!!
Must say I'm not to impressed with the curly blonde locks though! It would be lovely to catch up, now you have my address there's no excuse. I have lots of memories too!! Ha Ha. I must say the pictures of Ben are quite frightening, feel v. old!
Take Care, all my love.
Amy xx

Name: Stuart Brook
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: I don't know if the name will ring any bells for you ... but I too had some involvement with URE 1970-1972 ... (Friend of Derek Hearl, Rick Jenkins, John Rabson, Debi Davies ... to name a few!) A memory jog of a cross-eyed guy might help!
I found your page while searching for Debi Davies actually (of course, what I have found refers to her as Deborah now ... bit more dignified I guess! :-)... we lost touch several years ago and I was looking to see if she has any email address.
As much as I enjoyed broadcasting and daze of URE and UTO, I went on after a stint at the University of Surrey to do some TV broadcast electronics, and then later abandoned most of the electronics for computing with DEC PDP-11s. They've taken me to Canada and for a while into the US with Digital before they became a figment of our imagination. Now, I work for the Irish company, Mentec, doing the same thing.
Days of Essex bring both nostalgia and pain ... it was a real growing session for many of us. I often think that I should have continued in broadcasting, because I certainly enjoyed it ... Oh well ... que sera sera!
Best wishes from Ottawa Canada!
Stuart

Name: Chris Oppe
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: Hi Brian & Alison
Amazing to have found this site even a photo of myself! How are you both? I have wanted to find out about old Essex friends - how many on your list are you in touch with. I am fine living in Lingfield, Surrey and have 2 children , 17 & 14.
It is me at the back but who is snogging in the front?
Do you keep in touch with Phil and Carol?. I lost touch when they were in Kingston on Thames.
It is Dave Crooks in the middle and I think Elizabeth Hurley(?) on the right.Who is
on the left?

Name: Mike Coleman
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: Good to find you - via Dave Fletcher. Have I been the only one out of contact for years?
The enclosed photo is graduation '72 - Suzanne Richards (I was talking to her tonight), Dave Fletcher, Martin Hutton and Marilyn with me behind them.
Talk to you soon
Mike, Mary, Tony (22), Richard (nearly 18) and Toby (6
but he's the dog!)

Name: Steve (Ted) Slemmings
E-mail:
Date posted:
Message: Brian - it's me Ted Slemmings, known now by my real name of Steve. How are you? My netnurd brother found the pictures of the Abbs X pantomime and sent them to me. I married Mary Jackson and we have three boys Tom 19 Nick 17 and William 12. Shame we didn't have four, (FOUR???).
I'll print the photos off and show Mary, she may be able to fill in the gaps. Do you ever see anyone? The only ones I know are David Arnold who married Miriam Viney and live near us in NW Essex. We live in Gt Bardfield and the Arnolds live in Stebbing.

Please add your comments or any information about the people or places in the pictures.....