From Iran to Exeter

Jeff Hume brought a dozen Old Mancs back to Manchester last Friday for a reunion, 40 years on, of the group that was the Iran Expedition of 1970. With some wives and partners, and members of the present Geography Department at MGS, they talked about the serious scientific and logistical challenges they met all those years ago. Travelling to study the land system of the northern Damghan Valley in the Elburz Mountains, they produced a full scientific report, but most importantly, as young adults, they had an amazing set of experiences. The formative nature of these experiences can be seen in the lives they have led since: Jeff himself has worked in petrochemical exploration.

Two of the teachers who made the trip possible were present, too. Philip Boden left MGS to join a university department of education. John Abbott became a headteacher and has written extensively on what we get wrong in educating teenagers - see 'Overschooled but Undereducated'.

It was a great gathering, and one which continued, after a lunch at school and a trip to see how much has changed in central Manchester, with a hotel dinner.

So many good lunches and dinners! This coming weekend I shall again be in Exeter to attend on Sunday morning the cathedral service which recognises the role of our Founder in 1515, Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter. Then to the Southgate Hotel for lunch and the AGM of the South-west section of the Old Mancs Association. We shall have the School Captain and Vice-Captain with us in an attempt slightly to reduce the average age of those attending.