Plumpton Alumni of 1957 once again at Tirley, Gloucestershire.

It must have been one of those miraculous moments of fate, when us three chums were put in a dormitory room together all those years ago. Youngsters full of enthusiasm, the three of us had been trained in basic farming by a YMCA scheme (BBBF) and the course we then attended at Plumpton College was in general agriculture and estate management.

Tony, with his special interest in animals progressed through the RSPCA to become Chief Inspector. Paul assumed a scientific route, joining the Kennedy Institute in experimental projects. For my part, an interest in mechanics led me through an engineering route to be a technician.

Our friendship has stood the test of time as we become old sages with many common interests. Meeting up annually to discuss world affairs and to mull over old times. We may now begin to wonder, for how many years we will be able to put such matters under our discretion as we tend our personal ailments.

It is a wonderful thing to find that the three of us, old chums, share so many views concerning the politics and unexpected reveals in the new world of today.