The great reunion

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Oscar
Posts: 94
Joined: 02 Feb 2008 22:48
Real Name: Oscar Hopkins

The great reunion

Post by Oscar » 26 Oct 2018 16:38

With only two of the thirteen founders members of the Beacon still alive and Dennis Baker now over ninty and now in a residential care home, I decided to try and find the other founder member Harry Morris. All I knew was that he was a fisherman last seen at Hartlebury.After lunch at Whit Lenge near Hartlebury I visited a fishery nearby, no luck there, I was told of another fishery by the level crossing, no luck again. At the third attempt, The Moorlands I was pointed to a fisherman called Dave. Yes he knew Harry but hadnt seen him for over a year. But he told me he fished with the Northfield Vets. Back home I couldnt find any trace of the Northfield Vets. I then hit on the idea of phoning a fishing tackle shop somewhere in Kings Heath, They gave me a phone number of a gentleman called Mike, who turned out to live less than a mile from me.He said he would phone Harry for me. After two attempts, Harry phoned me. I agreed to pick him up from Aston Fields and take him to see Dennis on Monday. After more phone calls Dean his son phoned to say that Dennis had a hospital appointment that day. Finally on the Thursday I took Harry to meet Dennis. When they met Dennis was almost lost for words, as they had not seen each other for many years. Then nostalgia flowed like a river for over three hours. After so many dead ends it gave me enormous satisfaction to get these two remaining founder members now both just either side of ninety together. A day I am sure they will both remember for a very long time.

Tim
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Real Name: Tim Egan
Location: Bournville

Re: The great reunion

Post by Tim » 26 Oct 2018 21:46

That is a great thing to have done Oscar. Great to hear.
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Pedlo Mudguardo
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Real Name: Nic Vipond
Location: Birmingham

Re: The great reunion

Post by Pedlo Mudguardo » 26 Oct 2018 22:18

Oscar, that’s such a wonderful thing to have done. The Beacon, I’m sure, means and has meant a great deal to many people since those founder members kicked it all off.
Great stuff.

WorcsPhil
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Real Name: Phil Richards

Re: The great reunion

Post by WorcsPhil » 26 Oct 2018 22:59

Oscar, this is such a heart-warming story, and shows that the best things to do takes effort and determination. I really hope Dennis and Harry enjoyed their re-union and metaphorically cycled down to the coast in the sunshine that afternoon.

JessRJ
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Real Name: Jess Rhodes-Jones

Re: The great reunion

Post by JessRJ » 27 Oct 2018 23:22

This is absolutely brilliant :)

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AlanW
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Real Name: Alan Weaver
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Re: The great reunion

Post by AlanW » 28 Oct 2018 07:03

Superb, top marks Oscar
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"

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George
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Real Name: George Barker
Location: Worcestershire

Re: The great reunion

Post by George » 28 Oct 2018 08:42

What a great story! Did anyone take a picture?

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Simon Woodward
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Re: The great reunion

Post by Simon Woodward » 28 Oct 2018 14:42

Oscar, There's often an awful lot of tosh written on forums and I'm just as guilty as everyone else. But sometimes a little gem comes along that warms the heart and rekindles your faith in human kind.
Thank you.

Dave Cox
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Re: The great reunion

Post by Dave Cox » 28 Oct 2018 15:04

Well done Oscar great detective work too !

David Cole
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Re: The great reunion

Post by David Cole » 28 Oct 2018 16:20

Great to hear this story Oscar. Really good to hear about the reunion between Harry and Dennis. Congratulations on being successful with your detective work

Dave
David Cole

Beacon Roads Cycling Club

Yosser
Posts: 327
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 13:33
Real Name: Dave Hughes

Re: The great reunion

Post by Yosser » 29 Oct 2018 17:56

Oscar I'm really impressed. That is a great result.I think it needs telling again at the annual Dinner and Prize presentation.

rdleaper
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Joined: 25 Jun 2011 01:29
Real Name: Richard Leaper
Location: King's Heath

Re: The great reunion

Post by rdleaper » 05 Nov 2018 22:31

Simon Woodward wrote:
28 Oct 2018 14:42
Oscar, There's often an awful lot of tosh written on forums and I'm just as guilty as everyone else. But sometimes a little gem comes along that warms the heart and rekindles your faith in human kind.
Thank you.
Well said; I totally agree.

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snailmale
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Joined: 22 Nov 2006 10:03
Real Name: Alan Nicholls
Location: Worcester

Re: The great reunion

Post by snailmale » 23 Dec 2018 11:28

Bloody hell, Oscar, only just picked up on this, what a nice thing to do.

And here's me thinking you were just a pretty face...
It is better to be interesting rather than exact

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CakeStop
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Real Name: Steve Smith
Location: Birmingham

Re: The great reunion

Post by CakeStop » 23 Dec 2018 19:42

IMG_3280.jpg
IMG_3280.jpg (78.29 KiB) Viewed 17018 times
Eat cake before you're hungry

Tim
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Location: Bournville

Re: The great reunion

Post by Tim » 23 Dec 2018 20:02

Hippy Market Ibiza!! Bad memories of that as a kid!
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Neil Compton
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Re: The great reunion

Post by Neil Compton » 16 Jan 2019 13:30

Nice one.

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