Class of 1967 set for reunion
THE first batch of matriculants at Mount Edgecombe High School may have gotten on in age, but the thought of rekindling old friendships and reminiscing about old times has them all revved up.
It’s been 50 years since they went their separate ways, but the class of ‘67 – sadly much smaller than way back then – are getting together again at the school on Saturday for a much-anticipated reunion.
The only snag, said organiser Eshwarlall “Ish” Soomaroo, was trying to locate one of their old friends, Perumal Reddy, whom he remembers as a being a quiet pupil.
“We have always tried to keep in contact with everybody and have attended some members’ funerals, but nobody has heard from Perumal,” he said.
“If we could find Perumal it would be wonderful to rekindle old memories with him at our alma mater.”
During high school, Perumal lived at Ramakrishna centre in Glen Anil, but a trip there recently yielded no clues as to his whereabouts now.
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There were originally 30 pupils in the class, but the number of survivors has whittled down to 21 over the years.
“We were able to locate everyone else but him (Perumal),” said Soomaroo, 67. He said one of his fellow pupils had been traced to a home for the aged in Canada and was unable to travel.
He urged all the other 19 surviving classmates to attend this special event, adding with a giggle, “because who knows, we might not be here in the next 50 years”.
Two of their former teachers, TV Naidoo and SG Moodley, would also attend.
The school, now a privately run institution, celebrated its 80th anniversary in October.
Soomaroo said he had fond memories of his school days.
“Most of us walked for miles to school from sugar estates in Mount Edgecombe, Cornubia, Burnside, La Lucia, Flanders, Westbrook and elswhere,” he said.
If you know Perumal Reddy, please contact Soomaroo at 073 888 9287.