DECEMBER 2009
30th Just when I think everybody who was going to visit the site, has visited, someone else emails me. This time it was Anthony (Barrett)Redmayne to say he had just found this site. He is still in contact with David and Averil James and Barrie Mugford from college days. He has recently retired, not from teaching, (that didn't last too long), but from the civil service, I have included his email address if anyone out there would like to make contact. I have also found a message on Friends Reunited from Angela Adams that I have belatedly replied to, she is another recent retiree who lives in France for half of each year.
23rd. Just calling in to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
NOVEMBER 2009
12th I don't think that I've ever mentioned Facebook on this site so I'll correct that now. Facebook, for the uninitiated, is a social networking site and several old lags are now members including Tim Whiteford, Alan Sopp, Chris Meechan, Sue Kibbey, Jim and Alex Stevenson, John Jones and myself. It is simple to use and is a convenient way of keeping in touch without having to send e-mails. If you haven't got round to looking at it yet and feel it might be a bit of fun I've included a link to the web address below.
OCTOBER 2009
26th I have been terribly remiss! I found an email I got back in June from old lag Mary Nelson (Whyte) who was at college from 69-71 and now needs details of her teaching course to work in Texas. Any ideas?
I was busy relagging my loft yesterday when I came across my Student Union Card beneath the boarding, so as there is nothing else to put on the site I have added it to Lagorabilia 3.
16th. There are still some old lags who are discovering this site. The latest of these is Sally Steel (married name, Hole), who was a friend of Jen Howson and studied at St. Matts from 1966-70. She spent a lot of her time at college with Roger Derwas who eventually married Verna Milsom. She lives in Derry Hill, near Chippenham and is married with three children. I hope anybody who knew her will get in contact. The email address is on the Contacts page.
14th. Eagerly awaiting the publication of Frank McDonald's Matt Hias, The Book. Will put up details when I get them.
AUGUST 2009
27th. I forgot to mention that yesterday I posted some photgraphs that Tim Whiteford kindly sent me. They are all from are from a reunion (1990?) except one which I have added to 'Lags' Photos 13'. The rest are in 'Reunion Pics 3'.
20th. I know its a bit self indulgent but I hope noone will mind me saying that my daughter got her 3 A s and is off to Leeds to do a History degree!
6th. I now have Andrea's photographs and have posted them in Lags' Photos 16. I hope Andy doesn't mind but I've also done a 'Then and Now' for her.
JULY 2009
30th. An email reached me today from Andrea (Andy) Hockfield who came over to St. Matthias in 1971 to study. She and some of the other American students had a get together recently and somebody pointed her to this site. The interesting thing is that she often wrote letters home about her sojourn abroad and the one she included was actually about an afternoon spent with Jim Stevenson his wife and myself! As the 'memories' page no longer exists I shall hang on until she sends me some pics and then publish it alongside.
JUNE 2009
21st Good old Susie Doyle has written the second instalment of her college memoirs. It's funny how one forgets certain things, Sue happens to mention a couple of incidents that were completely missing from my memory bank, then again I suppose that's what years of alcohol abuse do for you!
MAY 2009
27th. Had an email today from Kate Mann, (now Manley), who studied at St. Matts from 1972-75
and she would love to get in touch with anybody who remembers her. She is currently teaching Design and Technology at a school in Grantham. I also hope she may be able to supply some photos for the site. Meanwhile if you remember her, her email is,
18th Here's a thing, did you know that Saint Matthias is a patron saint? "Of what", I hear you ask? The answer is, of course, alcoholics!!
15th My dear friend Sue Doyle, (as was), has kindly begun writing her memories of college days for this site. I'm sure anyone who was at St. Matts in the late sixties will find them interesting. Sue, who studied Dance at college, was involved in many aspects of life back then. She had, (and still has), a wonderful voice and sang at many concerts. She now lives in France so I presume the french countryside along with a few bottles of vin ordinaire have stirred her to write. I have used the imaginative title of 'Sue's Memoirs, a link to which can be found on the side panel. Enjoy!
APRIL 2009
26th. Tim Whiteford has recently joined Facebook. Any other lags who are members can now contact him via this medium.
1st Anne Bossingham or Goodwin as she was at college has sent me a 'now' picture. I've added a 'then' pic and you can find them on, Then and Now.
MARCH 2009
18th. Liz Craig has kindly found out a panoramic photo from 1969 of the Barrow Court students. It can be found under- Lags' Panorama : Barrow Panorama. I'm sure that old lags will find someone they remember.
It is maybe worth pointing out that over 130,000 hits have been made on this site and old students are still interested in anything Matthias, so please consider sending me any stuff you have. You know it makes sense!
17th. Jerry Friar, who was in the first cohort of male students to be admitted to Matthias has been in touch and his contact address is on the Old Lags' Contacts page.
2nd. Just pointing out that I have now removed 2008's news, you can still access it by clicking the link at the bottom of this section and then clicking 'open' in the box that opens up. It is quite safe, no viruses or nasties.
1st. I have added a section on to Some More Memories on the This Old Lag page, mostly about supplementing my grant. I am writing this down before dementia kicks in! Also added a painting of mine to Arty Lags 2. Hope this fills the gap whilst I eagerly await new material.
FEBRUARY 2009
14th. A belated 'happy new year to all old lags. Today I had an email off Liz Craig, (married name), who studied biology at Barrow Court 1967-1970. Anyway, she's enabled me to put names to some of the gallery pictures. I wasn't aware of the fact that many of the girls were bussed over to Fishponds for the panoramic photo.