Page 20 - Demo

20 JANUARY’19-JUNE’19
THE REVIEW
11th World Anglo-Indian Reunion Chennai, India - 7th January 2019 - 13th January 2019
COMING
Since leaving India 48+ years ago, this will be the fourth time Lynn and I have been privileged to return to the
motherland. Our trips have encompassed three World Reunions, along with Lynn’s Bishop’s School’s 150th anniversary celebrations in Pune in 2014.
Truth be told, I go back mainly for the food! Yes, we have an abundance of Indian food available in Toronto and across Canada, but it just tastes immensely better in India - I am guessing it must be the fresh ground masalas! Besides, how can you possibly substitute a visit to Cal, that includes a visual of every conceivable street food you can imagine? To savour a delicious kati roll from Nizams, freshly baked patties from Nahoums or the heavenly taste of Indian Chinese food that knows no equal?
This trip included a family wedding at
the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim Goa, that was truly a unique event and an amazing celebration. My nephew Brandon Lovery was married to a local AI girl, Yolanda Brown from Kharagpur (KGP) on 28 Dececember 2018. The two met six years ago
of the delicious South Indian and
Western breakfast offerings. I heard the unmistakable booming voice of the “grand poobah” of Reunions, Mr. Bert Payne (with the distinction of having attended all eleven Reunions), who was holding court, with several people around him. It was quickly evident that the vast majority of attendees were from Perth, with much smaller contingents from other Aussie cities, as well as the UK, Canada, USA and NZ. Kudos to Jenny Maher who did an admirable job negotiating with the Crowne Plaza for the Perth group, which many of us were able to leverage off. Thank You, Jenny!
Day 1 - Monday – 7th January 2019 ECUMENICAL SERVICE FOLLOWED BY MEET AND GREET
At 9 a.m. we congregated in the hotel lobby for the complimentary bus pick-up, courtesy of the Reunion Organizing Committee.
The Crowne Plaza was the central staging area for the transportation and groups
from other nearby hotels including the YWCA International Guest
House. We were headed to
St. Mary’s Church in the St. George’s School campus for the Ecumenical Service which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. We quickly discovered that traffic in Chennai adds a whole new dimension to creep and crawl! We arrived at 10:30 a.m. and the service was well underway.
St. George’s School is the oldest existing Anglo-Indian school
in South Asia (founded in 1715) and it has held up well over
the 300+years. The Chapel is small and was filled to capacity; however, there was adequate seating outdoors which allowed us to participate. The service was officiated by the Bishop
of the Chennai, Diocese of the
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in KGP and cemented their relationship at the 9th World Anglo-Indian Reunion 2013
in Calcutta. It seemed fitting to return to India to say their “I Dos” and have both their families in attendance. A foreign-born second-generation AI, marrying a first- generation AI gal from India, is definitely unique in our neck of the woods.
After a four-day stop in Cal, Lynn and I arrived in Chennai or Madras as many
still call it, for the 11th World AI Reunion on the evening of Sunday 6th January. As soon as we entered the lobby of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, we heard the familiar accents of Anglos buzzing around us. Earlier that afternoon, there was a friendly hockey match between the locals and the NRIs, which I understand, ended in an amicable draw!
The unofficial ‘Meet & Greet’ took place Monday morning at breakfast, where I am guessing approximately 150 people were gathered. Loads of familiar faces we have met at previous Reunions. Everyone was busy hugging, chatting and partaking