[Ron Goldstein]

Brian

Like yourself, I inevitably mourn the passing of old, good friends and this is brought home to me every year when I attend Remembrance Parade and, as in my case, Club reunions.

Whilst re-reading some of the items on this thread I was reminded of an article that I posted on another forum that seemed appropriate to re-print here..

The piece went as follows:

Whilst on the subject of friendship I'd like to mention (yet again !) my old boy's club, the C&BG.

I first joined the club in 1934 and still attend annual reunions where we "oldies" bask in nostalgia and the pleasure of good company and relive triumphs of yester-year.

We used to have a polished oak memorial board set up in the reception area on which were recorded the names of members who had passed away during the preceding year and one member, who was a professional artist, was given the job of keeping the board up to date.

One year I had arrived fairly early and discovered Len hard at work with a small pot of golden paint.

I couldn't resist asking him how he felt about having to perform this rather morbid task.

Len has long since passed away himself and we no longer display the board in the reception area but I can still remember his reply.

"Once a year I come here early with my little pot of paint. I unwrap the board, and as long as my name is not there, I'm a happy man !"

Cheers Len !

Ron