OF Celebrates 90th birthday

James Ruddock-Broyd (G46-52) celebrated his 90^th Birthday in style. Largely arranged by his wife Christine, they had three Events over three Days. The Birthday on 22 August 2025 was for Five of close family including James’ two daughters from Brighton and Castlemorton. Next day on the Saturday some 80 family and friends from far and wide gathered for a Party at their Richmond Retirement Village at Witney which included the celebration of the 21^st anniversary of their wedding on 23 October 2004 at Framlingham College and the 26th anniversary of first meeting on 12 September 1999. On the Sunday, Christine and James hosted 40 village residents to an Afternoon Tea.

James had to greet guests to the Party on 23 August from a chair as he had recently had a life-threatening infection so the event was an especially happy time. The Party comprised a Buffet Lunch, speeches by James, his daughter Susannah and brother David with Ron King as Chairman of the Residents Association replying on behalf of the Guests. Jo Cambrey, Activities Manager recalled James’ contributions to Choir, Drama and the Talks Programmes and Christine was thanked for her contributions to Art, Crafts and the Literary world over the last eight years. Sub-Manager Claire Godwin gave a moving rendition of le Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffmann which had been sung in the Dining Hall 21 years previously and the Steel Solid Band provided background music.

Sadly their Best Man Roger Gardner could not attend as he has bad three bad falls after his   home at Queen Camel suffered a flash flood; he has shown great interest in the SOF and College since they met in 1955 doing Articles in The City.  Chris Essex (K69-75), the OF with whom James worked with most in those respects in recent times could not attend due to a family commitment.

The OFs were staunchly represented by brothers Brian Smith (S53-56) and Clive Smith (S54-58) with their wives Valerie and Jean but James was specially saddened by the absence of his vintage OF friends who were incapacitated or unable to travel distances. They were: Bernard Bridges (S45-54) who fell down his staircase on the eve of his 90th the moth before (he and James were at bottom of the Sixth Form in 1952 – not sure in which order but B comes before R), Mike Craddock (S49-53), Bill Collard (S55-58), Douglas Thomson (K53-61) and John Hanney (R50-55).