28th “thing” achieved: 16. Arrange a Presidents of Surrey BDS reunion

Anyone who knows me, or has read this blog, knows I love to dance. I came to dancing quite late – I was 20 when I took my first lesson, in my first year at University.

I’d always loved watching stuff like dancing, ice skating or gymnastics on the telly, but never took lessons so when my housemate Vanessa offered me the chance to give dancing a try, I didn’t have to think twice.

At the time (1997), dancing – especially Ballroom dancing – was considered pretty uncool. People’s perception of the dance was mostly derived from Come Dancing – not the glamorous Strictly that we all know today – but its frumpier predecessor where you might see Beryl and Fred from Urmston plodding through their quickstep routine, him in tux and her in hand sewn sequin and ostrich feather dress.

The Ballroom Dancing Society (BDS) was subsidised by the Student’s Union so we members only had to pay £1.50 for a class. Our teacher, Mary, was already at retirement age with 2 dodgy hips and an 80-a-day smoking habit. We used to have a break mid-way through the class so she could nip out for a fag!

Over the years we danced socially, then moved on to competing (we were coached by top talent such as Kylie Jones McAlister, former world ballroom champion, and Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace off Strictly).

Sarah, Nat and Gemma are in this one, I’m holding the camera

I’m at the top, not falling off a table

I’m in the middle, holding the mascot

I’m in the yellow and green number

The way the Society worked was that we had to elect a committee every year from the student body. You weren’t allowed to hold a position for more than a year so we would just swap roles between president, treasurer, secretary etc! That first year, Vanessa was President, second year Danusia, 3rd year Natalie, 4th year me, then after I graduated, Gemma took charge, then Sarah, then Stuart.

We were all good friends but eventually time ticked on and we all lost touch. Every now and then we would drop each other a “hi” or like a facebook post, and we often talked about getting back together… but never did.

Nat, me and Stuart, 2003

Chris, Janet, Ben, Phil, Vincent Gemma, Luke, Jimmy, Flavia 2003

Gemma and Natalie, 2000

Me and Vanessa, 1997

Gemma and me, 2001

Stuart and me, 2003

So when I decided to make it one of my 40 things, I contacted the guys and asked them if they wanted to meet up. Initial responses were good – everyone said they were up for it so I went ahead and sorted a date. It was quite difficult to find a date that everyone could make!

The first date was tentatively agreed, but as it got closer we all kind of forgot and by the time I confirmed it, it was too late. Never mind – we quickly settled on another day in 6 weeks’ time.  I booked a bar for drinks and karaoke and we were all set for a lovely night out!

We’d been checking in during the run-up to the reunion to try and pull the group together, however when the night came around, Facebook messenger looked something like this!

1. I’m here
2. On way.
3. Sorry, just moved to another county and can’t make it! 
4. Sorry, Family is visiting unexpectedly and can’t come
5. Sorry, Stuck at work so not going to get there in time
6. Sorry, Can’t get a babysitter
7. No reply

So my “reunion” turned out to be just me and Natalie – my best mate who I see all the time. So not much of a reunion at all!

We didn’t fancy serenading each other so we went out for dinner at Cote instead and had a lovely time!

I’d say this one is definitely the closest to a fail I’ve managed so far – I’m counting it as a technical “win” as I did achieve the brief – to arrange a reunion – just nobody turned up.

I will be recontacting people individually to catch up as I still miss the guys, just a shame that a reunion didn’t work! Win some, lose some I guess!