Saturday September 15th dawned as a dry but dull day. I t soon brightened up as Harmer's from all over the world (Irene Collins and her daughter, Danielle .. Fry came from Australia, Betty Harmer and her guide dog from South Wales), descended on the Heathfield Community Hall. As the morning drew on the hall filled up with some 80 members of the HF A. Friendships were renewed and new ones made as members sat down at the tables and over a cup of coffee exchanged family anecdotes.
At 12.15 p.m. Tom Kelley opened the AGM with a warm welcome to all. The AGM ran along its usual smooth lines and finished just before 1.00 p.m. A summary of the meeting follows on page 10. The most significant result of the AGM was the addition to the committee of two new and younger members, Jeffery Harmer and Debbie Weller, and also the return~ following ill health, of Des Deacon. We then all tucked into the buffet lunch provided by outside caterers. The change from our usual ploughman' lunch giving our usual kitchen helpers a well deserved break was in memory of the late Daisy Harmer who was a faithful reunion attendee, who in the past had run fish and chip suppers for those who could easily meet to South London.
The afternoon saw some members visit the Church at Old Heathfield, searching for examples of Jonathan Harmer's terracottas in the churchyard, whilst others continued swapping stories. As the afternoon drew to a close members made their way home through the beautiful Sussex Weald.
POEM FOR HARMER REUNION 2007
September brings harvest, strong sun and sharp rain,
The sweet-scented apples are bearing again
For munching, for jelly, for cake and for pie,
In ways past the counting, Eve's daughter am I
Suppose she 'djust curtained the glance of her head
Would sharp chilly gooseberry answer instead?
How lucky our mothers! when offered the choice
We'd all have said "apples" with force in our voice
So sound be the Harmers with "cousins" a main
As now the world over we're meeting again
God send us much pleasure wherever we go
In all the far countries the Harmers we know
And grant us much vigour poor humans to bless
And God keep all "cousins}} whatever the stress.
Kathleen Hatton - Swanage 4th September 2007
At 12.15 p.m. Tom Kelley opened the AGM with a warm welcome to all. The AGM ran along its usual smooth lines and finished just before 1.00 p.m. A summary of the meeting follows on page 10. The most significant result of the AGM was the addition to the committee of two new and younger members, Jeffery Harmer and Debbie Weller, and also the return~ following ill health, of Des Deacon. We then all tucked into the buffet lunch provided by outside caterers. The change from our usual ploughman' lunch giving our usual kitchen helpers a well deserved break was in memory of the late Daisy Harmer who was a faithful reunion attendee, who in the past had run fish and chip suppers for those who could easily meet to South London.
The afternoon saw some members visit the Church at Old Heathfield, searching for examples of Jonathan Harmer's terracottas in the churchyard, whilst others continued swapping stories. As the afternoon drew to a close members made their way home through the beautiful Sussex Weald.
POEM FOR HARMER REUNION 2007
September brings harvest, strong sun and sharp rain,
The sweet-scented apples are bearing again
For munching, for jelly, for cake and for pie,
In ways past the counting, Eve's daughter am I
Suppose she 'djust curtained the glance of her head
Would sharp chilly gooseberry answer instead?
How lucky our mothers! when offered the choice
We'd all have said "apples" with force in our voice
So sound be the Harmers with "cousins" a main
As now the world over we're meeting again
God send us much pleasure wherever we go
In all the far countries the Harmers we know
And grant us much vigour poor humans to bless
And God keep all "cousins}} whatever the stress.
Kathleen Hatton - Swanage 4th September 2007
Gallery
