In 1965, at the start of the University's second year, a group of young men joined the Operational Research Department, which was then located in Skein House in central Lancaster. They were postgraduates on the MA in Operational Research course; some had recently completed undergraduate degrees at much older universities but others had worked for a few years and were being sponsored by their employers.

After completing their degrees the sixteen went their separate ways (although five initially stayed in Lancaster to complete doctorates in the Department) but most stayed in touch with at least one or two others from the year group. Several subsequently worked overseas and three now live abroad permanently (in the USA, Canada and South Africa).

Having missed celebrating the 25th anniversary of our entry to the Department, an enterprising trio (Alan Amphlett-Lewis and Philip and Sally Sutton) arranged for us to meet in Lancaster in 1997 for a weekend, organised around a dinner attended by past and present staff, to celebrate 32 years. There was universal agreement that we should 'do it again' but with our respective commitments to work and families it was some time before the idea resurfaced.

Then in 2009 the Department organised a networking event in London and a few of us, now retired, took the opportunity to attend to have dinner together afterwards. This was followed up by an enjoyable lunch in London last year, which concluded with agreement that we should aim to get together on a regular basis. Hence it was that we met on 10th October for a private lunch at No 4 Clifton Village, Bristol. The date was chosen to enable Julian and Sadie Cutland from South Africa to attend. On this occasion 13 were present (Keith and Angela Aldred, Julian and Sadie Cutland, Alan and Norma Halder, Peter and Pam Hewson, Martin and Kineeta Mitchell, George Reah, Philip and Sally Sutton). Several of those who were unable to attend had sent good wishes. The conversation flowed and it was after 4pm when we eventually rose from the table.

Our plan is to continue to meet regularly. And if all goes well we will celebrate our 50th anniversary with a weekend in the Lancaster area in 2015 - perhaps an opportunity to revisit one of the Morecambe hotels, the Headway (where many of our course lectures were held) or the art deco Midland (where the Department held dinner dances).

George Reah