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Dryburgh reunion, September 2003 (continued).




(source :Paul West)

Dryburgh reunion, September 2003
Some of the people who attended the reunion met for the evning meal at The Dryburgh Abbey Hotel :

Mike Ellis, Paul West, Margaret Kelly, James Murphy, Josie Benton, Robbie Dempsey.

Mrs Strain, —— (behind her), John Strain, Chris Benton (over his head), Zelda, Lady in Red, Margaret Morton and Mrs Chris Hughes.

Pat Gibbons (behind Zelda), Mike Byrne at the top and below him Eugene MacBride.

Bernard Melling (taller than Mike Byre) and below him John Morton (first) and then Tommy Kelly.

Fr Chris Wallbank, Pat Menzies and his wife Pauling, Geraldine Fitzmaurice (head round the corner), Fr Pat Boyd, Billy Tonner and behind him (farthest right) Dessie Fitzmaurice.

. . . with apologies to those whose names I've already forgotten

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(source : Paul West)

Dryburgh reunion, September 2003
Bridge over the River Tweed
Did it always look as smart as this ? Do you remember the folly (on the hillock to the left) ?

Chris Benton's photos on Page 58
include a closer view of this folly — and several other views of the area.

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(source : Paul West)

Dryburgh reunion, September 2003
Rumour has it that
the prime spot for fishing in this part of the Tweed costs £1,000 a day . . .

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(source : Paul West)

Dryburgh reunion, September 2003
The approach to St Columba's, with the chapel on the right.

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(source : Paul West)

Dryburgh reunion, September 2003
Bernard Melling, striding towards Smailholm Tower.
Did you ever make your way here when you were at the College ? (About 2 miles from the College).
If so, you wouldn't believe how well it has been renovated, inside and out. Mike Byrne, Bernard Melling, Robbie Dempsey and I had a most enjoyable walk to the Tower and when we got there marvelled at the magnificent view of the Eildons from the top floor. You may not remember that there were 'floors', as such, because in the fifties / sixties it was pretty wrecked. It now has polished floors, central heating and even a gift shop.
 
 If you visit http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk you'll find the following description:

 
Smailholm Tower
"Sited high on a rocky outcrop, Smailholm is a small rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall. Inside the tower is a model of this Pringle residence and a charming collection of costume figures and tapestries relating to Sir Walter Scott’s Minstrelsy of the Scottish Borders. It was the sight of Smailholm that fired Walter Scott’s imagination when, as a young boy, he was brought up by his grandparents at the nearby farm of Sandyknowe ."