The Class of '64 celebrated their epic 60th reunion on the weekend of 31 August.   We received this wonderful write-up from Derek Stuart-Findlay (1964,O):

After the huge success of our Rovos Rail journeys to Matjiesfontein to celebrate our 40th and Saldahna Bay for our 50th reunions, it was no surprise to hear that Rohan and Anthea Vos had another exciting proposal for our 60th. How about a train trip over Sir Lowry’s Pass with an overnight stop at Bredasdorp? With the first of the All Blacks tests being played at Ellis Park that Saturday evening, the train would be stopping at Grabouw for us all to watch the match on TV.

The bookings poured in, but fate intervened. In April we were shocked to hear that Rohan had been injured in a serious cycling accident on Chapman’s Peak and had been confined to hospital for a month. But true to form he made a remarkable recovery, and before we could believe it, was back again at the helm of Rovos Rail. Then the Western Cape’s rainfall for July broke all records and considerable sections of the main railway line down the Hex River Valley were washed away. This meant that the train couldn’t reach Cape Town to take us over Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Although the rail authorities were making significant progress in repairing the damage, it became clear that the line could only be reopened after our reunion weekend. Plan B was immediately put into effect, we would travel from Touws River to Beaufort West via Matjiesfontein. The train would wait for us at Draai, a siding on the edge of the Karoo while we came up from Cape Town by bus.

We gathered once more at the Rovos Rail departure lounge at the main station in the city. After ten years it was great to see so many old friends again, but sad to hear that the years have taken their toll. Of the 82 of us that wrote Matric in 1964, 23 are no longer with us. Nevertheless we were delighted to have 27 ODs and their wives/partners with us for the weekend.

Rohan Vos prepares the train schedule

After the weeks of cold and wet leading up to the reunion, the weather proved to be pristine. One would like to say that we all bounded up the steps on to the bus, but in reality the number of hip and knee replacements involved proved otherwise. Not surprising considering we are all in our late 70s.

Thick snow blanketed the mountains as we drove up the Hex River Valley, and soon after being welcomed on to the 18-carriage Pride of Africa by our superb Rovos team, the gong sounded for lunch in the dining cars. As ever, it was the first of a number of magnificent meals, followed by a general get-together in the observation car with its open porch at the end of the train. Reminiscences dominated as the Karoo trundled by and in the late afternoon the train glided to a halt at Matjiesfontein station.

A general exodus occurred in the direction of the Lairds Arms at the Lord Milner Hotel to join the locals in front of a large-screen TV. Noise levels rose to a crescendo as the Springboks played their hearts out to recover from a serious deficit to beat the All Blacks by 31-27. The happy revellers ambled back to the train to dress for dinner as we moved on into the night. It was clear that many of us had struggled to fit into long-unworn jackets and ties but the ladies outshone us all and the atmosphere in the antique dining cars was magical. The talented guitar and violin duo, Mike and Titia, added stimulating acoustics. Later, over nightcaps in the observation car, we marveled at the constellations of stars so visible at night in the Karoo.

Relaxing after dinner in the dining car. Anthony and Carol van Hoogstraten with Peter Georgeu (black bow tie) and Derek Wollaston (red bow tie).

Beaufort West was to be our destination as one of the few stations on the line where fresh water can be taken on board, but we had all succumbed to our comfortable beds long before the town was reached in the early morning.

A pre-dawn hush and a beautiful Karoo sunrise greeted us after our return journey had commenced. After another memorable day of meals and animated discussions, all too soon we were back at Touws River.

Back in the city in the early evening we posed for a group photo and a thank-you to Rohan and Anthea and their Rovos team, articulated in his inimitable style by John Wilson. Our years at Bishops had created a bond between us that endures to this day, and our thoughts were with those that could not be with us for the weekend.

As it’s highly unlikely that there’ll be enough of us around to fill another train in 2034, perhaps we should reduce our aspirations to a reunion journey five years from now. Hopefully the weather gods will be in a festive mood and we’ll be able finally to ascend Sir Lowry’s Pass!

Those of us who made it were:

• From England: Waine Lawton and Richard Silberbauer.
• From Botswana: Roy Young.
• From Gauteng: Jeremy Gaylard, Trevor Impey and Stephen Spottiswoode.
• From the Western Cape: Duncan Henderson, Vincent Magnus, Richard Stuart, Anthony van Hoogstraten, Richard von Hoesslin and Micky Walker.
• From Metro Cape Town: Geoffrey Ashmead, Tony Collier, Peter Day, Tony de Smidt, Geoff de Wet, Peter Georgeu, Tim le Mesurier, John McNaught-Davis, Louis Messaris, Des Pollard, Dave Rawbone, Derek Stuart-Findlay, Rohan Vos, John Wilson and Derek Wollaston.