Events Diary
Back to main page
Return to main page
View New Guest Book Entries     View GB Archive    Sign GB    Events Diary    Features     Photo Gallery     Trace A Friend   Mailing List     Blairs Quiz         Email Us     Links     Site Map     Feedback     Message Board    College History    Friends of Blairs    Blairs Chapel    Blairs Museum    News
             Public Open Day & AGM 2008
                                              
A short reflection by Dave McCann
 
The sun is shining. The front drive is ringed by cars and coaches. The field in front of the chapel is full of cars. Hundreds of people are gathering from all over Scotland and from Wales, Ireland and England and possibly even further afield. All ages are represented from young babies in carry-harnesses to older people walking with the aid of sticks.
 
      People are being met and greeted, led into the college and given tea or coffee. Groups are in the study-hall, the refectory, main corridor and the dormitories. Laity, Religious, and secular clergy are seen chatting together, and studying photographs pinned to display boards. Stories of goings-on by students are being greeted with smiles or gales of laughter. Some visitors pause for a moment of silence in the grounds, some people walk the bounds. The chapel is full for Mass; Gregorian and English hymns are sung; the organ is heard at its usual majesty. There is a feeling that the Spirit is moving in this place.
 
      It is not a Pentecost Sunday of forty years ago nor a parents’ day of the 1980s.
 
      It is Blairs in 2008.
 
      The open day on Saturday 7th June was a great success. A previous open day, organised by the Muir group earlier in the year, had attracted more than 600 people. The Friends of Blairs committee was, if a little apprehensive, convinced that this day would go just as well.
 
      Nobody need have feared, even although similar numbers did arrive, including two coach-loads of visitors from the central belt. Former students, ably aided by spouses, volunteered willingly for a range of duties as master of ceremonies, ‘meeters and greeters’, car park organisers (if we ever repeat such a day, protective mud-resistant clothing will be issued to car park organisers), tea makers, and tour guides.  All of the tours of the corridors, refectory, classrooms, dormitories and courtyards very were successful. Anecdotes caused many a smile and laughter. The volume of laughter coming from those led by 1980s students seemed just that little bit louder than those led by the more mature former students. What did the boys get up to just prior to closure that was so amusing???
 
      The success of the day was tinged with other emotions as we realised that this may be the last time that we would have access to the college itself before work begins in turning it into a five star hotel. Names of long remembered friends were recalled and shared.
 
      A shorter AGM than usual was held, given the nature of the day. New members volunteered for the Friends committee.
 
      Mass was solemn and joyous, with principal celebrant Archbishop Mario Conti, himself a former student.
 
      It would be impossible to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the day. A general heart-felt thanks to all who participated in any way, and especially to those who willingly took on tasks at a few moments notice.
             Blairs  Reunion of Class of '55
                         6 October 2008

           
Our thanks to John O'Brien for sending us an account of the night and the photos below. Click on the thumbnails to see the photos full size. The names of those in the class photo are as follows: Michael Keating; Eddie McCardie; John O'Brien; Fr George Gillespie; Harry Reid; Canon Gerald Mahar; James Fitzpatrick; Canon Peter Lennon; Laim McNulty; Peter Barrett; John Casey; and Tom Callaghan.
                   Annual Requiem Mass
  
The Annual Requiem Mass for deceased students, staff, family and friends of the college will be held this year in St. Mirin's Cathedral, Incle St, Paisley, PA1 1HR, at 1.00pm on Saturday 7th November, 2009. There will be a buffet after the Mass in the Watermill opposite the cathedral, and for £7.50 you'll be able to chose from the following:
                              
                               
1. Freshly cut selection of assorted sandwiches
                                2. Oven baked sausage rolls
                                3. Bakers selection of homemade cakes
                                4. Tea and coffee


                                                       
All welcome

If you are coming to the buffet could you please let any committee member know by the end of October, or simply email the secretary, Jim Cassidy.