High school reunions are usually a once, maybe twice, in a lifetime event to catch up with old school friends.
However, one graduating glass from the old Richmond High - now Richmond Secondary - has gathered together five times and is having its 64th grad reunion today, Wednesday, at the River Rock Casino and Resort.
Richmond High’s class of 1959 was often told by teachers they were the “unusual class” where students just “all got along together,” explained Brian Hollingshead, a Richmond High alumnus.
“We had a stellar gym team, square dance team, and people just did things together with a lot of harmony in the class,” said Hollingshead.
“The Richmond High for our particular year just liked hanging out with each other that we’ve been having reunions for our 20th, 40th, 45th, 50th and 60th.”
While traditionally the next reunion should be in 2024 for the class’ 65th reunion, Hollingshead said when “you get to your 80s you can do anything you want” so they decided to have it one year earlier.
The reunion in 2019 saw 88 people and 67 have signed up for this year’s event so far, with alumni from across North America including Toronto, Phoenix, Prince George and the Interior, explained Hollingshead.
“A lot of people have stayed in Richmond or have moved away, grew up, retired and moved back, so the most exciting part is seeing everybody again,” he said.
“This group of people are part of Richmond and Richmond is a part of us who still hang out together and enjoy and celebrate life.”
When asked what Hollingshead is looking forward to the most at the reunion, he told the Richmond News “just to be able to get together and reminisce about our old days and what’s new.”
“When you’re in Grade 12 and a 17-year-old boy, half the girls are terrifying,” said Hollingshead.
“Now, they’re just normal people and we can talk to them about life instead of the boys sticking together and only talking about cars and sports and stuff like before.”
While the group of Richmond High alumni has gathered almost every five years, Hollingshead said this year may be the last reunion.
“We noticed at this age, it’s a fact in life that you start losing people faster, not necessarily that they pass away, but people are unable to participate either due to mobility concerns of their memory is shot,” he said.
“Why wait another year when we can do it now.”
