2012 Date - 17th March

2011 Report

Having managed to get both the date and the time wrong for the first annual OL re-union in Philadelphia, cunningly coordinated with a live broadcast of the Calcutta Cup at an Irish pub in centre city, it was with some trepidation that we all set off to meet in Tira Na Nog on Sunday 13th March. As we approached centre city and the pub, one could not help but notice the massing crowds – surely Philadelphia had not embraced the re-union as it had their own Phillies – but there were all the crowds, the pub full – and everyone in some form of green – surely not?. However via our excellent education and intuition we realized that we had managed to coincide with the annual St Patrick’s Day parade and meet in the HQ, which was populated mainly by folk who had heard someone mention they had once seen an Irishman. That said, as I walked into the pub, I was not sure that wearing my England rugby shirt was the best of decisions. Much to my relief there was Patrick Tissington – sensibly dressed in a nondescript shirt that he must have borrowed from his father, and Terry Walker cunningly in an England and Guinness shirt – causing the notional Irish much confusion. Andrew Dennis won the award for best effort having driven up from DC in the morning, and also wearing an OL tie. As he approached we could see he was thinking what a motley crew – and a couple of years in his regiment would sort us out. Raef Lee blew in, muttering something about "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother "– and proved he was no longer a bunny – having ventured out of his comfy warren after many invites. A good afternoon was had by all, and funny how we were all experts on rugby still – probably the Guinness talking… Fond memories were shared; great conversation and speculation, including which half of the brain had to be removed to become a US citizen. Terry Walker a recent recipient of this dubious honour assured us that you really did not have to give up too much intellect.