The Second Gathering of the ‘Old Boys’ from 7th Altrincham Boys Brigade
Ah, the sweet scent of nostalgia, mixed with the unmistakable aroma of an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. What could be better? This past weekend, five of us ‘old boys’ from the 7th Altrincham Boys Brigade convened once more, ready to feast, reminisce, and, most importantly, enjoy a pint (or three) while catching up on four decades of life.
A Reunion Over Noodles and Nostalgia
On a fine Saturday afternoon, five of us – Pete, Dave, Nigel, Greg, and yours truly – made our way from our respective corners of Greater Manchester to the China Buffet on Nicholas Street. The venue, while not quite The Ritz, had a certain charm, if you’re into that ‘soup kitchen chic’ aesthetic. But at just £11.95 for an all-you-can-eat feast, who were we to complain? And, as it turned out, the food was surprisingly top-notch.
Who’s Who in the Brigade Zoo
A quick roll call of our merry band:
- Pete, a retired GP, made the journey from Timperley, likely diagnosing half the passengers on his way in.
- Dave, an ex-police officer, came in from Macclesfield, no doubt keeping a watchful eye on any nefarious buffet queue jumpers.
- Nigel, a retired graphic artist, travelled from Reddish, adding a touch of creative flair to proceedings.
- Greg, an equipment engineer from Wythenshawe, keeping the mechanical balance of the group in check.
- And me, making my way from Hindley Green, ensuring no conversation went undocumented for posterity (or this blog post).
The Elephant in the Room – or Rather, Not in the Room
One notable absentee was my brother Rob. He had the audacity to prioritise his wife’s birthday over an afternoon of greasy noodles and sentimental stories. Unforgivable? Perhaps. Understandable? Well… just about. There’s always next time, Rob!
Queens Badges and Brotherhood
One of the most remarkable things about our little group is that we all earned our Queen’s Badges together – quite the achievement back in the day. In fact, we were part of an elite eight from the same Boys Brigade Company to receive the badge, which still makes for an excellent pub anecdote. If only there were a badge for eating one’s weight in crispy duck, we’d have bagged another accolade that afternoon.
The Old Monkey and the Art of Reminiscing
After stuffing ourselves to the point of mild regret, we sauntered over to the Old Monkey, a classic Joseph Holt pub on Portland Street. A proper old-school boozer, perfect for a group of old-school chaps looking to relive their glory days.
Pints were ordered, and so began the well-worn tradition of remembering the past with slightly exaggerated details. We talked about Boys Brigade camps, hiking adventures, and all the general mischief we got up to – stories that, despite the years, hadn’t lost their sparkle (or their ability to make us laugh until we nearly choked on our beer).
It was a surreal yet heartwarming moment, catching up with old mates, some I’d only got together in June 2024 while Dave I hadn’t seen in over 40 years. The passage of time had changed our hairlines and waistlines, but not our ability to enjoy a good chat over a cold pint.
Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
As the afternoon rolled on, the realisation dawned that we were no longer the young whippersnappers we once were. At 17:15, we called it a day and went our separate ways, promising that this wouldn’t be the last time.
The great news? We’ve now set up a WhatsApp group chat (because nothing says ‘modern technology’ like a bunch of pensioners trying to figure out how to mute notifications). Even better, we’ve extended the invite to more of our old Boys Brigade comrades, hoping to make the next meet-up an even bigger affair.
The plan is simple: quarterly reunions, more food, more laughs, and plenty more opportunities to tell the same stories with even more embellishment.
So, until next time, gentlemen – here’s to old friends, good food, and the joy of shared memories. Cheers!
