STAFF WRITER
The motto of the Prince Edward Collegiate Institute’s yearbook the Beacon translates from Latin to “It shines throughout the years.”
For a collection of ladies who graduated in 1966, that motto is taken to heart.
Members of the class of 1966 (Maiden names in brackets) : Betsy (Huff) Cole, Joanne (Jarvis) Matheson, Betty Proctor, Jo-Ann (Seeley) Ward, Christine (Taylor) Pearsoll, Sharon (Prettie) Coulter, Aurora (McConnell) Hennessy, Janet Cronk, Connie Wight, Judy (Jones) Worley, Sharon (Whattam) McKenzie, Bonnie (Hedges) Drechsler, Mary (Whiteford) Everall and Gloria (Hill) Flake. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
No less than 15 members of the class reunited at the new Coach’s Pub and Grillhouse late last month to reconnect, reminisce and speak of simpler times.
Mr. Hiil’s home room, physical education class in rompers and, of course, The Hi Spot.
Aurora Hennessy and I first got together for lunch and then in August 2015 we invited Sharon Coulter. Sharon then suggested that we see if any other ladies that we had gone to high school with would like to get together,” organizer Judy Worley explained.
In March, 2016, 50 years after graduation, a total of 7 PECI alums gathered and that number has swelled to as many as 15 depending on the time of year.
Many of the group still live in Prince Edward County while others will travel from as far away was Stoney Creek, Markham and Millbridge to the monthly meeting of the ladies of ’66.
“We have continued to meet every month with the exception of during the Pandemic and regularly have 10 to 15 ladies at lunch,” Worley added. “We met a few times in Belleville but have chosen to enjoy the many fine restaurants in The County.”
Chinwagging about the gold old days our boasting about what the kids or grandkids are up to while dining on the best faire the County has to offer is par for the course for the PECI Lunch Bunch.
Occasionally, some will drive past the school and can’t imagine the changes the former Secondary School has undergone in its lifetime.
“It just amazes me it’s a K-12 school now,” Coulter said.
Times change in Prince Edward County and that’s patently true for PECI and it’s alums. But the friendships and relationships forged at the school have stood the test of time and that’s evidenced when the Class of 1966 gathers for lunch once a month.