The article below is a shorter version of the original (edited for brevity). The full version is available here.

What began as a casual encounter with an old St. Julian’s School (SJS) friend and a dream over a few too many drinks evolved into a full-blown SJS class reunion. Chris Sharp and I, both former students from the mid-1970s, reconnected after 25 years through Facebook during the pandemic. With mutual nostalgia for our time in Portugal, we decided to revisit old haunts, including SJS. Over time, the idea of meeting a “couple” of classmates snowballed, thanks to social media and some old-fashioned sleuthing. To our surprise, we ended up with 17 confirmed attendees, a remarkable turnout for a group that hadn't met in nearly 50 years. With just six weeks' notice, classmates eagerly committed from across the globe, with the excitement palpable in our new “SJS Reunion 2024” WhatsApp group.

We planned our reunion dinner to coincide with a formal SJS event from June 7-10, giving us a chance to attend an alumni reception and tour of the school. On a rainy Friday, Chris and I walked through the halls of SJS, marvelling at how little had changed. The iconic courtyard, cobblestones, and classrooms felt familiar, even if the rooms seemed smaller - perhaps because we had grown. We even explored the forbidden “staff areas,” once mysterious to us as students. Throughout the tour, we were flooded with memories, stories, and laughter as we reconnected with classmates like Miguel C G and Maria J A, who had seemingly not aged a day.

The dinner held at Montes Bistro in Monte Estoril was a joyful occasion. As classmates arrived, we played the “Who will recognize them first?” game, realizing that time had been kind to most. We shared drinks, laughter, and stories on the patio before sitting down for a meal, where the reminiscing continued. Tales of our time at SJS flowed easily, recalling memorable teachers, amusing school incidents, and how the 1970s political atmosphere in Portugal impacted us as students. We remembered the revolution of April 25, 1974, the military presence, and the uncertainty of those times, all while behaving like typical school kids.

Our class had its fair share of colorful personalities, from academic standouts to notorious rascals. Teachers like Mr Lawson, Mrs Artiaga, Mrs Fenner-Leitão, and Mr Park left indelible marks on us, for better or worse. Everyone had a story to share, and laughter was ever-present, even over shared struggles with Mr. Park’s thick Scottish accent. We also reflected on our house system, sports days, and school plays like “Our Town” and even recalled the notorious boys’ restroom—a memory that still lingers vividly for many.

Though much of the evening was filled with joy, there was a bittersweet element as we remembered classmates who had passed, including Robert Ewan and Simon Valenti. Their absence brought us back to reality, but their memory was an important part of our shared experience.

The reunion reminded us how special our time at SJS had been and how, despite the decades that had passed, we were still connected by the bonds forged during our school years. We left with full hearts, grateful for the chance to relive those days and celebrate the enduring friendships formed at SJS.

To any SJS alumni reading this, I have one piece of advice: organize a reunion. It will be one of the best decisions you ever make.

My thanks again to SJS for bringing my classmates together in the 1970’s and for helping us reunite in the 2020’s.

Lux tua nos ducat,
Peter Freire, SJS 1974-1976
Summer 2024, Washington DC

Please see a galllery of photos below.