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DOWNING COLLEGE ASSOCIATION“tyranny of distance” still exists although modern transport has improved thingsin some areas whilst e-mails, Skype and social networks have madecommunication much easier and faster in a surprisingly short time. Howeversome of our members abroad can still feel relatively isolated and I hope to beable to think of ways of bringing them closer in mind if not in body. This bringsme round to a topic which I mull over frequently and that is to what extent doformer students want to keep in touch with the College. The response to thisis of course that everyone has a different level of interest and this may changewith time. This does not mean that alumni have lost interest in the College –one of our Year Reps said at their meeting earlier this year that he had foundthat amongst alumni there was an immense amount of goodwill towards theCollege. We know that some alumni retain friendships they made as studentsfor life and in quite large groups. At the other extreme we occasionally receiveletters from members saying that they do not wish to be contacted – one gavethe reason that his time in College was “a negative experience”. For most thedeparture from College launches them into the all consuming business ofearning a living. They develop wider interests and a different social scene anda feeling that college is old hat and not part of the new bright horizon. Familyplaces limitations on one’s mobility and time. However, many people tend towant to get in touch as they get older. They have more time, they cast asidepreviously pressing matters and perhaps become aware that there may be somecomfort in meeting people who started off life in a manner similar to their own.The Association’s Annual Dinner and the College’s Reunions offer excellentopportunities for members to meet. Some members use their dining rights todine at High Table. In May 2007 a group of five members and their wivesnavigated the Rivers Ouse and Cam by narrowboat and arranged to stop off atCambridge for Downing High Table. They described their experience in anopera buffa, Dieci per Tavola Grande, the libretto of which we published in the2007 Association Newsletter.Having celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Association let us hope thatmany of us will be here to meet in its centenary.John Hicks8