‘Chefoo Reconsidered’ is at an attempt to best describe the purpose of our gathering together for this time. It comes from an understanding that many Chefusians who were at the school in the ‘50s and ‘60s in particular are still struggling with the impact of that time in their middle age. The strategies employed by children separated from their parents at such a young age are so dramatic as to be very difficult to lay aside in later life. Many of us have still not come to terms with the grief caused by that separation and continue to employ those extreme strategies of early childhood well into adult life.

To take steps towards a greater contentment means for many facing up to the sadnesses of our childhood and teenage years, even if Chefoo itself was not the issue. These weeks of events are an attempt to begin that healing in three ways.

Firstly, to redeem the joys of our childhood days by revisiting them without the cloak of bereavement and abandonment many of us feel shrouded even our best times. Now we may revisit the haunts of our childhood, the places of beauty and excitement we recall from those days – do it together and do it without the fear and sadness that so many of us felt so much of the time.

Secondly, to spend time with our fellow Chefusians and enjoy the catharsis brought about by being with people of a shared experience who don’t need lengthy explanations before they even begin to get us.

And thirdly, to receive input from professionals in the field of TCK counselling who can explain the strategies we employed and guide us towards the steps needed to lay them aside.

And if your memories are only happy ones, if you would rather opt out of the talking and self-examination, then of course it will be just be an enjoyable time together in a place that we love.

Whatever your reason for joining us, this is a unique opportunity for us to reconsider together the part that Chefoo continues to have in our lives while it is still there.