Woodstock comes to Woodstock

It's 40 years since the archetypal festival of peace and music took place at Yasgur's Farm in upstate New York. To a whole generation, Woodstock the school has been inevitably overshadowed by Woodstock the festival.

The two came together, though, at the grade 9 residence, Community Centre, on Saturday 22nd May, with a 40 year anniversary recreation of the Woodstock festival, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale. The weather was fine and warm (thankfully for all those brave souls who volunteered for "Duck the Teacher), the food vendors were up to the mark, and student and staff bands worked hard to recreate the sound and the look of 1969. Anil Jain, residence supervisor, looked particularly fetching in a colourful bandana.

As a member of the staff band, half the fun was going back and researching exactly who played at Woodstock, and what songs they featured. Who today remembers Sweetwater, Quill or Bert Sommer? And how did Sha-Na-Na get invited? And where was Joni Mitchell, who wrote the classic song about the festival? Still, it was good to relive old memories and - as a 58-year-old - to belt out The Who's "My Generation": "hope I die before I get old". 58 doesn't seem as old as it once did.."