田中駿平名誉教授のパーティ乾杯スピーチ原稿

​

GB and MT, 50 and 30 years with RUEDG (2019-9-21)

​

   Everything started in 1968.

 

   In early summer, 1968, we, the staff members of Reitaku University, heard that the late Mr. Sentaro Hiroike, Director Mototaka Hiroike’s father, had found a young British gentleman willing to come to Reitaku University as a new full-time teacher of English from 1969. Sentaro-Sensei had been in England engaged in a research work at the Research Institute of Education, University of London, since the spring of 1968. It was on August 18th, that year, however, his father, Chibusa Hiroike, the first President of Reitaku University, passed away, and, Sentaro-Sensei, had to leave England to succeed his father’s positions as the President of Reitaku Umversity and the Director of the Institute of Moralogy. As for the residence in Chessington, in the suburbs of London, however, he left it as it was. He considered letting young staff members of Reitaku have a chance to experience a life in England as he had had. In October, that year, all of a sudden, we, my wife and I, with our son, Toshi, who was 10 months old, were selected to be the first family to be dispatched. Thus our life in England started. 

 

   It was on February 8th, next year, 1969, that you, Mr. Bantock, came to us at our residence in Chessington for the first time. You came on your Honda 360, I remember.

 

   Seeing me in a depressed mood after my second failure in the driving test, you told me to have a strong WILL POWER. Thanks to your encouragement, I passed the test in my third challenge, got the driving licence, bought a second-hand car Morris Minor 1000, and enjoyed driving through England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

​

   On April 4th, 1969, we went up, on our Morris Minor, to your house in Barnt Green, near Birmingham, picked you up and came together to Chessington, visiting a few places on the way, Winston Churchill’s grave and Oxford University, especially, New College. After staying overnight at our residence, next morning, on April 5th, we took you to Heathrow Airport and saw you off to leave for Japan. After a few months, in August, we ourselves came back, and started living as neighbours (our houses in Hokubu Juhtaku were facing each other across a path), and as colleagues of the English Department of Reitaku University.

​

   For more than 50 years since then, you, Mr. Bantock, as a neighbour, as a colleague, as a friend, you have encouraged me and assisted me in numberless occasions in various ways. 

​

   I am glad to have this special opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your kindnesses and considerations over 50 years. 

​

   I thank you very much, indeed. 

 

 

   Now a word for Mr. Merwyn Torikian.

​

   It was on September 12th, 1979, about 10 years later, that I visited your home in Sevenoaks in England. Lucy, your mother, came to see me at Sevenoaks Station and took me to your home. I met Victor, your father, and Rydian, your brother, who was 1year and 3 months old. But you were at school, and I was not able to meet you. How old were you then?

​

   I looked for the photos I had taken at your home in my albums, but in vain, and instead, I found some photos taken at YOUR wedding ceremony at the Hachimen-Reiroh-no-Ma in Reitakukan. Mr. and Mrs. Taniguchi were the go-betweens and I played the part of Kannushi, the Shinto priest, recited norito, the Shinto prayer, praying for the ever-lasting happiness of the bride and the bridegroom, you and Yukari-san. How many years ago was it?

​

   Anyway, thank you very much for your succession and continuation of   your uncle’s work for the RUEDG for 30 years. We have been amazed at your great effort and ability as a producer, director and as an actor. We hope and believe that you will continue your effort further more.

 

   I am sorry to have talked too long, but I believe that all who are present here today must have had the same or similar chances of encounter with Mr. Bantock and Mr. Torikian, and share with me the same sense of gratitude to them, for their guidance and encouragement over 50 or 30 years.

 

   With that sense of gratitude in mind, let us drink to them together, saying Kanpai.