While putting sunscreen on my arms, I noticed the ancient round mark on my upper arm -- the reminder that 80 odd years ago, our whole class at the old Bennetto School in Hamilton's North End, got vaccinated.

It was a "scratch with a needle" operation.

Some boys cried; we determined that we wouldn't and we whispered "sissy" to our neighbours.

Some of the girls cried when scratched, but that was OK for girls.

Back in those days there were no "boughten" bandages in packages.

After the school nurse had done the vaccinating, the teacher would put a wad of cotton batting on the spot and wrap cloth bandages around to hold the cotton wad in place.

Every single one of us survived and we have the scars to prove it.

The annual North End Reunion was held as usual at Wabasso Park and the tree-shaded area assigned to us was perfect while a hot sun shone down.

Each year, a North Ender of the Year is chosen and this year all former and new North Ender of the Year winners were presented with dandy black T-shirts with these big white letters written on it:

"The North End: Hamilton's Best Kept Secret"

I wear mine proudly.

The weather, as usual, was perfect at the 4 o'clock closing time when the sky opened with a downpour of rain.

It didn't dare rain till the reunion was over. Those tough North Enders would have given the weatherman a " poke in the nose."

Ted Wilcox is a lifetime Hamiltonian with a passion for sports, community and, most of all, family.