Britain, a Nation of Nostalgics
Britain is a nation of nostalgics with many people longing to rekindle school friendships, a recent survey has revealed.  But reunions often lead to risky behaviour, with one in twenty people who kept in touch with an ex, or an old friend after going to a reunion, admitting keeping it a secret from their partner.  Women were almost three times as likely as men to keep quiet about these liaisons, the research by BT found.

More than six million people attend school reunions each year and 45% of them want to renew school friendships.  The research also showed that about half want to get back in touch just for 'old times sake'.  The survey, carried out among 1,007 adults nationwide in July 2001, found that more than a third wanted to renew a friendship.  Many people were keen to re-live memories (34%) and nearly half of those questioned said they dreamed about people from the past.

Old flames still burned brightly for one in five men who would like to get back in touch with an ex-girlfriend.  Of these, 10% would like to re-kindle the romance.  The survey found that e-mail and the internet have made it easier for 40% of people to track down old friends.  It has also become the easiest way to organise a reunion, with 72% of those surveyed saying they would use these methods.  More than a third of people who attended a reunion in the last year got friendships back on track, and one in ten resolved a difference.

This research demonstrates how today's technology means that even connections we thought had gone for ever can be re-discovered.