I have seen several.."This is your life" presentations.when it has been teachers pupils from the past..the retiree has to guess from clues...or work collegues from the past.

People add a comment to a scrapbook,..from diferent walks of the retiree's life.It takes time to put together.

A poster with photographs again from all aspects..people gather to share memories.

A M.C. can introduce old friends who then come in and add a spoken memory to the book that is cronological ..so maybe an old friend or two from way back..
and of course a cake....with sparklers!!!