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Surprise 60th birthday party for school reunion pals

They are old school friends who come together for an annual reunion to reminisce about days in the classroom and playground.

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And this year's commemoration brought special significance as the friends rallied around a classmate for his 60th birthday bash.

Philip Priest has been battling after being diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson's and his friends wanted to make it a special occasion in his honour.

Mr Priest, a former vending machine engineer, first started noticing his symptoms around seven years ago, and is now in full-time care.

The friends organised the party at Jubilee Gardens care home in Coseley.

Phil with old school pals Andrew Cope and Alan Carpenter, and support workers from the centre Patricia Perks and Jade Jones

Alan Carpenter, a school friend of Mr Priest who organised the event, said: "Me, Phillip and another one of the organisers, Andrew Cope, were all in the same year at High Park School, now Ridgewood, in Wollaston, from 1966 to 1971.

"Around 20 years ago a few of us decided to put on a school reunion, and we have been doing it once a year ever since. Since we have all recently turned 60, we wanted to put something special on for Philip.

"He had no idea we were planning it, not a clue, but he was so happy."

Around 17 former school pals were on hand to help Mr Priest celebrate in style.

"The care home were fantastic, they were all so accommodating and helpful," Mr Carpenter said. "They were welcoming and put out a spread which was lovely.

"We had around 17 people turn up which was more than we were expecting. Once everybody who comes to the reunions found out we were doing it they all wanted to come along."

Mr Priest turned 60 last Tuesday.

Mr Carpenter said Mr Priest found it difficult to deal with his illness once his symptoms started to show.

"He was always very fit," Mr Carpenter said. "He joined the Navy not long after we left school and served on the Ark Royal. He took part in a lot of exercises and was always at peak fitness. He had to pack his job in around ten years ago."

Despite this, Mr Carpenter said Mr Priest, or 'Dibble', as he is known to his friends, came into his own at the party.

"He really loved it," Mr Carpenter said. "And the girls that were there really loved him. He was always a bit of a ladies man so he really enjoyed it.

"After everybody had gone he told me it had been a complete surprise, he really enjoyed himself."

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