She had been given the hymn book when she started at the school in 1946, on the condition she returned it when she left.

But the pensioner has admitted she kept hold of the old book, with its beautifully embroidered cover and faded brown pages, and forgot to return it when she left in 1953.

Mrs Davies, went back to the school yesterday along with her husband Keith, who she met at the school, and seven other ex-pupils, now all aged in their 70s.

Mrs Davies, who now lives in Wootton Wawen, near Henley-in-Arden, said: “We all had to embroider the front of the books when we arrived and we were supposed to return them when we left.

“I think I must have forgotten, but I’ve still got it now. I just borrowed the book for 60 years.”

Mrs Davies met her husband Keith shortly after joining the school in 1946, the first intake of pupils when the school became a grammar and changed its name from Tipton Central School.

In those days, the school had separate boys and girls sections, but the couple continued to walk to and from school together and finally married in 1958.

The nine friends met up for a reunion in 2001 and have held regular meetings ever since.