Ex-pupils relive 'best' days at big reunion

Former pupils of schools in Tividale turned up to celebrate, reminisce and reunite with old classmates at a reunion.

Tividale Football Club in Packwood Road was full of former pupils from the primary school, secondary modern and comprehensive school in the town.

The third annual reunion of former pupils was attended by around 80 people last night.

It was organised by former pupil Wendy Squires nee Wall who originally set it up to catch up with a small group of school friends.

The 70-year-old, who now lives on Victory Close in Stourport, attended Tividale Primary School from 1946.

She said: "The first year there were just a few of us but it has just grown and grown. I am ever so pleased."

Mrs Squires now sends out letters every year and also relies on word of mouth to encourage former pupils to come along. This year they enjoyed food, drinks and music as well as a raffle and tombola.

Dorothy Powell nee Hughes also started school at Tividale Primary School in 1946. Mrs Hughes, now aged 71 of Ripley Close, Tividale, said she had fond memories of being at school in the town. She said: "The discipline was very much different than it is today. I remember being sent to the headmaster's office because I raised my eyes to the ceiling during a lesson. I was sent for dumb insolence."

Geoff Brown, aged 74, first met his wife Christine nee Bishop, aged 72, at the primary school. The couple, who now live in Stourport, said when they left school in 1955 they reunited years later.

At the reunion former pupils were able to catch up with former maths teacher, 83-year-old Ken Jones. Mr Jones worked as a teacher from 1949 to 1984.

Peter Bratt, of Oakham Road, Tividale and Peter Harvey, of Four Winds Road, Dudley, played football together at the school and brought their old photographs.

Mr Harvey said: "They were the best years of our lives."