Back to school for magical memories

Friends of yesteryear got together at a school near Wolverhampton to revive childhood memories of 50 years ago.

The class of 1958 at Ounsdale High in Wombourne held a reunion to mark the five decades that have passed since graduation.

Old tales were retold, friendships were rekindled and a few tears were shed as the class got together for the first time since walking out the doors all those years ago. One former student came all the way from his home in Holland.

The gathering of former classmates also included two married couples who met at the school and became childhood sweethearts, going on to tie the knot.

Peter Bradley, now 61, was a 12-year-old high school beginner when he locked eyes with his future wife, then known as Sue Potter. After dating throughout their school years, they moved to London together before settling in Reading where they have been for 27 years.

They both did IT courses at college before getting married 40 years ago – and the reunion could hardly have come as a better time as their anniversary was yesterday.

The Bradleys have a 30-year old daughter called Gemma and a six-month old granddaughter called Amy.

Mrs Bradley, who is now a teacher, said: "It's amazing that our 40th wedding anniversary came on the same weekend as this reunion.To see all the old faces again is brilliant. It really does take you back to being at school in the 1950s and 1960s."

John Davison, aged 62, met his childhood sweetheart Valerie, aged 61, when he was seven years old in the village and they got together while at the school.

They married in 1969 at Wombourne Church and then moved to Nottingham for work purposes, before relocating to Cambridge. Mr Davison, a computer systems engineer, said: "When we met I was about seven, and our love has lasted all this time. "We both went to the school and have some wonderful memories."

Richard George, aged 62, has been living in Brielle, a town near Rotterdam in Holland since 1978.

He said: "I left this country because of my work. I got a job for a British textiles firm called Springrove Services and they took over a Holland-based company, so I went to sort it out back in 1978.

"I have never been back to Ounsdale since we left in 1964."

Also coming back to meet former pupils was Tony Unwin, who was working as a teacher at the time. The group had a tour of the school to see what had changed in the last 50 years, before going to The Vine pub in the village for lunch.