'We were great mates – I never forgot him' - How an Express & Star story led to emotional reunion of Dudley school friends after 60 years
Two long-lost school friends have been reunited after 60 years, thanks to a chance glance at a newspaper and a little help from Broadway Halls Care Home in Dudley.
Ray Stokes, originally from Dudley and now living in Kinver, was enjoying his usual morning read of the Express & Star last week when he spotted a familiar face in a story about Broadway Halls Care Home in Dudley. “That’s got to be Fred,” Ray said to himself, recognising the gentleman in the photo as someone he hadn’t seen in decades.
Ray Stokes and Fred Tennant had been great friends at Dudley Grammar School between 1948 and 1953. They played football together for the school team and spent their teenage years chasing girls and going to the Savoy cinema in Netherton with their friend Les – who sadly passed away some years ago.
Curious and hopeful, Ray decided to email the care home to ask if the man in the article was indeed Fred Tennant.
Scott Bates, the Activities Lead at Broadway Halls, received the message and went straight to Fred with the question. Fred’s face immediately lit up. “Of course I remember Ray!” he said with a big smile. “We were great mates – I never forgot him.”
Scott quickly got to work organising a reunion. Within a couple of days, Ray arrived at Broadway Halls, book in hand filled with old photographs, newspaper clippings – including a treasured piece on Wolves winning the FA Cup – and plenty of memories.
The meeting was full of laughter and storytelling. They reminisced about their schooldays, football matches, first loves, and old adventures – including the time Ray joked that Fred had “run off with his girlfriend” back in the day. Life had taken them in different directions after they left school: Fred became an accountant, Les joined the police, and Ray went into sales.
They had briefly crossed paths in 1965 at Carters in Birmingham, where Fred was working in accounts and Ray was delivering air conditioning parts. That fleeting moment turned out to be the last time they saw each other until now.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” said Ray. “We picked up right where we left off. It’s brought back so many good memories.”
Fred agreed, adding, “Seeing Ray again has made my year. It’s like no time has passed.”
The two old friends are already planning their next meet-up and they hope others from their school days might still be out there, willing to join them for a catch-up. If you went to Dudley Grammar School between 1948 and 1953 and remember Fred, Ray, or Les, especially if John Darby and Ken Williams are still with us, the team at Broadway Halls would love to hear from you. Who knows – another happy reunion might be just around the corner.
Nicholas Drinkwater, General Manager at Broadway Halls added: “It was so lovely to see Fred and Ray chatting away, reminiscing about all their childhood escapades. And to think it all came about by chance! I’m so glad Ray got in touch and Scott organised their reunion so brilliantly. I hope it is the first of many such catch ups.”
Broadway Halls Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Broadway Halls provides nursing, residential, dementia and respite care from short breaks to long term stays.
