Letter: The Class of 1955 Meets 70 Years On.

Published on: 13 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 15 Jul, 2025

Gathered around the table: Sylvia McMaster, Alvin Hale, Muriel Bullingham (Paine), Richard Gadd, David Grant, Des Flanders, Jill Goode, Derek Wisbey and Raschid Abdulla.

From Des Flanders

Nine former pupils of Pewley Grammar School got together this July for lunch to reminisce about their five years spent together from 1955 to 1960; concluding their time at Pewley as Form 5B.

The original plan had been for ten to meet but sadly on the day illness got in the way of a full attendance.

We met at the Hen and Chickens at Froyle on A31. One attendee came up from Southampton, one from Liphook, several are still in Guildford there were two from Farnham and another from Bookham.

With almost 70 years between their first meeting when reporting for their initial day at the school and this get together there was plenty to be discussed albeit there had been previous reunions 10 and 20 years ago.

This one, however, seemed more significant with everyone around the table now in their 80s.

High on the agenda were recollections of: Headmaster Mr Raynham, Miss Collison, Mr Pollard, Mr Van den Toorn, PT masters Harry Skipper and Denzil Flanagan and their unforgettable Geography teachers Mr England and Mr Ireland (you couldn’t make it up!) and a number of others.

Amazingly two of those present have yet to retire from work – why would they as they enjoy it so much – but do draw their old age pensions.

Lunch turned into a long afternoon but following a toast to absent friends all agreed to meet again but in the not too distant future.