1950s OGA Reunite

A Diary of Events 2006 - 2008

In May 2006 a reunion was held for former students, who started at the Girls' High School in 1951 and left in 1956 or 1958, to celebrate 50 years since they were together. This event followed a challenging two years of research by a small team to locate students and staff from that era and plan and organise the event. The team was led by Jane Talbott (Matthews), the originator of the idea of holding a reunion, along with Elizabeth Anderson (Calladine), Margaret Cotton (Chadburn) and Valerie Hind (Brown)

The Planning Team

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Left to right: Valerie Hind (Brown); Jane Talbott (Matthews); Margaret Cotton (Chadburn) and Elizabeth Anderson (Calladine)

There was an excellent response to staging this event and about 40 former students and 6 staff attended. People travelled from far and wide including Australia, Spain and the most northern parts of Scotland. As with all initiatives of this kind there were some people who were disappointed that they were unable to attend due to other commitments or illness and sadly this was the case for one person who was so keen to attend that she had booked her flight from America in 2005!
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Foreground: Maureen Kelham (Crowe) & Jennifer Edwards (Martin)

The majority of the day was spent at the School and included lunch and tours of the campus to see the developments that have taken place over the last half century. These were led by Year 12 and 13 students currently attending the School. Bridget O'Connor, the Headmistress of the School, spent the day with the group and also joined in the Reunion Dinner at the Ramada Hotel in the evening. 

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Left to right: Bridget O'Connor (Headmistress) and Margaret Cotton (Chadburn)   

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Left to right: Elizabeth Anderson (Calladine), Gillian Bailey (Hannah Birley) and Ann Bedford

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Left to right: Jill Whitworth (Johnson), Sian Evans (Hiscott), Noreen Brookes (Cole), Jennifer Bryant (Spence) and Janet Ewan (Khaled)

Everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed what has emerged to be a very memorable day as they rekindled old friendships and shared memories of school days. They particularly appreciated the booklet that the Planning Team had compiled outlining what people had done since leaving school and included supporting photographs and other memorabilia of that time. These booklets were available for people to take away at the end of the day. There was also an exhibition of photographs based on material sent in by people beforehand. In addition there was a celebratory cake decorated with the School badge and hat band. 

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December 2006

In December 2006 over twenty of the group attended the "Celebration of Christmas" at the High School followed by afternoon tea when there was another opportunity to meet together. They enjoyed the event so much that there was considerable interest by many of them to attend again the next year.

April 2007

One year on and relationships within the group changed from those in May 2006 when there was much fear and trepidation about meeting up after such a long time. Since then communication networks have been firmly established as old friendships have been revitalised and new contacts made. April 2007 saw twenty people who live within easy reach of Loughborough enjoy a very successful lunch together and it was at this event that there was an overwhelming response to the idea of creating further opportunities to meet again and make the lunch an annual event.  

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Left to right: Elaine Singleton (Atter), Valerie Hind (Brown) and Susan Ingram (Wrenn)

In a recent letter from one of the group she wrote about all the people from school days she now hears from ".... it is great to keep in touch with such a diverse group of friends. It amazes me that after all this time and such different life paths that I still have so much in common with them." 

December 2007

Following the pattern of the previous year the 2007 "Celebration of Christmas" was also well attended and it was good to welcome into the group other people who had not been involved in previous events. 

April 2008

The annual lunch took place in April 2008 and was held at Longcliffe Golf Club and once again everyone enjoyed reminiscing about school days and catching up with current news. 

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Back row: Gillian Gunn (Blowers), Elaine Barnett (Hall), Kay Davidson (Dickens), Elaine Singleton (Atter), Ann Vero (Tarver), Pamela Holroyd (Howard), Jill Whitworth (Johnson)

Front Row: Susan Ingram (Wrenn), Ann Bedford, Gillian Bailey (Hannah Birley), Jane Talbott (Matthews), Jillian Usher (Foster), Valerie Hutchinson (Hodgkinson) and Brenda Peat (Smith)

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Left to right: Gillian Gunn (Blowers), Gillian Bailey (Hannah Birley), Elaine Singleton (Atter) and Susan Ingram (Wrenn) - perusing the school photograph

Future Events

Apart from the annual lunch the group plan to hold an additional event in the form a workshop on the Alexander Technique later in the year. This will be led by a member of the group who is a practitioner in this therapy. It promises to be an exciting and stimulating day.

If there are members of the 1951 - 58 Year Group who were not able to come to any of the events over the past two years and would like to join in future activities you would be very welcome. Please do not hesitate to make contact by phoning Jennifer Woods the Secretary of the Old Girls Association (Telephone: 01664 424 393 or Email: jennifer.woods13@btinternet.com)

A few copies of the booklet "A Collection of School Memories Celebrating 50 Years" are available from Jane Talbott (Matthews) Price £5 plus postage and packing (Telephone contact as above)

Jane Talbott (Matthews)