MEMORIES came flooding back for former Kesgrave school students at a reunion celebrating 75 years since the founding of the school. Organised by former student Tony Barnard, the reunion included more than 70 former pupils who visited the school and then took part in a social event at Ipswich indoor bowls club in Rushmere Road, Ipswich.
MEMORIES came flooding back for former Kesgrave school students at a reunion celebrating 75 years since the founding of the school.
Organised by former student Tony Barnard, the reunion included more than 70 former pupils who visited the school and then took part in a social event at Ipswich indoor bowls club in Rushmere Road, Ipswich.
Mr Barnard said: “This is the fifth reunion. We have pupils that go back to the 1930s as well as a number who left during the 1950s and 1960s.
“This is a chance for people to catch up with friend they haven't seen since they left school.”
Pat Rook, née Runnagles, of Princes Street, Felixstowe, started at Kesgrave in 1933 at what was then a secondary modern school and was a captain of the Netball team.
The 86-year-old said: “It is lovely to come back. It was a lovely school and we all have some very happy memories. It was always a happy school.”
Retired prison officer and former head boy Terry Hubbard, of Christchurch Road, Woodbridge, was at the school from 1944 to 1948.
The 73-year-old said: “It's good to be back after all these years. I remember the air raid shelters near the sports fields and I remember using them during air raids. We used to take our gas masks with us. I loved it at Kesgrave. It was well disciplined.”
June Guy, née Ketteringham, of Vancouver Canada, flew to the UK for the event. Her parents ran the fish and chip ship in Kesgrave.
She said: “We emigrated 50 years ago but this is still home to me and we have to hang on to our memories. It's just wonderful to see so many people I recognise.
“Kesgrave was a lot of fun. I was there during the war years and remember being shot at by a German bomber and ducking in the hedge.”
Do you have a school reunion you would like reported in The Evening star? Call the newsdesk on 01473 324788 or email starnews@eveningstar.co.uk
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