IMAGINE having to be reintroduced to old schoolmates that you haven't seen for 50 years?That is what Trish Sully had to do when she attended her first reunion of Kesgrave High School's class of 1957.
IMAGINE having to be reintroduced to old schoolmates that you haven't seen for 50 years?
That is what Trish Sully had to do when she attended her first reunion of Kesgrave High School's class of 1957.
Whereas most of the other school chums have been meeting every five years since 1972, Mrs Sully emigrated to America in 1963 and hasn't been able to attend one till now.
More than 20 former pupils from the class turned up to the event at The Gatehouse Hotel in Norwich Road, Ipswich, at the weekend, and enjoyed an evening of catching up.
Organiser Terry Green said: “People came from all over for the reunion. One person came from America, another one from Preston and someone else from Dorset.
“We started organising reunions in 1972 and we enjoy them so much that we have them every five years. “We have already got a date for the next one in 2012 so there are no excuses.”
Mr Green, 65, said he first began organising the reunion with fellow class friend Terry Barnes, and as more and more people attended and enjoyed the events, it was decided to hold them regularly.
He added: “When you see people every five years, they haven't changed that much but it is still nice to catch up as most of the time we only see these people at reunions.”
Mrs Sully, who is staying in the UK for a short break, was delighted to have had the chance to revisit her past.
She said: “It was so great to see everyone again. I did mean to come to the other reunions but never got the chance. Everyone had changed so much.”
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Name: Trish Sully (then known as Pat Cope)
Age: 65
Lives: Sacramento, California
Left Kesgrave High School: 1957
After school: Worked in the wool shop in Woodbridge and then worked at RAF Bentwaters
Now: Legal assistant at a Californian law firm
She said: “Terry helped out by introducing me to people again. I did recognise some of my old netball team mates but the boys have really changed.”
Name:Terry Green
Age: 65
Lives: Limes Avenue, Bramford
Left Kesgrave High School: 1957
After school: An apprentice groundsman, and then worked in the fire service
Now: Retired
The father of four, grandfather of 13, and great grandfather of three, said: “I was pleased with how it went and it was good that so many people made it.”
Name: Terry Barnes
Age: 65
Lives: College Green, Felixstowe
Left Kesgrave High School: 1957
After school: Apprentice at the East Anglia magazine and owner of several companies
Now: Pastor at River of Life Church
He said: “It is great to see people again after five years.”
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