A REUNION of former Farlingaye High School students helped raise more than £300 for charity.The event, staged at Woodbridge Football Club, attracted more than 100 people from the classes of 1970/71 as well as several former teachers at the school.

A REUNION of former Farlingaye High School students helped raise more than £300 for charity.

The event, staged at Woodbridge Football Club, attracted more than 100 people from the classes of 1970/71 as well as several former teachers at the school.

Organiser Jean Sarah said similar reunions had been held in the past but the latest one was brought forward so special guest Elaine Moye, who has been diagnosed with cancer, could attend.

So far £300 has been raised from the event for St Elizabeth Hospice, although the total is expected to increase through donations yet to be counted.

Mrs Moye, 52, said she was touched by the effort made to stage the event on her behalf.

She said: “I was over-the-moon. Everybody was so kind by doing this and it meant so much to me.

“I get so exhausted with the cancer but I must have been running on pure adrenaline for the reunion.

“I was so happy and stayed on my feet most of the night.

“Everybody who came enjoyed it. They did me proud.”

Jean Sarah, 52, of Ipswich, said: “I think everyone enjoyed themselves and it was great to see four teachers turn up.

“We had food, drink and music and people were just chatting about the old days and catching up with life histories.”

Mrs Sarah said she had mixed memories of her time at the school, then known as Farlingaye Secondary Modern.

She said: “I couldn't wait to leave but reminisce about it now.

“School days are the best days of your life.”

The event was staged free by Woodbridge Football Club so all money collected could go to charity.

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Fay Wood, 54, of Doncaster

“I have good memories of the school. I remember we had a cow called Farlingaye Pride which was brilliant and we also had an indoor swimming pool.

“We also had good teachers.”

Mrs Wood, who works as a local authority carers co-ordinator, said she enjoyed meeting old friends at the event.

She said: “Some people I hadn't seen since I left because after leaving school I joined the forces and haven't really lived in Suffolk since then.

“It was good to meet up with people, see how they have changed and what they have done with their lives.”

Julia Bumstead, 52, of Hatfield Road, Ipswich

“I remember my favourite lesson was geography and I got on well with my teacher Mr Wells.

“I was very keen to leave the school at the time but it was great to meet my old friends.

“I was very apprehensive about going at first because I haven't been to any of the others but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

Pat Mayhew, 52, of The Walk, Kesgrave

“My enduring memory is of Mr Smith's bike being chucked in the swimming pool on a number of occasions, meaning we couldn't do swimming.

“The culprits were children who didn't want to have to go in the swimming pool.”

Mrs Mayhew, now a healthcare assistant at Ipswich Hospital, said: “It was absolutely wonderful to meet up with everybody.

“It was a great evening.”