Love was a battlefield in 1986

Young love was rife at Southland’s Hedgehope School in 1986, a time capsule has revealed.

The capsule was buried in the grounds of the Central Southland primary school in October 1986 and dug up last week.

The 1986 letters of senior students of the day, aged about 12, revealed who their boyfriends and girlfriends were and what their future dreams were.

Among them, Hamish said he wanted to travel to California with golden beaches and beautiful girls, while his favourite band was Dire Straits.

Glenn Sinclair said he wanted to be an All Black prop; Natasha Muirhead said they had a video and microwave at home; and Judith Walker said she hoped the world had not blown up ahead of the capsule’s unveiling.

Not all the student love in 1986 was reciprocated. Lachlan’s letter names Lisa as his girlfriend, but Lisa’s letter says he is a pest.

Also in the capsule were newspapers of the time, a tape of students talking, coins, pens and school newsletters.

Keith McKenzie, who was the school’s principal from 1983 till late 1986, said the pupils did a study of the district’s history in 1986 and decided to do something for the future, so they put together a time capsule.

They buried it in the school grounds, and 36 years later, McKenzie returned for its unearthing.

Recalling his time as principal, McKenzie said he still owned the strap from that time.

‘‘It’s still got a bit of my skin on it,’’ said Alistair Burnett, a student of the day.

Another 1986 pupil, Sharon Hampton [nee Buchanan], said she remembered the capsule going into the ground and thinking how cool it would be to bring it out one day.

Her memories of Hedgehope School were of school camps, barbecues and dances at the hall.

Current principal Sue Rogers said digging up the time capsule had resulted in past pupils from all over the world contacting the school and reconnecting with each other.

Its contents will be put into a new time capsule and reburied, but not before letters from present-day students and other memorabilia are added for future generations to enjoy.

Former student Alistair Burnett, Keith McKenzie, the principal in 1986, and fellow classmates Lisa Anderson (nee Getty) and Sharon Hampton (nee Buchanan) pore over the contents from a time capsule buried at Hedgehope School.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF The contents of a Hedgehope School time capsule were dug up last week after being buried in October 1986.