Twenty years on, Class 6S is back together again
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CLASSMATES of yesteryear have taken back in time to The Grange School in Runcorn 20 years after they signed a pledge to meet up two decades later.
The summer of 1997 was awash with Britpop and the Spice Girls, Titanic topped the box office and Tony Blair ushered in the New Labour era with a General Election win.
For the close-knit group of primary pupils in Class 6S, their final year was marked with a signed pledge, which they have now fulfilled in a moving reunion with each other and their former teacher.
Back then, Michael Shepherd was a fresh-faced 26-year-old in his second year at The Grange and remembered that the children created a time capsule, sealed with an agreement to meet up again.
They pupils all took home a copy of their signed pledge and Mr Shepherd was granted the task of looking after the box of memories.
During the following 20 years, the friends went their separate ways and The Grange underwent some massive changes including the amalgamation of the infants and junior phases into the school and the opening of a state-of-the-art building.
The nine-strong group recently ● converged on Mr Shepherd’s classroom for the grand opening of the box.
Inside they found their old work books, drawings and artwork, project work, class photos and much more.
Since their primary school years, some have stayed in the area and some have moved away.
They have families and children of their own and work in trades and professions from construction to the Armed Forces and teaching to local government.
But the bond of friendship has always remained.
Former pupil Helen Pierce, who is now a teaching assistant at Ashley School, said: “We were all really inspired by Mr Shepherd.
“He is a great teacher and I think that’s why we all became such good friends.
“He actually inspired me to go into a career in education myself.
“I was a little bit nervous today to see my old friends again but it’s been a great event. I recognised them all and it was great to see our old work and photos again.”
Former pupils Simon Banks said: “Mr Shepherd made it easy for us to want to keep in touch and come back.
“His classroom was a fun and friendly place and we all have great memories of our time with him.
“It’s surprising how quickly the time has flown.
“It really doesn’t feel like 20 years, but now we’d all like to keep in contact and meet up again in the future.”
Mr Shepherd said: “I was fortunate enough to have a class full of lively, bright and motivated children.
“Towards the end of the year, they all wanted to do something to remember their time in Class 6S as well as at The Grange.
“The children decided they would like to make a time box and put in their hopes and dreams for their future along with other bits of work and memorabilia.
“We set about collecting photos, some examples of work at the time and writing where they felt they may be in the future.”
He added: “The chances of us meeting up again were slim as it would mean me still being at The Grange for all these years.
“The years have passed and The Grange Primary School may have moved on to become The Grange School but I have remained for the full length of the contract.
“We used Facebook to make contact with members of the old class and we agreed to meet up as close to the date as we possibly could.
“It’s fantastic that so many off them managed to make it back for the reunion. It’s great to see them all again. I have fond memories of all my classes at The Grange and would do this all again with my current class – but whether I’m still here 20 years from now is another story!” ●