Discovery in loft inspired big reunion
A chance finding of an old Bath Chronicle cutting led to 32 ex-pupils and two ex-teachers returning to their old school – some 60 years or more after they had started.
In January, Tim Giles, a retired travel agent from Bath was clearing out his loft while preparing to downsize his property in Bristol when he found the cutting showing his classmates at a school reunion in 2002.
The last term at the City of Bath Technical School concluded in July 1970. In February 1971 it was renamed Culverhay School. Over the summer break of 1973 its Brougham Hayes facilities were decommissioned and the buildings converted for subsequent use as the lower school of the newly created Hayesfield Girls’ School.
Tim posted it on the City of Bath Technical School Facebook page asking who remembers it. Doug Humphries, who helped organise the tour responded.
Then in March, the now Hayesfield Girls’ School posted a virtual tour of the school on Youtube so that prospective parents and pupils could see what it was like due to the Covid pandemic preventing visits.
These both led to numerous online conversations about the changes in the school and Tim challenged Doug to organise another reunion.
Doug, a retired teacher now living in Thame, Oxfordshire, thought it would be an appropriate time as it was 60 years ago when they started at the school back in 1961.
He contacted head teacher Emma Yates, asking if she would like to help out some “old men”, and she was delighted to agree to the venture.
An invitation was posted expecting just Tim and Doug’s classmates to respond, but 45 ex-pupils expressed an interest, including contacts with former teachers. Many were ex-pupils who attended the school when it was at Weymouth House, now Marks & Spencers, but attended some classes in the huts at the bottom of the current school’s field.
Andy Short, from Biddestone was instrumental in networking with these older pupils and teachers so that 34 people arrived at the school.
Head of school Phil White, who produced the virtual tour, organised the programme along with his secretary Nicola Matthews. Refreshments were available on arrival, while memorabilia was displayed and long lost acquaintances were renewed.
Tours of the school then followed led by Mr White and three of the current leadership team.
This stimulated many memories of the men’s time at the school 60 years ago despite modifications and extensions to the classrooms.
A ‘team’ photo was then taken and the groups then returned to their base to continue reminiscing.
As lunchtime approached the tour continued towards their old sports ground at the Glasshouse Playing Fields to have lunch at the Cross Keys Inn so they could share experiences since leaving school.
Teachers Mike Williams (chemistry) and Graham Harris (physics) who still live locally said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and meeting their former ‘charges’.
And the oldest ‘ pupil’, 84-year-old Tony Blackmore, from Corsham, who started at the school in 1948, was as perky as ever.
Ex-pupils travelled from as far as Bodmin and Manchester to enjoy the occasion. Former headboy (1968) Reg Minton was due to fly down from Aberdeen but a cancelled hospital appointment was rearranged and a clash of dates caused him to pull out of the reunion.
Best wishes were also received from old schoolmates in Canada and Australia.
The final comment as they left was, “So, when is the next reunion?”