Clitheroe Royal Grammar School 1985 40 year reunion

Organised by former students Sarah Pinnington, Sally Christopher and Enza Geldard, the reunion marked four decades since they started secondary school in 1985, which was also the first amalgamated year of boys and girls at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

Enza said: “With little time to spare, we found a venue – Garry Dugdale and Liv very kindly let us have the function room at the New Inn, and opened up the undercover table area outside.

“We also found a caterer – The Authentic Asian Street Food Stall, run by Tahir Amin. Both Garry and Tahir were also former CRGS students, although in a different year group, so it seemed very fitting.

“We then quickly set about trying to trace former students and staff, which was no simple task. With the assistance of Facebook, Google and word of mouth, we were delighted when we had sold almost 60 tickets. People were travelling up from London and Kent and down from Scotland. We received apologies from former students living in the Philippines and Australia.

“On the evening itself, the organisers went early to decorate the room with '40 year' banners, lights, old photographs, and beautiful cakes make by Diane Chiappi, complete with the CRGS tie and logo.

“At 7pm people started to arrive, ticking themselves as 'present' on a register, and collecting their name badge.

“We felt honoured to have several former members of staff attending, including former headteacher, Mr Clive Darley, now in his eighties, who travelled down from the Lake District. We were also very touched to receive a card and photograph from a former staff member who was unable to attend, wishing us a fabulous evening.

“The room was packed full of laughter and chatting, with people reminiscing about the good old days and trying to condense what they'd been doing over the last few decades into only a few sentences. We also took time to remember two former students who were very sadly no longer with us.

“It was a magical evening and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Some of us managed to stretch the night out until the early hours of the morning by venturing into Clitheroe centre.”

An email sent by Mr Darley to the organisers the following day summed up the evening:

“It was an extremely congenial gathering which must have taken some time to put together. The passage of 40 years is chastening but it was lovely to see and talk to many of that auspicious and unique generation that lived through some of the most consequential changes in the 450 plus years of the school's history.

“One of the great delights of doing the job I did is to witness the growing maturity and self-confidence of youngsters entrusted to our care before they enter the adult world.

“All those qualities were evident last night. I felt privileged to be there and was only sorry that I did not have the time to talk to more of your contemporaries, many of whom seem to have travelled some distance, testimony to the camaraderie you all seem to have enjoyed during your time at CRGS.”