Memories abound as class of '56 reunite

More than half a century of memories were revived when former Bognor Regis school girls reunited.

A total of 33 pupils of the class of '56 from Westloats Lane Secondary School for Girls enjoyed the chance to relive their days in the classroom.

They spent up to four hours in the RAFA Club in Waterloo Square, catching up on their news from the past 52 years and reviving their childhood memories.

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Plenty of school photos from the days of 4 Music, 4 Art and 4 Craft were taken along.

Molly Sprent (now Molly Pope) was their only teacher present. The 87-year-old has lived in Bracklesham since she was nine.

She spent about 14 years at the school, until she married in 1960, and became a teacher in the 4 Craft class.

The mixed ability girls started as apprentices, became journeyman and moved on to masterman status when they had reached the required standards in subjects such as weaving, needlework, rug and curtain making and making baby clothes.

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She said: "It's wonderful seeing some of my pupils. I had really happy days at the school and I very much enjoyed being there."

She recalled headmistress Miss Olive Curtis as a lovable eccentric.

The former pupil present who had moved the furthest away from Bognor was Marion Kemp (now Marion St John Knight). She is spending the summer at her daughter's home in Surrey from her home in Marlborough on New Zealand's South Island.

She met one of the reunion organisers, Janet Smith, last year and told her she was returning to the UK this year. The idea of a fully-fledged reunion sprang from that.

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Mrs St John Knight (67) said: "It's been good fun. It is quite strange seeing all my classmates again. I know all the names but, after more than 50 years, it was difficult remembering all the faces.

"It's marvellous to see Miss Sprent. I remember her very well."

Mrs Smith (67) said: "It's been amazing that so many people wanted to come along. I have never seen so many cameras being used at an event."

Some at the reunion came from Devon, the Isle of Wight, Bracknell, London and Crawley for the occasion. Others only had a short distance to travel.

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Mrs Smith met up with a former schoolfriend who has spent the past eight years living around the corner from her in West Meads.

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