Pupils back in class at 50s school reunion

Around 50 ex-pupils who attended schools around the Heath Town area of Wolverhampton in the 1950s met up for a pint and a chat about old times in the Great Western Pub on Sun Street.

Those present attended Springfield Secondary Modern Boys School and Prestwood Road Secondary Modern School for Girls which combined to form Heath Park High School in the early 1970s.

Organiser Wilf Ellis, aged 67, said the idea was hatched after a chance meeting with old school pal Barry Harwood at a car boot sale.

"I bumped into Barry a while back and we started talking about the old school days," said Wilf.

"We decided it would be nice to track down the people we went to school with and have an organised a get-together.

"After many emails back and forth and an advert in the Express & Star we managed to get in touch with quite a few people who still lived around Wolverhampton.

"We even managed to get hold of our old PE teacher, Mr Jarrett. He was a great teacher although none of us would ever cross him – he was fearsome.

"Most of us in this room haven't seen each other for more than 50 years, so it will be a really memorable night."

The old school friends were kept in line by Mr Jarrett, who joined the school after a stint in the RAF.

Mr Jarrett, aged 86, said: "I suppose it is fair to say I was very strict by modern standards. In truth we had few problems with discipline in those days and the lads' behaviour was usually very good."

Mr Jarrett spent around 35 years as a teacher at Springfield Secondary Modern Boys School and Heath Park High School before retiring in 1983.

"I was born and bred in Low Hill so I have always known and loved this area," he said. "It is fantastic to come here and be able to meet so many of my former pupils and find out what they have been up to for the last 60 years."

Old school photographs provided many talking points throughout the evening – with the schools' various sporting teams' successes being a major topic of discussion.

A number of representatives of the Springfield Old Boys football team also turned out – a club formed in the staff room at Springfield Secondary that went on to play in the Wolverhampton Amateur League long after the boys had grown into men. Jim Barrett, who lives in Fallings Park, said: "It is wonderful to see so many old mates, it really brings back memories."

But for Mr Barrett, not all of the memories are good ones.

"The amateur league was a lot tougher, and we lost our first game 16-0.

"We were absolutely terrible."