EX-PUPILS and staff from Great Easton Primary School had a trip down memory lane, sharing stories and sausage rolls at their first ever reunion. More than 30 people, including ex-caretakers, dinner ladies, receptionists, headteachers and pupils, attended

EX-PUPILS and staff from Great Easton Primary School had a trip down memory lane, sharing stories and sausage rolls at their first ever reunion.

More than 30 people, including ex-caretakers, dinner ladies, receptionists, headteachers and pupils, attended - covering 40 years of history at the school.

All enjoyed the evening held at The Stag pub in Little Easton last Wednesday as they shared tales and photographs until closing time.

Organiser Ann Craigie, nee Staines, 52, who is now a part-time supply teacher at Overstone Primary School in Northamptonshire, proved top of the class with her reunion idea. She said: "It was an outstanding success!

"There were many new faces as well as familiar faces and a few nice surprises too, including seeing Stella Snow who was the receptionist at the school when I was there - I recognised her instantly.

"As well as a nice buffet and talking over old times, we also had lots of laughs sharing funny stories. The men shared stories of how they used to get out of lessons with excuses like 'we have to go and pump up the footballs ready for their PE class' and other funny ones.

"I also took along my school autograph book I'd had signed by all my school friends in 1965 and got the same names to sign the same pages again. It was amusing comparing the childish handwriting to the newer grown-up version now," added Mrs Craigie, who had originally thought up the idea after bumping into so many familiar faces from her school days at Little Easton's annual Countess of Warwickshire Show last year.

Others who attended the event included ex-headteacher John McHugh with his wife Freda and ex-cook Pearl Devonshire, who was still training when Mrs Craigie was a pupil at the school.

Unfortunately ex-headteacher Eric Gentry could not attend the reunion as he was on holiday and sent his apologies, he said: "I would really look forward to attending any future reunions and can honestly say there's not one person I would not look forward to seeing again."

Ruth Pearson, nee Gaylor, also enjoyed attending and reminiscing about good times she had had with Mrs Craigie at Dunmow Girl's Brigade, as well as the primary school.

"It's been great to see that so many former students are still so local, and it was such a wonderful success that we've all swapped e-mail addresses and shall definitely be making it an annual event and are already planning next year's.

"It will definitely be the first of many to come.