Grand reunion for ex Rochdale Grammar School pupils

Brian Holden, Latin/Greek Master with Bob Schofield who travelled from Australia to see him

A grand reunion for ALL ex pupils of Rochdale Grammar School for Boys (1959-1965) is being organised for Saturday 18 December 2010.

The school building, currently Balderstone Technology College, is earmarked for closure and possibly demolition and this could be the final farewell for ex pupils.

Organiser Tony Child says: “It is expected that several hundred ‘old boys and girls’ will attend, many have already booked their flights from all around the world to be there.

“To date we have booked ‘The Exit’, a reformed rock band comprising of old boys, now in their 60's, and we are hoping to feature Brian "Ernie" Holden, our old Latin and Greek Master to lead a mass rendition of the school hymn, Gaudeamus Igitur, for the very last time.

“Other suggestions have been the erection of old bicycle sheds, on the day, to accommodate the smokers and maybe some old romances may be rekindled with the introduction of ‘girls’ in 1965.”

The school boasts many high achievers in commerce and academic areas and some of those are expected to attend. Amongst them is Chris Ray, current High Master of Manchester Grammar School-no mean feat. Mr Ray said: “I fear that I do not keep in touch with more than the odd former pupil, but I will be delighted to join the happy band and have put the date in my diary.”