Rochdale Grammar School for Boys diamond anniversary reunion dinner

Rochdale Grammar School reunion

Half the surviving members of a class of the Rochdale Grammar School for Boys travelled from near and far to meet again on Wednesday 8 October.

Held at the Moss Lodge Hotel in Rochdale, class members gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their entry into the now demolished school at Balderstone.

An extensive search throughout the world during 2013 by Geoff Kindon in Rochdale and Paul Stott in Vancouver located the whereabouts of the 48 members of the 1954 intake to the school's A-stream.

From the class of 1954 one third of the group followed distinguished careers in education at all levels, and a further third became professional scientists and engineers active around the world. Others attained senior positions in government administration and private commerce, with a significant number eventually running their own businesses.

Organised by former classmate Peter Matthew and his wife Lynn, the reunion saw attendees, now almost retired and most living away from Rochdale, share their school memories and life stories.

Participants in the reunion, many accompanied by their partners, and including three widows of deceased former classmates, journeyed from throughout England and Scotland, as well as other parts of Europe and North America, to attend.

Speakers and guests of honour at the event were former Classics master at the school, Brian E Holden, and Emeritus Professor of Econometrics at the University of Southampton, and former classmate, Dr Grayham Mizon, with his wife Liz, a former Mayor, and now Alderman, of Southampton.

A vote of thanks was proposed to the organisers by Dr David Stansfield, formerly of the Department of Political Science at the University of Glasgow.