SGSA 2022 Reunion Details

The following account of the 2022 reunion is taken from an article which appeared in the Swanage Times:

A final reunion for the old Swanage Grammar School brought together 170 people including former pupils and former teachers.
The event which was held at The Swanage School on Saturday 21st May 2022 will be the last such gathering so there were tears and laughter. The grammar school closed in 1974.

David Slingo, treasurer of the Swanage Grammar School Association, said:
"After having to cancel through Covid our plans for a 2020 reunion, we were not sure what to expect a couple of years later. However, the 2022 reunion far exceeded our expectations with the range of year groups from 1943 to 1972 and the number of former pupils wanting to attend.

“On the day, there was such joy, laughter and pleasure evident on the faces of all those came together, meeting old and making new friends with a single special bond - SGS!  For the organising team it is an incredible memory we can all share and be proud to have created."

Among those attending were four former teachers: Pat Churchill, Ken Lees, David Hyde and Peter Clarke.

Many of those taking part still live in Dorset but others came from around the UK, and one even came from the USA.
The oldest pupils present were two who started at SGS in 1943, and the youngest were two who started in 1972.
The day started with a commemoration service, led by Gillian Humphries, giving thanks for all our experiences at SGS and remembering those who had died since the previous reunion in 2019.
The school ‘anthem’ Forty Years On was sung with a special verse added of ‘60 years on’ to finish. David Slingo, a former head boy, read the lesson from 1 Corinthians 13 v1-13. The singing was accompanied by Paul Baird and Nick Thorne.
Lunch was provided by Sorrels Catering from Wimborne. A commemoration cake was donated by Joan and Nigel Dragon (both former SGS pupils) of The Dragon Bakery in Corfe Castle. It was cut by Pat Churchill, former teacher of Latin and other subjects at SGS.

A raffle raised more than £700 with all proceeds going to a charity taking supplies to Ukraine.
The SGSA presented a cheque for £1000 to The Swanage School to enable the development of its library. The cheque was presented to Harry Peake, head of English by David Slingo.
There was a display of SGS memorabilia including a school blazer, photos of sports days and drama productions, plus the School ‘Honours Board’. These will form part of a display at the Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre.
It was reported that Swanage Town Council, with the support of Councillor Mike Bonfield, and the developers of the former school site in Northbrook Road, had agreed to name roads after former teaching staff at the grammar school.
Local firm Haysom Purbeck Stone clean have repainted the inscription on the commemorative stone in Days Park. Trevor Haysom was a former SGS pupil.

Those attending were delighted with the opportunity to get together one last time.

Tony Bamber said:
“My thanks to the organisation committee and congratulations for their excellent last Reunion. By pure chance I found myself sitting next to someone who used to live in the same road in Bovington and took the same daily road/rail trip to the school - some 60 years ago and this was the first time we had met since - 60 years on!”

Liz Mytton said:
“It was a wonderful occasion - such kindness and affection was a real testament everyone involved.”

Dorothy Bower said:
“It was a perfect day, and I didn’t really want to come home and leave you all. The organisation was fantastic, and our table full of lovely friends was the icing on the cake.”

Nicky Churchill said:
“What a fabulous finale! Well done to all those involved in organising it. Lovely to see lots of old faces and friends not seen for a few years. Remembering happy times at school and making new memories today.”

Shelagh Ball said:
“I think we managed to go out with a bit of a bang yesterday at the final Swanage Grammar School reunion. Well there were lots of small pops anyway, from the balloons in our house colours of red, yellow, green and blue for Ballard, Durlston, St.Aldhelms and Peveril.
“There are always tears in my eyes during the service and more so this time since we will not all gather like this again. My heart was warmed again though by the sight of so many friends catching up with each other again.