Letter from The Stourbridge News

I must write using your columns to thank and congratulate Paul Gardner for the wonderful reunion of past pupils and staff from the old Brook Street/Longlands School that was held on 15 August at the Stewponey. How many turned up I don't know, but suffice it to say that the ample car park was full and you couldn't move on the patio or in either of the two reception rooms set aside for the occasion.

I would estimate that there must have been upwards of 500 to 600 people there from what I saw. There may have been even more that I did not see. I was a teacher there from 1963 until 1988. There were many past pupils from before my time but there were also large numbers of faces that I recognised. Sadly I wasn't able to put names to many of these faces because during my time there, literally thousands of pupils passed through our hands. When I say that the last time I saw some of these pupils was when they were 15 years old and they are now 50 years old I hope they will forgive me for not remembering them personally.

It was a night of reminiscences and it was pleasing on my part, as a member of staff, to see how many turned up to meet current friends or renew friendships lost by time. It was also most gratifying to hear of the successes of "our children". While I was there the staff always thought of Longlands as a family, not a school, and the pupils were our children. It may not have seemed like that to some of them at times but it was a fact.

We keep hearing today of the improved examination successes year on year as if nothing else matters. Longlands had a good reputation for exam success but we also tried to give all our pupils a good grounding for life. If last night was anything to go by we must have done something right all those years ago. All those I spoke to have really tried to do something since leaving school and it made me feel humble and proud to have played a small part in touching so many lives.

To all of you who came thank you! You have made a relatively old man realise that perhaps his life has not been wasted. To all of you who were renewing friendships at the reunion or those who couldn't get there, don't lose touch again.

You have the website that Paul has set up (www.longlandsschool.co.uk). Once again, thank you Paul for a very memorable evening.

Howard May.

 Stourbridge news 23 Aug 2001.

I would like to thank the Stourbridge news for letting us reproduce this letter from their paper.

2001 Reunion at the Stewponey - Page 3: E-mails & Letters

Paul I must thank you on behalf of Sue Dawes (nee Wooldridge) and myself Barbara Morgan (nee Burford) at Longlands 1959 - 1963 for the wonderful night you arranged at the Stewpony. What a turn out!   I am sure you will have lots of phone calls/emails to thank you for your time in organising the event. Next time perhaps do a list showing the 1960's, 70's, 80;s for people to sign their name against the year they attended - just a thought so that when we come we will know who is actually there and can seek them out.  Thank you so much again your efforts were really appreciated. Hope to hear from you for the next one - it was lovely also to see Mr Mansell and Mr May who actually taught us.

Best Regards, Barbara Morgan.

Cheers can't believe success of last night , I spoke more to some old  class mates last night  than i did the 5 yrs with them . took a camera but only took  a couple of shots too busy chatting

Vince Wright

That was a job well done. Congratulations on what you have achieved tonight, it was really well worth while. A pity more teachers were not there but it is the holiday period and only us oldie retirees can choose to go away during school time. i hope this goes from strength to strength via the web and perhaps something like tonight can be repeated in a couple of years time. All the best, and congratulations again,

Howard May.

Dear Paul,  

Many congratulations on the success of the Reunion. I have already had two emails from people that attended. Glad to hear that so many turned up. I was so sorry to have missed it. I was to have been in England for the whole of August, but alas my plans went awry due to a close family bereavment. I was there for June and july and had to come home to Australia 4th of August. Ah well it was not to be.  You must have worked very hard at all the preparation. I look forward to seeing some of the photographs of the evening on the site, when you have had a good rest

Regards

Sue and Barry Roughton

I never realised how emotional i would be seeing my old school again thanks for a trip down memory lane. keep up the great work.

Anselm Priest . Cambridgeshire.  1981-1986

Thanks for arranging a reunion, it was a great night.

Gill Smith

It was great to see the web site and that you had arranged the reunion. What an excellent idea and a lot of hard work on your part. I was a pupil at the school from 1980 until 1985 and would have loved to have attended the reunion but as I now live out of the Midlands area it was difficult to make it mid week. I notice that there may be another event next year. Would you consider holding it on a Saturday as I am sure there are others in the same boat as myself ?  Well done for doing what many of us just think about.

Best wishes

Nicky West [Tomlinson]