SIXTEEN women have reunited 70 years after they first met at a Trafford grammar school.

The women, aged between 81 and 82, celebrated 70 years since they first met as 11-year-olds at Sale Grammar School for Girls in September 1948.

The women, who call themselves the ‘Old Girls’, met for lunch at the Boathouse in Sale on Saturday, September 22, to mark the occasion.

Since finishing their studies at Sale Grammar School for Girls in the early 1950s, the women have gone their separate ways, with some of the friends now living in Australia, Canada and the United States.

But when the ex-pats return to their home town turf, the ‘Old Girls’ never fail to put on a warm welcome and organise a special lunch for them.

Messenger Newspapers:

A special 70th anniversary cake greeted the 'Old Girls' at this year's reunion.

‘Old Girl’ Margaret Watson recalls some of the defining memories from their time together at school.

She said: “We all remember being called into the school hall to be told of the death of King George VI.

“We were told that in future, at each morning’s assembly, we would now be singing ‘God Save our Gracious Queen’ instead of ‘God Save the King’.

“I remember in those days all the pupils travelled to school on foot, bicycle or bus, with those living in outlying areas using a special bus shared with the Boys’ Grammar School.

“Gymslips with purple sashes were awarded for good deportment and these were the order of the day for everybody, except the girls in the sixth form, who were allowed to wear skirts.

“If you were seen outside on school days and you weren’t wearing your school hat, you would be reported to the headmistress.

“And we all remember the matron, who made sure the girls knew their table manners and ate their vegetables at lunch.

Present headmaster, Mark Smallwood, sent his best wishes to the women.

He said: “It is really lovely to hear of the ‘Old Girls’ and to learn they have all remained friends for so long.

“I’m so glad that they have such happy memories of their time together at our school and they made such good friends.”

Messenger Newspapers:

Back row, left to right (named as they were at school): Gladys Menlove, Sylvia Garner, Norma Bradshaw, Barbara Kershaw, Jean Lamb, Margaret Watson, Beryl Shaw, Olga Sale, Anne Rowley and Ann Leonard

Front row, left to right: Barbara Smedley, Margaret Goddard, Anne Middleton, Joy Grantham, Sylvia Sangster and Lorna James. 

Apologies were received from Margaret Means, Alma Grier, Shirley Gradwell and Dorothy Wilde.