FOR former pupils of a Brighton school, it was a trip down memory lane this weekend as they reunited after 25 years.
Pupils from Varndean School for Girls’ class of 1963 came together on Saturday, June 25 for a reunion to celebrate their 75th birthdays.
The women who are all turning 75 this academic year visited the school’s campus in Balfour Road, which now houses Varndean High School, for afternoon tea.
Many of the classmates have not seen each other for 25 years, since the last reunion for their 50th birthdays.
Linda Witten (nee Mintz), 75, organiser of the event said: “I decided it would be nice to get together and the event takes the form of afternoon tea with birthday cake for us all.”
Despite a number of cancellations due to rail strikes, the afternoon was filled with laughter and reminiscing as the women enjoyed sandwiches, Prosecco and cakes.
Several of the women had fond memories of their time at the school and believed it gave them “a good grounding” for their futures.
Meanwhile, the ones who were not as fond of school were thrilled to be reunited with their classmates.
Glynis Denney, 75, who now lives in the Cotswolds said: “I loved Miss Richard, she was our English teacher, she would recite poetry to us with her eyes closed - ever since I’ve loved to read and write poetry - she was very inspiring to me.”
Glynis left Varndean before going onto join the Air Force, a rarity for women at the time, and then travelled around the world working on a cruise liner and later as a flight attendant.
She said: “When I was 11, I remember sitting on the cliffs at Rottingdean and looking out across the channel and telling my spaniel, Rex, that I was going to go over there one day and see it all.
“The school gave me a very good grounding, we had some excellent opportunities after going here.”
Throughout the event the women chatted about the memories they shared, including sneaking off down the path to the boys school (now Varndean College).
Many even took off around the school to see how it had changed over the last two and a half decades.
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