A 40 Year Reunion

Our 40th Anniversary Reunion, 4 July 2022

It was back in March of this year that Deirdre Walton (nee Lee), a lifelong friend from birth, mentioned that this year would be our 40^th anniversary of leaving school, for the Class of ‘82. Would it be a good idea to arrange a reunion, our first in 40 years? We met for coffee in Hyde Park to discuss ideas and set a date, 25^th June. We had seven contacts to follow up between us. We got in touch and asked them to track people down and spread the word. We also set up a WhatsApp group.

We eventually settled on Withdean Stadium for the venue as it has plenty of free parking and they offered us a room for 32 and access to their garden.

I contacted the school alumnae and Rebecca Findlay, Head of Community, who is “looking at all things alumnae at Brighton Girls” replied and was extremely helpful. She very kindly offered to give us an informal tour of the school, which had just undergone an extensive refurbishment programme. They had one name on their alumnae list that we did not have. Rebecca offered to make contact for us. Three months later our net had spread. We had 34 in the WhatsApp group, 24 signed up for the reunion and 17 for the tour.

The day was a great success. Everyone was so happy to see friends from 40 years ago, when we had no idea of where our lives would take us. Some of us had shared information on the Group chat, so we had some knowledge of what they had gone on to do or become. Some had retrained as mature students and changed careers. The following careers were represented on the day and as a group:

Doctors, physiotherapist, psychologist (trauma focused), psychotherapist, occupational therapist, solicitor, barrister & judge, Professors of Geography and Literature & creative writing, primary school teachers, Further education teacher in DT, college lecturer in women’s studies, PR, personnel development, specialist teacher & educational assessor, SENCO, Geologist in oil exploration around the world, Architect, garden designer & landscaper (own business), interior designer and soft furnishing (own business), Computer specialist, IT training, marketing, advertising & public relations, human resources, travel industry, finance manager, motor finance, Civil Service, Customs & Excise, Social Housing Regulator, Medical profession’s regulators, Actor, pianist, food specialist, yoga teacher, humanist celebrant.

We ascertained that 10 of our group had started at BHHS in Kindergarten in 1969. Five had gone on to do the full 13 year marathon (1969-82), kindergarten to upper six and four, kindergarten to upper five. Several among us are living in the Brighton area or Sussex, one as close to school as a 10 minute walk away and one as far as New Zealand. Also, four of our mothers, two aunts, twelve siblings and one child had been pupils at the school.

After lunch 17 of us, (plus one of our mothers and a sister, both past pupils) went on to visit the school to be shown around by Rebecca and her daughter Clementine, who so kindly gave up their precious time on a Saturday afternoon. The builders had handed back the keys of The Temple building the day before. The interior was fresh, light, modern and uniform throughout. Furniture had not yet been moved back so the rooms looked spacious. One’s immediate impression, walking through the main entrance is the remarkable transformation of the old hall. With the vestibule and stage removed it is such a cleverly designed impressive space now, proposed to be a sixth form common room. Many classrooms are essentially the same, some having been knocked through to create larger spaces. It was fun trying to remember which lessons, teachers and form teachers we had had in which rooms. What had been our cloakroom area in the basement is now reassigned to the music department.

The Old Vicarage, our Junior School, was also light and modern internally. I was struck by how incredibly high the ceilings are. Kindergarten was a particularly colourful room with fun bright furniture, fittings and work pinned on the walls. I remember being in that room for my entrance assessment back in 1969. The hall, which had seemed so large was now a classroom and the cloakrooms had gone.

There was a lot to take in in one visit. Both buildings now feel less like the 19th century houses they were originally built to be and more like a modern school.

A huge thank you to Rebecca and Clementine for a fascinating trip down memory lane.

Sarah Armitage (nee Colman)