Were you a pupil at Langleybury School? (From Watford Observer)

Langleybury School pupils to hold reunion

4:59pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Old school friends from Langleybury School are looking to rekindle school memories and reunite members of their year to mark 30 years since they left.

Gregg Davison, Mark Smith, Beverley Gurr and Anne Clarke have come together to trace past pupils from their secondary school years between 1978 and 1983.

The four, dubbed class of 83, have decided to put on a reunion in June next year to mark 30 years since they left school.

Langleybury School, in Langleybury Lane, closed in 1996 and currently stands empty.

Father-of- two Gregg Davison says he used to enjoy the drive in to school by school bus from his old house in Gammon Lane, North Watford, especially when it was snowing and the bus didn’t turn up.

Gregg, 46, who now lives in Folkstone jokingly, recalled his fondest memory from school as leaving.

He said: "When I was at school I couldn’t wait to leave at 16.

"However by the time I was 18 I soon realised they really are the best days of your life.

"We are really keen to trace as many people as possible and add to those who we have already traced."

So far class of 83 have managed to track down around 60 past students and teachers, including their head of lower school and old history teacher Roger Hennah and English teacher, Nancy Nilsen.

Past pupils who have been traced so far, now stretch to Liverpool, Carlisle and even as far as Australia.

Father-of-two, Gregg, who moved out of Watford in 2004, added: "Since setting up our Facebook page, I have been in contact with a lot of people from my year.

"It has been great and I speak to them all the time.

"There are thought to be around 150 to 180 people in our school year and we are really keen to trace them."

Beverley Gurr, who was known as Beverley Usher in her school days, is keen to trace one of her best friends, who moved to Kent just before school ended.

Beverley, 45, used to live in Bushey Mill Lane, said: "I would love to get in contact with one of my closest friends, Amanda Trotter.

"We were very close right up until the last year and it was such a shame when she left.

"Your school years contribute to who you become and often when you see people who you used to go to school with, you immediately have an automatic connection with them."

The four decided to organise the reunion after visiting their old school building back in August.

Langleybury School is a very special part of Beverley’s life after her own parents and two brothers also attended the school.

She said: "It was fantastic going back and seeing our school.

"It is derelict now which is a shame but we all back fondly.

"Visiting the school this summer got us started with organising the reunion to mark our 30 years since leaving.

"We would like to see as many old faces as possible.

"The more the merrier. "

Class of 83 are trying to trace their old school teachers, including their PE teachers, Mr Wood and Mr Lavender, Mrs Wood their deputy head teacher, Miss Gilbert, their geography teacher and Mr Taylor and Mrs Taylor their science teachers.

The reunion which promises a memorabilia board and an 80s disco will take place in Hunters bar, The Dog and Partridge and The Kings Head in Kings Langley on Friday, 21, June next year.

Members of the class of 1983 school year are invited to contact Langleyburyschoolreunion@hotmail.co.uk or 07968 491164 or like the Langleybury School Class Of 83 on Facebook.