THE sounds of The Bay City Rollers, Slade, Mud and Black Sabbath were belted out at a school reunion of former pupils of The Vyne Community School in Basingstoke.

Former class ‘Mr Joker’ Maurice Vermont, and Linda Cannon, who back in her school days was known as Linda Day, organised the event.

They were from the class of 1977 and were joined by pupils who left the school in 1976 and 1978.

Maurice said that 138 people attended the reunion, at the Camrose Social Club of Basingstoke Town FC, and a great night was had by all.

A special guest at the reunion was history teacher Alan Cooper.

Full of admiration for the teacher, Maurice said: “He has been at the school for over 40 years – we took our hats off to him and gave him a couple of bottles of wine. We still look at him as ‘sir’.”

Maurice said that Mr Cooper can still remember who used to lark around, and who used to forget to do their homework.

Maurice said: “Looking back on it all, it was a happy time. When you are at school you don’t realise that, but looking back it wasn’t that bad and the people were really good – teachers and pupils. We had a laugh and that’s what makes these reunions so special.”

Linda and Maurice joined the school in 1971, a year after Queen Mary’s School for Boys and Charles Chute Secondary Modern School combined. At first, the school was called Queen Mary’s & Charles Chute School, before being renamed The Vyne Community School.

“We turned up in 1971 and they had already had their first influx of girls back in 1970,” said Maurice.

“For me, as an 11-year-old going into The Vyne, it was a bit intimidating, after studying at South View Infants School.

“It was a school where you had to make your mark – either you were an academic or sport-wise. I was into sports and I represented the school in rugby, athletics and gymnastics. Linda was in my class. She was more academic – she was very bright.”

The father-of-three, who is now 50 and living in Buckskin, Basingstoke, said that the school reunion brought back many memories and was a great chance for everyone to catch up with old friends.