EDITOR'S CHOICE NEWS FROM THE PEWS News from the Pews July 21 News from the Pews July 17 MUSIC REVIEW: Basingstoke Live Fringe, Thursday, Light Lounge NEIL DUNCAN on the Basingstoke Live Fringe, The Great Western Basingstoke Live - what did our readers think? THEATRE REVIEW: Brief Encounter, The Cinema on the Haymarket, London The Wedding Singer's on his way! ADVERTISING FEATURES Click here to view a selection of advertising features that have appeared in your Gazette EVENTS You can now add your own events to our events calendar GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Man assaulted over fence plea 2 Vandals trash new school trampoline 3 Head bans over 100 pupils after protest 4 Claim a cut-price digester 5 All eyes will be on the skies at festival 6 Pensioners to benefit from new scheme 7 Darwins each jailed for more than six years 8 The Dark Knight (12A) 9 Darwin found guilty 10 Solid round ends Rose's Open bid Today | 7 Days 1 Head bans over 100 pupils after protest 2 ‘Planning needs to be brought up to date' 3 Councillor hit with two-year party ban 4 More new homes planned for Basingstoke 5 Fears over allocation of housing 6 Under-age drinkers targeted by police 7 Vandals trash nursery's toys 8 MPs divided on vote over ‘John Lewis’ list 9 Basingstoke Live - what did our readers think?

Comment

Pat Harvey (left), who left the school in 1937, and Bettine Lewcock, who left in 1938, cut the cakes

MORE than 160 women of all ages descended on Costello Technology College, in Basingstoke, for a reunion to mark the school's centenary.

The special event was organised by a group of former students who attended the Crossborough Hill school when it was known as Basingstoke High School for Girls.

The school was founded in 1908, and was originally located in Lower Church Street, before moving to its present location in 1912.

The school changed its name to Harriet Costello School, after a former headteacher, when it became a mixed comprehensive school in 1972.

It was renamed Costello Technology College in 2002.

As well as having a tour of their former school, the "old girls" had lunch and looked at photographs and other memorabilia from their school days. They even sang the old school hymn.

The women - some of whom had not seen the school or school friends for more than 50 years - also had plenty of time to reminisce about the years they spent there.

Helena Miles, 65, who left the school in 1959, said: "I remember when one of the girls cut the cherries off a hat belonging to Miss Hunt, who was a geography teacher.

"I don't know how she found out who it was, but Miss Hunt got her own back by making the culprit sweep the playground clear of leaves on a really windy day!"

Christine Melluish, 63, who left the school in 1962, and now lives in Torquay, said: "The school is not too different from how it was when I came here. I still recognise parts of it, such as the parquet flooring, although some parts are new."

The day was rounded off with the cutting of a specially-designed cake with the school logo, by the two eldest "old girls" at the reunion - Pat Harvey, 86, and 87-year-old Bettine Lewcock.

Mrs Lewcock, who left the school in 1937, said: "I have been back to the school since I left, as I used to attend the Old Girls' meetings they used to hold.

"I came here when Harriet Costello was headteacher. When she retired, and was presented with a portrait, I remember all the pupils cried. We all thought she was wonderful."

The reunion was organised by Moira Bone, Pam Best, Jenny Gibbons and Christine Melluish, who all left the school in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Mrs Bone, who left in 1959, said the reunion had been a big success.

"Over the years, there have been several smaller reunions, but never one of this size," she said. "I have been back to the school since I left, as my three sons came here, but a lot of people haven't seen the school for years."

Mrs Bone, 66, who lives in Up Nately, added: "The school was very different when we all attended - there were only 400 pupils, including the sixth form.

"Teachers were very strict, and we were punished for everything. We would be given detention for not wearing our Panama hats and would have rulers put down our backs if we weren't standing up straight - it was hard.

"Ladies have travelled from all over to come today - one lady even came from Madeira. Organising the reunion has been a lot of work, but everyone seems to have enjoyed it."

10:15am Friday 2nd May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment