AROUND 100 former classmates will be reunited at a party to mark 40 years since the left school.

 

Former pupils who left St Leonards RC Comprehensive School, in Durham in 1977 will be joined by former teachers at the gathering on Saturday.

 

Organisers Robin Airton and Annette Keelty have tracked down around 100 former schoolfriends, but hope to find more in the last few days.

 

The event takes place in The Tythe Barn in The Hallgarth, Durham City between noon and 6pm.

 

Robin said: “We started out thinking it would be great if a few people we were still in touch with would like to get together to mark the event.

 

“As people appeared receptive to the idea we decided to invest more time and effort in tracking down as many people as possible which proved difficult - especially for the girls as there were many name changes to contend with - but such is the power of social media, as we started our plight news was spreading that the party was on.”

 

Annette said: “We just can’t believe how it has escalated.

 

“We have ex-students coming from all over the region and others joining us from far flung corners of the country along with around 15 current and ex-teachers joining us too which will be fantastic.

 

“We are also hoping to raise funds during the evening to donate to St Leonards – a school that holds a lot of fond memories for us all.

 

“There are still some people we haven’t managed to reach so we would like to extend the invitation to all who left in 1977 to come along.

 

“Everyone is really looking forward to it”.