MORE than 270 people attended a school reunion in Darlington.

The event, on July 9, brought together past students and teachers of Longfield School.

It began with an address from the present headteacher Susan Johnson.

Former students were able to tour the grounds and buildings of the school, which have seen numerous changes over the years, a modern sports block being among the most recent.

Jan Charlton, from the Longfield Reunion Organising Committee, said the event – which included a disco at the nearby Harrowgate Hill club – was ‘absolutely brilliant’.

The Northern Echo:

Andrew Rowley, Tony Raby, Sam Smedley, Chris Wright and Susie Arrowsmith. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

She added: “If it wasn't for the efforts of my cousin Tony Kemp, who originally set up the Longfield Facebook page at the end of 2014, to try and find his old school friends, the reunion would never have got off the ground.

“He now administers the group, which has almost 1,100 members.”

The school marks its 50th anniversary in 2018, with an even bigger reunion planned for then.