The school was Campion High School for Girls, then in Leicester Street, which shared its hall with the neighbouring Campion School.

Despite the shared premises, segregation was strictly enforced. The girls would have their lunch, then come out into the playground as the boys went indoors to eat their meals.

But, as the girls got older, they would gravitate towards the library, which happened to be the nearest building to the hall.

Former pupil Angela Boucher, nee Rubino, recalled: “We always used to make a beeline for the library at lunchtime. I would tell the teachers ‘It’s for my homework’ or ‘It’s for research’.”

She also has fond memories of music lessons in a wooden hut, of walking to Christchurch Gardens to use the tennis courts and of the discipline meted out by the school headmistress, the redoubtable Mrs Ponsonby-Duck.

Mrs Boucher said: “She was very strict but we all liked her. The school was very antiquated but very nice.”

Girls who attended the school between 1959 and 1964 held a class reunion on November 10, organised by Carol Woodward, then named Barrett.

There were 40 girls in the original class, which was also Miss Townshend’s first form, and 20 stayed on to take their O-Levels, when the black and white picture (top) was taken.

Prompted by classmate Gillian Bunting, who now lives in Northumberland, she and other organisers tracked down 23 of the original class, and even their form teacher “Miss Townshend”, now Rosemary Keill.

Mrs Woodward said: “Class members are now turning 60 years old this coming year, and some of us had not seen each other for around 44 years, so it was a very nostalgic and memorable experience - and most of us actually recognised each other.”

Mrs Woodward is hoping to produce a souvenir booklet of the reunion and hopes readers who recognise the faces in the 1964 photograph will contact her with their memories and stories.

Former Campion girls can call the newsroom on 457720 or contact 770373 or email:

woodward_carol@hotmail.com