The following is the article that appeared in Loddon Reach of the Group members‘ views of Ryeish Green School Open Day, on 3 May 2010.

Mary: Having been immersed in the ‘Celebrating the Centenary of Ryeish Green School’ for so long as it was written, typed up and checked again and again and again, I grew to know the characters we wrote of and recognised several of the teachers from the sixties and seventies.  It was a pleasure to point ex-pupils to the teachers they were looking for and could not recognise.  The old school bell rang out for the last time at the auction of memorabilia.  The bidding war started and was very keenly fought.   Two contenders were left in the fight – £80, £81, £85, £86, £90, £91, £95, £100, £101, going, going, gone. The auction raised nearly £500 for the Treloar Trust.

Patricia:  Ryeish Green was buzzing from the start.  It was great to overhear the mix of greetings between staff and pupils from past and present, recognition of former classmates, and introductions of husbands, wives and friends.  The happy atmosphere was tangible, also the tinge of sadness about the school’s closure hovering in the background .   Sales of the history book were brisk.  People checked to see how their era was portrayed, whose photo was included and what anecdotes were remembered.  We hope the book will be treasured as a memento of the school and its place in the community.

Margaret:  In the 1990s and 2000s section, in the old building, I spoke to youngsters who excitedly found their photographs and copied them with the new-fangled cameras.   They shrieked on meeting their old friends and calmed down when their ex-teachers appeared.   The teachers had to be reminded to whom they were speaking and smiles broke out on recognition.  They happily watched and replayed the video in this room and many of them returned time and time again to review the room’s contents and reminisce.  It was lovely to speak to Matt O’Sullivan and his companion and Alan Smee and Philip Reed from the 1950s.   The school had terrific displays everywhere and it was a glorious day.

Jackie:  The hall was electric from the beginning.  People saw old friends, teachers and colleagues they recognised across the room.  Hugs and handshakes could be seen all day.  What a wonderful atmosphere.  There was a former pupil over from Canada, another came from Bournemouth and every generation seemed to be there reminiscing.   The brown envelopes containing the centenary book were soon held in many hands.  A wonderful day that just flew by and the evening was a great success.

Jeannie:  When we arrives at 10.30 am to set up, people sat in their cars already waiting.  They were asking if we had any more photos.   The hall quickly filled and the smell of rain and friendship was palpable.   My section was mainly about the memories of people and I had the chance to meet them, to see them pointing at their photos on the wall and chuckling as they remembered perhaps untold secret stories.   The teachers told stories of disobedient teenagers who were now mothers and fathers of their own children – with knowing smiles on their faces.  A wonderful day.

Sheila:    The atmosphere was electric and it was rewarding to be part of all the reunions although tinged with sadness of the school closing, which most thought a wicked shame.  I was amazed how many ex-pupils remembered me from the Post Office where they used to come with their pennies to buy their sweets.  It was interesting to hear how they fared in their adult lives.

Lesley:   It was an amazing day on Sunday with so many people wanting to say their farewells to RGS – a special, positive and happy place for the majority of past students and staff.   The middle years’ room where I was positioned did a brisk trade from the second I walked into the room.  However, there were also strong undercurrents of shock, disgust and anger that our village would lose its secondary school and the land would be built on.