A small but perfectly formed group of St Mary’s alumni met in Tonbridge today and the years rolled away.

The gathering was instigated by former Head of PE Rod Turner who was up from Poole for a family gathering.

A St Mary’s scarf hung from a pub umbrella marked the spot and gentlemen from five different years convened and spent a couple of hours wallowing in unashamed nostalgia.

At a mere 55-years-old (1977 starter) I was the baby of the group and the first to arrive. I was quickly joined by Rod Turner who became Head of PE in 1970. Peter Alexander (1970) was next to arrive, followed by Ian McKinnon from the same year.

Then we were joined by Rob Pearce (1971) who brought with him some tremendous photos which will be getting an airing at sometime.

Soon after, a man wearing a rugby shirt with the unmistakeable purple and white hoops hove into view. He was Michael Brown (1973) who was with his older brother, Francis (1966).

Finally, Ricky Stanton, another member of the 1970 intake joined us and it was Ricky’s wife, Sue, who took the photograph above in the garden of the Hilden Manor pub on the borders of Tonbridge and Hildenborough.

There were some great stories told from the annals of St Mary’s history and, all in all, it was a most enjoyable couple of hours.

Considering many of us had never properly met, we all got on like a house on fire.

Look out soon for a short video of Michael Brown flawlessly reciting the 1973 1 Alpha register!