More than 40 old school friends from closed school in Helston descended to the Wheal Dream on Wednesday to celebrate Christmas.
The Friends of Helston Green School group meets frequently throughout the year to reminisce about their time at the school in the 1950s, the '60s, and some from the '70s.
Helston Modern School was on Penrose Road and is now the home to CAST.
In the early ‘60s and ‘70s, the school was known locally as ‘The Green School’ due to its dark green and grey uniform.
In 1960 the new Gwealhellis County Secondary School was built, and in 1972 Helston Modern School closed.
Gwealhellis Country Secondary School is now the home of Helston Community College.
With Christmas a few weeks away, the group gathered at the Wheal Dream for its annual Christmas lunch and get-together.
In 2011 the group started with only five members, Wendy Ould, Gloria Curnow, Caroline Horne, Sheila Cockram, and Angela Broadhurst.
However, the group didn’t seem to expand, so Gloria and Wendy both decided to take over. More than ten years later and with more than 50 members of the group – it certainly has expanded.
The group meets up regularly for coffee and a chat usually locally at Helston’s Maytree, but save special occasions for the Wheal Dream.
Gloria Butterworth nee Curnow described the group as “very unique” with all ages in attendance and one special member who was highly spoken off when I met with the group, Mrs. Betty Pascoe.
Betty nee Thomas was a biology teacher at the Penrose Road school in 1954 before moving to Gwealhellis School in 1960. Betty is now a member of the group and joins the frequent meetings.
Wendy Bate nee Ould told the Packet: “We appreciate how lucky we are to have attended Green School.
“People were asked if they wanted to leave to attend Gwealhellis, but I chose to stay at Green School.”
The group has also asked members for donations to Rev. Danny Reid’s, Homeless and People in Need Charity after their Christmas lunch.
To find out more about Friends of Helston Green School visit the Facebook page.
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