MEMORIES came flooding back when members of Parkstone Grammar School’s class of 1944 met up – in some cases for the first time in decades.

The reunion lunch at the Fleetsbridge pub was the idea of Bonita Pope (nee Cartridge), who confessed: “I was the naughty one.”

Her friend Pat Salvidge (nee Courtney) explained: “Bonita suddenly said ‘We’re all 80 this year. It’s quite an achievement’.”

World War Two was still going on when the girls first started at the school, which was then situated at Ashley Cross in Lower Parkstone.

“We used to have to go into air raid shelters when the sirens went, but it was calming down a bit,” recalled Pat.

“It was an old building and there was a prefab extension on the side.

“When we went swimming, we used to have to walk through Poole Park and go to the (open air) pool by the railway line. It was a really crummy, concrete place.”

At first, there was a small mixed private prep school on the site, but the school became state-only under the leadership of headteacher Miss Allen and deputy head Miss Thompson.

As more youthful-looking “old girls” arrived for their reunion, they pored over old school photographs from 1946 and 1949 to find themselves and their friends.

Grace Blackmore (nee Hayes) said: “Bonita and I were at each other’s first birthday parties. Although I have lived apart and in different countries at times, we have always remembered birthdays and Christmases.

“I have fond memories of the school and the teachers.

“They were very strict, but we still had a lot of fun.

“The education was very good.

“I’ve always loved books and reading and I think that was down to the school.”

The women are keen to hear from others in their year.

The Echo can pass on contact details to Bonita and Pat.