A REUNION is being organised for the New Boys of 1965 at Adcroft School of Building in Trowbridge to mark the 50th anniversary of their intake next month.

The school, which is where generations of Wiltshire craftsmen learned their trade, was a secondary technical boarding and day school at the time and pupils were able to study skills such as carpentry, plumbing, brickwork, plastering and painting and decorating.

Friends Pete Timbrell and Graham Head decided to organise the reunion towards the end of last year to celebrate 50 years since they started at the school.

It will take place at the Cricket Pavillion, located at the top of Timbrell Street in Trowbridge, and Mr Timbrell said the pair have been busy contacting old school mates ahead of the reunion.

“It was Graham who came up with the idea and we thought it would be great to hold an event to mark the 50th anniversary, so we set about tracking people down,” said Mr Timbrell.

“We have been busy over the last few months sending out emails and trying to find people through Facebook, but not everyone has Facebook accounts, which makes it tricky.

“So far we have managed to get in contact with around 30 of the 60 people that we are trying to get a hold of, which is pretty good. It is mainly the boarders that we are still looking for and we are hoping more former pupils will come forward.

“It will be great to see what everyone is now doing and what they have made of their lives. Those we have managed to get in touch with have said it is a good idea and it is great that we can celebrate such a special school.”

One of the former pupils travelling to the reunion is Paul Timbrell – no relation to Pete – who currently lives in Egypt and has fond memories of the school, which closed for good in 1971.

The former Chippenham Secondary Modern School pupil said he was inspired to apply for the Adcroft School following a visit from its headmaster GAF Clarke.

“After sampling all the trades in the first year, I selected plumbing, plastering and painting and decorating for my second year trades and was selected for the “A” stream for mathematics, physics and technical drawing,” said Mr Timbrell.

“This range of trades has stood me well over the years especially in doing the more than normal DIY projects around the house and I have been fortunate in owning six different ones ranging from a standard Victorian terrace to a thatched cottage.”

He added: “The school taught us well in the academic subjects you would expect from a secondary school, but it also taught us many technical skills. Most of all, it taught us self-discipline and what we get out of life is equal to what we are prepared to put in.”

The reunion will take place at the Cricket Pavillion on September 26. For further details on the event, contact Pete Timbrell at penjeta@btinternet.com or Graham Head gheadlights@aol.com