FORMER schoolmates from Long Lee who took part in one of the first-ever Yorkshire Television shows could be reunited.

Long Lee-born Howard Jackson is planning event to bring together fellow members of the village primary school class that took part in the 1968 gameshow Club House.

Wednesday, January 3 will be the 50th birthday of the programme, which was filmed at YTV’s studios on Kirkstall Road in Leeds, since home to many famous shows like Calendar, Emmerdale, 3-2-1 and Heartbeat.

In preparation for the golden anniversary, Mr Jackson has been trying to contact as many of the 29 members as possible from teacher Andrew Cowgill’s class.

Mr Jackson vividly remembers the filming, which included an appearance by rock ‘n’ roll star Marty Wilde, father of 80s pop singer Kim Wilde.

Mr Jackson said: “I had to do a cycle for the challenges. Marty Wilde sang to one of our girls, Christine Shaw, and there was an inter-school quiz.

“The producers of the show had come the school and liked what they saw. They sent in Anderton’s coach several days later to take us to the studio.

“It was one of the first programmes to be transmitted at Yorkshire Television.”

Mr Jackson said about 11 former classmates have been found so far, seven by him and the rest by Yorkshire Television researchers.

He said: “There were 29 of us. One girl has died, but I think most of the others are still alive. I want to recreate the photograph that we had in the Keighley News in 1968. Hopefully we can obtain a copy of Club House to show.”

Mr Jackson had originally hoped the Club House reunion could form part of a special advertisement being put together by Pizza Express, but preparations had not moved far enough by the time of filming in November.

The heartwarming TV commercial – which showed several sets of old friends being reunited – was screened last month.

Anyone who can help Mr Jackson with his search should email jackoj700@gmail.com or call him on 01274 783488.