FORMER pupils of the old Keighley Boys Grammar (KBGS) are ensuring that memories of the school live on.

A reunion – the 12th since 1995 – has been staged at the Keighley rugby union club, Utley.

And although it is now half a century since the school closed, when it relocated to Oakbank, the gatherings are becoming increasingly popular.

"From originally being a biennial event it is now held annually – always in September," said 'old Keighlian' Doug Thompson.

"The official Old Keighlians’ Association was wound up in the early 1980s but prematurely it would seem, for there is still a strong nucleus of former pupils interested in attending the reunions and maintaining contacts with each other.

"Each year there are always several new faces – even if by now they are often quite old faces!"

Over 30 people attended this year's event.

"The majority come from the Keighley area but there are also ‘regulars’ from Manchester, Cumbria, Norfolk, Lincoln, East Yorkshire, Harrogate and Leeds, to name but a few," said Mr Thompson.

"We were particularly pleased to welcome Mike and Mary Nichols, from Tasmania, while the evergreen ‘Spike’ Rannard – who began his history teaching career at KBGS in 1943 – came over from Liverpool as always with his son, John, who was educated at the school."

The former school's website, kbgs.com, is also as popular as ever. It has almost 300 registered subscribers.

And 'mini reunions' are staged across the country.

"A Christmas reunion is usually convened by Peter Carr in some local hostelry while a small group meets at the Lord Rodney every three weeks or so," said Mr Thompson.

"In addition, a lot of work has been done by Gareth Whittaker – from Denholme – to ensure that a small archive of KBGS documents was properly catalogued and transferred to Keighley Library. There is now a large collection of copies of the old school magazine, The Keighlian, available in the reading room there as well as other publications by old boys.

"Also, Jan Rotheram and David Kirkley have gathered together a superb collection of photographs from Keighley schools – including the former grammar school – which are often on show in the reading room and from which they always bring a selection to the annual KBGS reunion."

E-mail a.d.thompson@hull.ac.uk or write to Coanwood, Manor Brow, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4AW for further information about the annual reunions and to be added to the mailing list.