Collegiate old boys back in town

REMINISCING: Luncheon at Big School on Saturday. PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY 220815WCBRCCOL03

Around 150 former Wanganui Collegiate students and their families gathered at the school over the weekend for a special reunion.

The old boys were members of the Big School Society, an organisation for former students who left the school 50 or more years ago.

Organiser Tony Hunt said the society had a reunion every two years, with old boys visiting from all over New Zealand. This year the old boys left the school in 1965 or earlier.

Mr Hunt is himself a member of the society, although one of the youngest - he left Wanganui Collegiate in 1963.

The programme included an informal gathering on Friday night, tours of the school on Saturday morning, a formal luncheon on Saturday, and a service at the school chapel on Sunday.

Former headmaster Ian McKinnon was the guest speaker at the luncheon.

Big School Society was formed in 2007 by then principal, Craig Considine.

"It's important for the school to maintain links with its alumni, to ensure long-term interest and commitment from our extended community," Mr Hunt said.

Three society members who were at the reunion - Bruce Cook, John Bunny and David Irwin - are in their 90s. Mr Irwin received a French Legion of Honour award in 2005. There was at least one former All Black, Sam Strahan, who attended Wanganui Collegiate from 1958-61, at the reunion.

"For some of the old boys, this was their first visit back to the school since the day they left decades ago.

"Others are still involved with the school because their children went here and now their grandchildren are pupils."

Mr Hunt said the old boys and their families had particularly enjoyed the tour of the school, which was hosted by the school's prefects.

"There were lot of stories being told, a lot of reminiscing. The word is getting out there, so hopefully we'll have even more next time," Mr Hunt said.