Ref. 28789-05Nostalgia and fond memories of schooldays past filled the air when former pupils of Penhill Secondary got together for a 40-year reunion. KEVIN SHOESMITH watched the old boys and girls come out to play.

AT first, old school pals eyed each other a little nervously sometimes struggling to put a name to a familiar face.

But even though 40 years had passed since pupils of Penhill Secondary walked through the school gates for the last time, hugs and handshakes could soon be seen in every direction.

And as the champagne circulated, memories of mischievous schooldays in the 1960s came flooding back.

Saturday's 40-year reunion at Coleview Community Centre was aimed at those who attended the school in 1964/65. There were also many former pupils from 1961.

Among the 120-strong crowd was Bob Cleaver, 55, who had travelled from Brisbane, Australia, for the occasion. Almost immediately, he spotted his old pal Lou Lukowiak across the room.

Until recently, the pair had no idea they shared one life-changing trait dislike of the English weather.

Some six months ago, Mr Cleaver learned Mr Lukowiak was living in Perth in Western Australia.

"I moved to Australia 32 years ago for a new life," said Mr Cleaver.

"Then one day I was on the internet and spotted Lou's name on a website.

"We linked up and exchanged numbers and we've been chatting to each other on the phone ever since. It's great to see him we were good mates."

Both were members of the school rugby team and can remember one particularly highly-charged match.

"It was a big game against Headlands School," said Mr Cleaver. "This was our biggest rival. We stuffed them. I'll always remember that."

Mr Lukowiak, also 55, swapped Swindon for Australia in 1973.

He said: "I played for the school, town and county during my rugby-playing days. We had a very good side at the time and won a number of trophies. The team like the school was closeknit and everybody worked together. It was a fantastic school."

Any reunion wouldn't be complete without the appearance of at least one favourite teacher.

Trefor Jones, 72, was only the third teacher to be appointed at the school when it opened.

Mr Jones, who now lives near Tenby, South Wales, remembers Mr Lukowiak's on-field exploits well.

"He was a real worker," said the former head of PE. "The lad could certainly handle himself but he was never a dirty player he just got stuck in."

Maurice Mapson, 54, was less keen on sport, however and remembers many hours spent with Mr Jones in detention for "forgetting" his PE kit.

"I never used to like PE and always tried to get out of it by whatever method," said Mr Mapson, who still lives in Penhill. "In the end I did cooking with the girls."

Many the teachers arrived at the school as fresh-faced graduates and were consequently the subject of much attention.

Peter Manning, head of geography between 1960 and 1973, certainly had some adoring fans, according to Jackie Harris (nee Morgan).

Mrs Harris, 53, said: "All the girls had a crush on him. He was in his early 20s when he first started. He was a really fun teacher."

The pair remember well a minor emergency in the playground.

Mr Manning, who now runs a hotel in Devon, said: "One day, Jackie came running up to me with blood pouring from her head. I took her to the secretary and she said, 'Who shall we see first then?' I was white with shock. I was just a young teacher back then and I really panicked."

Freda Milne (nee Uzzell), 54, who organised the reunion, said she was pleased with the turnout.

Mrs Milne, who is chair of governors at Penhill Primary, said she has been inundated with emails and phone calls thanking her for organising the event.

"Thanks to the Evening Advertiser and the www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk website we have all managed to get together again to celebrate this milestone.

"Everyone just talked and caught up on old times. All the men were examining the old school photographs and couldn't believe how much hair they had back then!"