A unique club of former pupils from Latchmere school is holding a reunion to mark the 65^th anniversary of VE Day tomorrow, Saturday May 8.

Pupils who attended the school during the Second World War formed the Latchmerians ’39 to ’45 club in the early 1980s. Chairman of the club, Owen Walter, 77, is hoping that many of the club’s 40 members will be able to attend but fears that this might be the last reunion.

Mr Walter is a familiar face for many of the children at the school as he talks to Year 6 pupils every year about life at the school during wartime. “The school has almost changed beyond recognition. We had blackboards in the classroom, not whiteboards, and desks with lids! They don’t have milk at 10 o’clock - I still don’t like milk!.”

Ken Pike, 82 this month, was a pupil when the school opened its doors for the first time in August 1936. He remembers his school days fondly and said: “Friendships that were forged then have stood the test of time and the ’39 to ’45 club has certainly played its part.”

The school will celebrate its 75^th anniversary next year and Julie Ritchie, headteacher of the school, said: “We do celebrate the club. They add an interesting historical perspective to Latchmere and I don’t know of another school that has the same connection.”

Staff at the school who are old Latchmerians are planning to take up the reins and continue the legacy handed down by ’39 to ’45 the club.