Bryn Hafren Girls Comprehensive School

Over 80 pupils and teachers, who were the first to attend and teach at the newly formed Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School in 1973, went back to the school to celebrate 40 years since the Class of 73 took their O'levels. The timing is also poignant as Bryn Hafren Girls Comprehensive School will close its doors in July for the last time and re-open in September as a newly named mixed school. It seemed apt for the first year pupils to celebrate the last year of the school. There was much excitement and a real buzz as the Class of 73 arrived.
The main hall was decorated in their old school colours, live music was provided by an old friend and entertainer Mark Sheppard, a well stocked bar by The Vine Tap and fabulous chip supper delivered by Master Fryer and Marco's pizza. Many photos with friends and class mates were taken in the selfie booth and a poignant memory tree collected butterflies to remember those sadly no longer with us. A blind raffle raised a substantial amount for Cancer Research (still being counted) and the class of 73 presented Bryn Hafren with a trophy with the title "more than a uniform" to be given to a pupil who displays just that. Old pupils chatted, swapped memories and poured over old photographs, laughing at the awful green and yellow uniform they all had to wear. There was even a pair of bottle green knickers, modelled by Mark, in case anyone had forgotten they were compulsory too!
One of the organisers told me " we are really grateful to Bryn Hafren, for allowing us to use the school, especially Mary Davies and Gareth (the school caretaker) for helping us to set up. It's been a fabulous night and we're really pleased so many people came and enjoyed the evening. Pupils and teachers travelled from as far afield as Australia, Spain, Kent, Derbyshire and Portsmouth to be here and it's been really great to catch up with everyone. We've had incredibly positive feedback via Facebook and email. Such was the success and joy of meeting old friends we're thinking of having an informal monthly meet at a local pub so we can all keep in touch".