Former St Saviour’s School pupils enjoy special reunion

The primary school – which is now St Saviour’s Community Centre – closed in 1978, and became the special needs school Mont Varouf until 2005.

The reunion came about after community centre director Lisa Tempest posted some old pictures of the school online.

‘People were going crazy over them, so I thought let’s do a reunion and get everyone chatting again,’ she said.

The former classrooms were busy with people for the reunion and Mrs Tempest said she was pleased so many people got involved.

‘It’s wonderful to have so many people,’ she said.

‘It’s just lovely.’

The reunion saw many family groups. One of the largest was likely the Bourgaize clan. Winnie Keyho, 81, John Bourgaize, 82, and Joyce Scraton, 84, were three of a brood of 18 children.

The older siblings were evacuated during the war, while the younger six were in the island during Occupation. Many of them attended the Sarel School on St Saviour’s Grande Rue, as St Saviour’s School was shut during the war. However, the Bourgaize children transferred to St Saviour’s when it reopened.

Mrs Keyho could clearly remember travelling to school from their home in St Peter’s.

‘At the time the dam was being built, and they stopped us going through there, because they said it was too dangerous,’ she said.

‘So we had to go the long way round.’

She said it was strange being back in Mr Edwards’ classroom, which was now a room in the community centre.

‘It’s nice to see old friends,’ she said.

Joan, 79, and Joyce Anderson, 82, also attended the school.

Joan Anderson was five when she joined the school and can remember sitting in the middle of three rows of desks.

‘We used to do country dancing outside in the summer,’ she said.

Joyce Anderson can clearly remember headmaster Mr Vining and his warm stove.

‘Mr Edwards was quite strict and we used to get the cane,’ she said.

‘But I do have good memories too. There are lots of great friends. And there were sports days with red, yellow and white teams.’