JOLLY hockey sticks and school dinner memories proved a welcome blast from the past at the 50-year reunion of Worcester Girls Grammar School's year of 1951.

Nearly all of the class managed to attend, with several old girls responding following an appeal in the Evening News.

Personal histories spanning half a century were put in the frame as the old friends caught up on the last five decades.

"We had a wonderful day," said ex-pupil Joan Willis. "It was quite amazing to see everybody instantly recognising each other, when they hadn't seen each other for so many years.

"It was a really heart-warming sight to see them all greeting each other. We all want to do it again next year," she added.

Many of the old classmates came from far and wide to attend the reunion, with women from Norway, Jersey and Moscow flocking to Whittington Village Hall for the lunch.

"People came from all over the country, and while some of us still live locally it is surprising to see how spread out we became as a class," said Mrs Willis.

"What probably had some bearing on that was the fact that our headmistress, Miss Mildred Caroline Webster, instilled in us a sense that we could achieve anything if we put our minds to it.

"She was a wonderful headmistress. She encouraged us and helped us all - she had the girls' best interests at heart."

The emotions of the day also came to the fore as the ladies reminisced over the past.

"Schooldays really are the best days of your life.

"There were a few tears - it was very emotional to see everybody back. I think we were all moved - we all have happy memories, and it is strange to think it was all such a long time ago," added Mrs Willis.

Now, with future reunions planned, the ladies are keen to track down remaining classmates to complete the line-up.

"There are 10 to 15 girls that we haven't found yet, but we are going to find them. It's been a most exciting event, finding all these people. Now we are all looking forward to the next one."