Portsmouth High School Reunion 2018

Portsmouth High School GDST reunion:

Portsmouth High School GDST reunion: ‘It’s been such a joyful walk down memory lane.’

Up to sixty years since they left Portsmouth High School, ladies from Classes of 1958, 1968, 1978, 1998, 2007 and 2008 returned for lunch and took tours of the Senior and Prep schools last weekend. The day was hosted by Headmistress, Mrs Jane Prescott, with tours led by the current Head Girl and Senior Prefect teams.

The ladies rekindled old friendships and reminisced about the times they had spent at school.  Miss Jo Hawnt from the Class of 1998 said:

‘The smells around the school are so evocative of my younger self and bring back many diverse memories of happy times here.’  

Mrs Sue Patrick, nee Turner, from the Class of 1978 added:

‘It’s been such a joyful walk down memory lane.  I have so many happy memories of my time here and it has been lovely to meet the confident and chatty Head Girl team.’

The ladies travelled from as far afield as Sydney, Hong Kong and Washington DC.  Ms Hazel Denton, from the Class of 1958, had travelled from the USA to be back at the reunion.

‘I timed my annual visit to be at the class reunion,’ she said.  ‘It was well worth it.  We sat around the lunch table and talked about our shared experiences as wartime children.  It was as if we hadn’t been apart.  Thank you so much PHS for bringing us together and giving us the chance to review the scenes of our childhood – where everything had shrunk!’   

‘It was such a happy day,’ said Head Girl, Rachel Kellagher, 17.  ‘I particularly enjoyed showing around the Class of 1978 which included my previous Head Teacher from Jessie Younghusband Primary School, Mrs Patrick.  It was so lovely to hear all of their memories and experiences at Portsmouth High School and a privilege to show them around.’

Mrs Jane Prescott, Headmistress of Portsmouth High School, said:

‘It was wonderful to have this group of alumnae back in school.  They bring with them a host of memories and stories and have rekindled friendships.  As they said, the ethos of the school remains the same today; to educate and inform but have lots of fun on that journey too.’