QUEUES formed outside Upton Village Hall on Sunday afternoon for a reunion of former pupils, parents and staff of Upton Manor Primary School.

The hall was packed to capacity to hear retired deputy headteacher Joyce Cook speak of her memories of the school, which is now Upton Heath CE Primary School.

According to organiser Phil Pearn, Miss Cook and headteacher Len Hughes made such an impact on the lives of former pupils in the 1951-1980 period that people had travelled from all over the country for the event.

He said: “As people arrived they were all asking the same question: ‘Is Miss Cook here?’”

Joyce is an avid collector of memorabilia and her Upton Manor school archives have now been digitised by the Upton Local History Group.

Phil added: “As the images came up on the large screen, Joyce was able to reminisce even recalling most of the names of former pupils and staff. On many occasions a hand would go up from the audience to call out: ‘I’m here Miss Cook’.”

Visitors enjoyed TV footage of when the choir, under Miss Cook’s direction, won the children’s section on BBC NW TV ‘Good Sing’ in 1978.

One visitor stated: “I remember very little of my other school but my memory of days at Upton Manor are so clear with the great variety of activities we enthusiastically engaged in – all thanks to Miss Cook and Mr Hughes.”

During a musical interlude the audience was entertained by former pupil and singer David Whitley and by the current Upton Heath Primary School choir.