Reading Catholic schools reunion hailed as a success

Recently, former pupils of six Catholic schools in Reading gathered together for an evening of memories at St Anne’s Catholic School hall in Washington Road, Caversham.

People came from all over the UK and as far away as Australia to attend.

The event was organised by Gabriele Scicluna, 72, who attend St Anne’s and Blessed Hugh Faringdon as a boy.

He was visibly bowled over by the success of the reunion, which was attended by 125 people, including five former teachers.

Mr Scicluna said: “First and foremost, thank you for all the messages that have been transmitted on various sites, calls, text messages and emails.

“I can’t really believe the gratefulness of people, this reunion has brought so much joy to people who haven’t seen each other for 60-70 years.

“I had ladies telling me saying they’ve seen former boyfriends.”

Conversations at the Reading Catholic School Reunion event at St Annes Roman Catholic Primary School in Caversham. Credit: Gabriele Scicluna / James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

He then issued a long list of thanks to Ron Tyler and Adrian Walsh, the fellow organisers, Adriana Valencia, the school bursar of St Anne’s, and Barclays Bank for allowing organisers to open an account for the event.

Mr Scicluna added: “Thanks to all the people who attended and made sacrifices to attend this reunion I know of two who came from Australia and New Zealand.

“They travelled the length and the breadth of the United Kingdom. What more praise do you want than that?

“We had a teacher, Ms Poppy Dixon, she’s aged between 90-100 who came along and had a terrific evening.”

He also thanked other former teachers Barry Collett, Sister Helen Banning, Linda Heneghan, a former head of English Martyrs and Julia Feeney, a former head of St Paul’s Primary in Tilehurst.

The buffet at the Reading Catholic School Reunion event at St Annes Roman Catholic Primary School in Caversham. Credit: Gabriele Scicluna / James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Mr Scicluna said: “Thank you all so very much, I look forward to seeing all of you in five years.

“One of our dear teachers at Hugh Faringdon, Keith Horn, he dearly wished, not long before he died for me and others to form a Blessed Hugh Faringdon ex-pupils association, so everybody, let’s get together to work on that future.

“Thanks to all and God bless!”

A collage of photos taken at the Reading Catholic School Reunion event at St Annes Roman Catholic Primary School in Caversham. Credit: Gabriele Scicluna / James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Denise Lewington, a fellow reunion attendee, said: “I travelled from my home in Somerset to attend this event and my sister from Devizes!

“We were pupils in the 60s, the height of the mod movement and all the boys had scooters! Fabulous times!

“St Anne’s school hall where the event was held used to be the venue for our youth club which Paddy Casey used to run the youth club!!”

Denise Lewington with Ben and Paddy Casey. Credit: Denise Lewington

Guests raised £900 to donate to St Anne’s School.

The reunion was also attended by Father Joe McLoughlin, the priest of Our Lady and Saint Anne’s Catholic Church.

The reunion gathered together those from St Anne’s School, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Secondary School, English Martyrs Primary School, St Joseph’s  College (formerly St Joseph’s Convent School) and two schools which have closed: Presentation College and St James’ Primary School.