Retired Teacher Continues Annual Reunions with First Class Taught 68 Years Ago

Margaret Raymond, a retired educator, continues to gather with students from her inaugural class, whom she instructed nearly seven decades prior. Her teaching career commenced in 1956 at Chapman Street Girls’ School in Hull, when she was a newly qualified 20-year-old. The students developed such an affection for her that they maintained contact, leading to an annual reunion held every year on the third Wednesday in November. Mrs Raymond, now 88, commented: “It’s lovely to see how they’ve progressed. They’ve all made really good use of their lives.” Pauline Iveson, a former pupil, stated: “Margaret was an absolute dream. She was a lovely teacher. I got away with murder.” Her classmate, Barbara Norton, further remarked: “She was a dolly bird. Always well dressed.” At the time, Mrs Raymond, identified as Miss Chapman, instructed history. During her initial teaching period, she would retain pages from her students’ exercise books as a reference for effective lesson plans. She recounted that the girls, then in their first year of secondary education, utilized dip pens for their writing. She added: “They liked to be a monitor and they would fill up the ink wells,” and “Their writing was just beautiful.” The students’ affection for her was evident when they attended her wedding in 1959, an event documented by a photographer from the Hull Daily Mail newspaper. The tradition of reunions commenced in the 1960s after Maureen Travis, a former pupil, sent a Christmas card to Mrs Raymond. This led to an initial coffee meeting, which expanded as more friends were invited, and participation rapidly increased. Previously, the group convened in the evenings for dinner and wine. Currently, their preference is for lunch accompanied by a hot beverage. Within this tightly-knit assembly, discussions flow easily, covering topics such as children, vacations, and recollections of their time in school. Mrs Travis remarked: “It was very strict. We had to have our hair tied back. You couldn’t have a fringe.” The students held a particular apprehension towards their headmistress. Mrs Iveson recounted an instance where she saw the headmistress near her residence and proceeded to dance behind her. “She turned round and she said, ‘Outside my door when you get to school’. So I got six of the best.” The former classmates currently range in age from 78 to 80. While some individuals from the group have relocated internationally and others have passed away, Denise Manley, the youngest member at 78, stated: “The best thing is that we’re all here. We love being together and reminiscing.” Mrs Raymond dedicated 38 years to the teaching profession, estimating that she educated over 1,000 children. Regarding the longevity of the group’s gatherings, Mrs Raymond explained: “I value friendship. It’s the one thing that no one can ever take from you.”