FRIENDS who had not seen each other for 50 years returned to their old school for a reunion.

And one of the four-strong group travelled thousands of miles for the visit to Prestwich High School from his home in Vancouver, Canada.

Friends Tony Dampier (66), Eric Walkden (69), Don Bailey (66) and John Pimlott (66), had all been in form 4b at the former Heys Boys School, in Heys Road, in the 1940s.

When they left the school in the early 1950s, the pals all joined the Army but went their separate ways.

Mr Dampier, of Hollins Lane, Unsworth, said: "Myself and John Pimlock did see each other about 48 years ago at Windsor. I was in the Household Cavalry and he was in the Grenadier Guards. But he moved to Canada and I hadn't heard from him until he telephoned me out of the blue four months ago."

The pair arranged to meet in Prestwich and visit to their old school.

And a chance meeting in a local supermarket with another former pupil meant Mr Walkden and Mr Bailey were invited.

The group was welcomed to the school by assistant headteacher Mr Brian Worthington, who has worked there for 32 years. They were allowed to look at old archive material, including their old form photograph with teacher Mr Les Yates.

Mr Dampier said: "The school was very familiar but seemed terribly small compared to when we were there. It was nice catching up with the lads and we all had good memories.

"Of course it was a different time altogether then but re-visiting the school makes you realise what seeds have been sown. It is a great school."