Harlow College reunion party

This shipshape crew are on the look-out for long-lost comrades from a year-long expedition to Harlow nearly 40 years ago!

This picture of Christine, Geraldine, Celia, Pippa and Gill was taken by the Daily Express at the London Boat Show on a course assignment.

Now the class of 1971/72 on the NCTJ pre-entry journalism course at Harlow College are marking the 40th anniversary of the start of their studies with a celebratory reunion. A group of former students are planning a get together one Saturday lunchtime in September – the time the course started.

Sky News associate editor, Simon Bucks, who is helping to organise the reunion said:  “The NCTJ pre-entry course at Harlow was a memorable experience – we were taught by some great characters like Joe Barratt, a burly Scot who combined lecturing with Fleet Street subbing.  It gave us a great start in the world of journalism. Inevitably after so long many of us have lost touch and it will be wonderful to meet up again and catch up on the intervening years.  We are hoping to track down as many people as possible by spreading the word. The idea is to meet up at one of our favourite Harlow watering holes – The Hare, which all ex Harlow students will know. We’ll have a few drinks and a meal and aim to get home by Christmas.”

Andy McLardy from the Eastern Daily Press, who is helping Simon Bucks organise the event, said: “I had not seen Simon for many years when, with impeccable timing, he turned up as I was walking out of the front door to go to work. Fortunately we were able to meet up again the next day and discussed holding this reunion. Neither of us had changed a bit!”

“We have both stayed in touch with a few old colleagues and are now hoping to trace others who would be interested in meeting up on a Saturday lunchtime at one of our old drinking haunts.”

Any alumni wishing to get in touch should email harlow7172@gmail.com