OLD schoolpals caught up on all the news -- after 39 years! Bury Grammar School girls, who left in 1962, were reunited once again thanks to the tireless efforts of former pupil Alison Garside.

She followed up clues to locate her ex-classmates and, with help from the Bury Times, she managed to locate all but seven girls.

At the reunion, held at Barrowshaw Function Room at Park Farm, Walmersley, 43 pals exchanged stories from their school days. Among them were Jean Butterfield from Missouri in America and Helen Hunter, who came all the way from Australia.

Also attending was Miss Joyce Batty, who was headteacher at the school for many years.