A reunion is being held for children who passed the controversial 11+ exam to get into a North East secondary school with historic connections over half a century ago.

Former pupils who attended King James I Grammar School in Bishop Auckland between 1963 and 1973 are meeting up later this month.

Some will have already retired, and many will be grandparents, but all will have lifetime of tales to tell their former classmates.

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t will be the chance to wind back the years as they reminisce with people they may not have seen for over 50 years.

Organiser Hazel Kellett, of West Auckland, who started in 1968, said: “I ran a reunion in 1995 for my own year, which was absolutely brilliant.

"They came from Hong Kong, Africa, all over the place.

"I did it through the Northern Echo and it worked so well.

"The night I went out I did  know who was coming and everyone turned up.

"It was brilliant so I thought we have got to have another one.

"I have never got around to it because I have been so busy until now."

Opened in 1605 by King James I, the school was attended by pioneering comic film actor Stan Laurel.

The event is being dubbed The Last Gram as it is for pupils who attended King James I Grammar School before it became a comprehensive in 1974.

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Ms Kellett, a former pharmaceutical sales executive with two grown-up twin daughters, added: "We started off with a representative from each year and then people said they were in the below or above so we decided to do it for the last ten years before it became a comprehensive.

"It is a free event and we are going to put stickers on you as you come through the door with the year you started and your name because a lot of poeple won't even recognise each other as we have gone back so far.

"Everyone has been wanting to have a reunion for a long time.

"We would also love it some of the teachers could come because there some who were in their 20s when we were there."

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The reunion is being held at Bishop Auckland Football Club on August 27 from 7.30pm to 11pm.

Anyone who cannot make the evening is welcome to come to the outside bar at 5pm after the match that day.

The event is free but people are being asked to donate a prize or bottles for a raffle to cover costs with anything left going to the football club who are providing the venue free of charge.

Organisers are also looking for a DJ to play on the night.

If you can help contact Ms Kellett on 0770 281 1632.

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