THE class of 1970 at a former Durham school is being invited to celebrate the Millennium at a reunion next month.

Former pupils of Whinney Hill Secondary School, now part of Durham Johnston School, are holding a get-together on Saturday, July 26.

Ten of them have kept in touch over the years but are hoping to meet former classmates they have not seen since their school days.

One of them, Valerie Taylor, nee Essen, said: "There were about 30 of us and we left the fifth-form in 1970 after we'd done O-levels or CSEs.

"There are about ten of us who have kept in touch and the idea for the reunion came from us wondering what had happened to so and so and wanting to find out.

"It is the Millennium and it is 30 years since we left school, so we thought it would be nice to have a reunion.

"It is hard to track down everybody, but we know there are still people living in the Durham area."

A venue for the reunion has not yet been organised because it depends how many former pupils respond to the idea.

Mrs Taylor said: "That's why we want people to get in touch.

"We are talking about hiring a room and putting some food on, nothing intimidating."

Mrs Taylor, who has lived in Middlesbrough for 28 years and works as a service development officer for Middlesbrough Borough Council, is urging former schoolmates to get in touch.

Anyone interested in the reunion can call her on (01642) 311142 or e-mail her at valtaylor

Mowle