Jackie Bland

Jackie Wren. (Nee Bland)
I started at Roxeth Manor School in 1955 at the age of 4½ going through each year until leaving in 1966 at the ripe old age of 16½ and as a qualified secretary.
I had many great (and not so great) times at school, I particularly remember all the boys starting at age 7 years. Mark Dawkins, Terry Stevens, Trevor Tipping, Arthur Troke, Stephen Emsley, and the boys in secondary; Graham Coggins, Chris Rae, Robert Harold, Nigel Trotman, Hayden Manning, and many more for whom I got detentions.
I worked for the National Coal Board in Harrow between 1969 and 1972, when I left to get married. I worked for Abbey Nation for a total of twelve years from Rayners Lane, to Reigate, to Redhill, to Horsham. I now work as a legal secretary at a young firm of legal solicitors. We are all a social lot and enjoy going out etc. 
I have been to Canada where my Relatives live, and once tried to emigrate but I was going through a divorce at the time, and they wouldn’t have me!
I now live in West Sussex, and I have been married three times, (I think I just like rings and dressing up!) I have two children aged 17 and 14, 2 cats, a rat, an aviary and oh yes, a husband.
I still keep in touch with about twelve of my school friends, meeting up around Christmas time each year.
Anyone remember, Alex Goodyear, Pam Green, Barbara Bangs, Coral Bishop Linda Ward etc?
I have got in contact with my second Husband, through Friends Reunited (he went to school in Reigate) and we have since met up, and are now the best of friends. Pity it couldn’t have been like that when we were married!
Am going to the Reunion (hope Syd hasn’t forgotten me!) and can’t wait to see if there will be anyone there I remember.
My friend Val (McDonald) who’s parents owned the Café next to the school,
will be coming with me, and believe me we are going to enjoy every moment.
'Actually, Val couldn't make it in the end, so a friend from work came with me. I had never met Syd and his family before, but they really made us welcome. 
We had a really good weekend. Unfortunately, only a couple of people I knew at school attended, one of my old boyfriends being one, and a Head Girl who nearly sent us to the Headmistress but, in the end,relented and let us off. 
My friend and I spent the night drinking and dancing and generally having a ball.
If another reunion is ever organised by anyone, I would recommend you going to it. It's nice to look back sometimes ©Jackie Bland2008

Left to right:
Jackie Bland, Barbara Bangs,
Alexandra Goodyear, Pamela Green on a
School trip to Blenheim Palace in 1965 ©Jackie Bland2008

Pamela Green, Jackie Bland, Alexandra Goodyear, Marilyn Simmons, Sylvia ? and Barbara Bangs being threatened of a dunking on a school trip to Blenheim Palace in 1965 ©Jackie Bland2008

This is my daughter, Jaime, and me before we ‘ran’
the Race for Life in memory of my mum©Jackie Bland2008.

©Jackie Bland2008 All Photos copyright to jackiebland2008