A FORMER Gilberd School pupil wants to trace more of her classmates for a landmark 40-year reunion.

Judith Bell, 56, whose maiden name was then Crisp, has been bringing old friends together through Facebook with fellow pupil Martin Betts, since July 2015.

Word spread and almost 40 people have joined the Gilberd School Leavers 1977 Facebook group, who would have been part of the 1972 intake.

But there are at least a further 40 people to be found from across North Essex.

The reunion is earmarked to take place on Friday, May 19 at the Rose and Crown on East Street, but without 50 guests the plan could fall through.

Ideally they need to secure the venue by April 19.

Ms Bell said: "The reunion, I think, was actually Martin's idea, and he got me on board with the Facebook group because he didn't know how to manage it.

"Facebook is a wonderful source but despite popular belief, not everyone is on it, and with the girls, they often change their surname when they get married and we seem to have exhausted this particular source of leads.

"We've been looking now for 18 months so we're not sure what else we can do. Some people either don’t want to be found, or aren’t interested, or have disappeared off the radar totally."

Gazette:

Friends - Sonia Osterburg, Carolyn Webb, Judith Bell, Susan Hawes and Valerie Wilson nee Cartwright

Ms Bell grew up in Chappel, where she attended primary school, before going to the Gilberd and later Colchester Institute for a one-year secretarial course.

After relocating to Yorkshire and Scotland, she moved to Melbourne in Australia, in 2005, with her then partner and two of three children.

Mr Betts also relocated down under some time ago but regularly visits the UK.

"It would be great to find more people, not just to reconnect with old friends, but possibly make some new ones," Ms Bell said.

"It would be nice to hear others' memories, find out what happened to them and where life has led them.

"I was shy at school and mainly kept within my own close group of friends, but have actually kept in touch with them after all these years."

Former teacher Eddie Ross will be giving a tour of the school before the reunion starts and past teachers are also encouraged to attend.

Facebook search 'Gilberd School Leavers 1977' or email Judith Bell on gilberd1977@gmail.com.