Past students catch up at Burnside High's 60th anniversary

Clive Chandler, Robert Findlay, principal Phil Holstein and deputy head girl Emma Hollingworth mark Burnside High School's 60th anniversary. Photo: Geoff Sloan

Catching up with old classmates was a highlight for former Burnside High student Clive Chandler at the school's recent 60th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Chandler helped organise the two-day reunion to mark 60 years since the school opened.

Former students wanted to mark 60 years of city's largest school

He put out a call last month for students who were at the school when it first opened on February 2, 1960, to come back and celebrate the milestone.

About 40 former students attended the two-day event last week.

Mr Chandler was a student at the school when it officially opened.

Former and current students celebrated the school's significant milestone. Photo: Geoff Sloan

It initially had a roll of only 200 third-formers. But 60 years on, the school has skyrocketed to a role of more than 2500, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.

“It has been excellent. It has been really nice catching up with people I have not seen for 10-30 years,” Mr Chandler said.

He said while some people had changed a lot, some still looked the same.

The celebrations included poetry, a speech from former principal John Godfrey on the school’s past successes, a lunch and dinner and tours of the school.