MORE than 50 ex-pupils of pre-war Farnworth Grammar School swapped memories at a nostalgic reunion.

Former Head Boy Fred Liston said he was bowled over by the response after he appealed through the columns of the BEN.

An amazing 50 men and women, all in in their 70s, turned up at the Stocks Hotel, Walkden, for a get together.

Fred, who went to school with the famous BBC sports commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, said he was astounded when the hordes of familiar faces greeted him in the bar.

He originally feared that many of his old school pals may not have survived the war and lived to enjoy their pensions.

Fred, who now lives in Blackpool, hit the headlines in 1937 when he was the first boy in the North-west to gain nine 16-plus exams.

Fred, who won cricket colours three years in a row, won a scholarship to Manchester University.

Other organisers were Harry Pollitt and Prof Dave Jackson - known to his school pals as Stan.

Fred is hoping that "Old Farnworthians" will get together to stage a repeat of the successful event.

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