For the fourth successive year, people gathered at Batley Irish Nash, on Friday, August 28, to share memories and stories and celebrate the experience of growing up in the town’s Irish Catholic community.
The event was preceded by a commemorative mass at St Mary of the Angels church on Upton Street, during which specific reference was made to those former pupils who had died since last year’s reunion.
A centre-piece of the gathering, in addition to the marvellous buffet prepared by Sheila Foley, was the rolling slideshow of school photos prepared by one of the organisers of the event.
Much to their delight, the former pupils - now in their sixties, seventies or eighties - were able to see photos of themselves and their classmates aged five to 11.
Steve Maloney, who left St Mary’s to go to Cardinal Hinsley Grammar School in 1964, said: “I am amazed at meeting so many people today with whom I have a 60 plus years connection, yet whom I have not seen for almost that long.”
John Roe, who had not seen Steve since 1970, remembered that their respective fathers, both St Mary’s alumni, had been on the Nash Committee together as Club Secretary (Steve’s dad) and Concert Secretary (John’s dad). Steve had travelled up from Surrey and John from Sheffield to attend the reunion.
A spokesperson for the reunion said: “The whole afternoon was extremely convivial and uplifting.”
Take a look at these great photos from the 2026 reunion.
