OLD friends were reunited at Ross High School last week as past pupils helped to celebrate the school's 70th birthday at an afternoon of nostalgia.

The special occasion was marked on Thursday and Friday with a number of fun events, including games of birthday bingo, classroom quizzes and 1950s costumes to give a true blast from the past.

The main event was an afternoon tea in the hall on Friday, which saw old school friends reunited and reflecting on their time as pupils.

About 120 former students and friends of Ross High School were in attendance, including eight who were part of the school when it first opened in 1954.

Three past pupils at the afternoon tea They were given a tour of the school by current S6 pupils and also looked through displays of old photographs, as well as original class registers.

Some of the guests were excited to see themselves in the memorabilia, while others were looking out for family members, and one former pupil was able to find her late husband’s name on the register.

Eddie White, who set up and managed the table of memorabilia, said: "I was surprised at how many of the class of 1954 were there.

"It wasn’t just themselves, these archives are like a tribute to some of the fallen.

"Heartbreaking times when ex-pupils whose husbands were no longer with us but they wanted to see their husband’s name in the register, to see his home address one more time, to see the parents’ names. That happened at least five times; others where it was elder (or younger) siblings that were being looked for.

Former pupils looking through old registers at Ross High School"On a brighter note, others overheard me reading back the names to people who were looking and fellow classmates (unaware of each other as the years change their looks and accents and social groups) came over and pulled them back into old school networks – very fulfilling."

Guests were also treated to live music and then a production of the Steamie by a group of senior pupils, which headteacher Paul Reynolds said "would not have looked out of place at the Playhouse”.

Live music was performed by Davey Sloan & the Rattlers, an Edinburgh-based band covering hits from the '50s and '60s.

Current students were also encouraged to join in the festivities by dressing up in 1950s clothing and costumes to commemorate the anniversary.

Alex McShane particularly impressed with his 1950s pilot ensemble, and a group of office admin staff collaborated to dress as the Pink Ladies from Grease, complete with Mr Redford as Danny Zuko.

The Pink Ladies and Danny Zuko from Grease made an appearanceA man who attended Ross High School in the 1960s had a special request: to have his photo taken with a sporting trophy he won as a pupil.

He had brought his small shield that he still had, but had never managed to get a picture with the trophy.

Mr Reynolds was happy to fulfil this missed opportunity, saying: "Of course we made that happen."

A past pupil finally got his photo with his trophyScott Sinclair, Moyra Lumsden, Jonie Connel and Mr White worked tirelessly alongside senior pupils, the parent council and the FCT department to organise and run the celebrations across the two days, which all turned out to be “a huge success”.

Mr Reynolds added: "All in all, it was exhausting but very good for the soul."