As often happens when students leave school, some stay in contact with close friends, some may drift apart over time and some may not keep in touch at all.  The Class of '96 was no different.

Then in 2021, twenty-five years after leaving Hymers College, a few decided to book for the Old Hymerian Hull Annual Dinner.  They mentioned it to a couple more people and suddenly a reunion was planned.  As Covid restrictions were easing, some now living abroad used it as an opportunity to fly over to visit family in the UK at the same time.

A few from the year still lived locally or had returned back to the area.  A couple of months before the Hull Dinner, a few of the girls decided to meet up properly for the first time for many years, to have a catch up over dinner.  A second reunion was squeezed in before the Hull Dinner and friendships had reformed.  By the time the Hull Dinner arrived, more had become reacquainted and by the end of the night, not one but two WhatsApp Groups had been created; one for those still local to the area and one for anyone from the Class of '96.

Over the next few years, the local WhatsApp Group grew and grew, and what started as a reunion for five girls has grown in size.  Now there are 20 members from the local area, and catch up dinners are organised two to three times a year.

Recently, in November 2024, twelve of the group met up for dinner and drinks on Princes Avenue and they shared the above photo.  For two of the group, it was their first time joining the group but it still felt like only yesterday that everyone had been together at school.

Pictured above (L-R): Greg Bone, OH 1986-96, Jane Warne (née Ellison), OH 1989-96, John Muller, OH 1986-96, Vikki Bastiman, OH 1989-96, Rob Reid, OH 1985-96, Vic Strickland (née Vargas), OH 1989-96, Paul Scott, OH 1986-96, Luke Jacobs, OH 1988-96, Julia Watts (née Mitchell), OH 1989-96, Nigel Coyle, OH 1986-96 and John Connolly, OH 1989-96.

Over the summer, a smaller gathering occurred on Humber Street, when the weather was slightly warmer then the most recent catch up in November (see below photo).

The Development Office loves to hear of school reunions.  If you have had a school reunion, or are planning one in the future, please email us (oldhymerians@hymers.org) to let us know how it went and to share your photos.

Pictured below (L-R): Greg Bone, Nick Towers, OH 1986-96, Vic Strickland, Jane Warne, John Connolly, Helen Sivell-Thompson (née Whittaker), OH 1989-96, Vikki Bastiman and Nick Aitken, OH 1986-96.