More than 400 former staff and pupils – including five headmasters – gathered at a reunion of Tal Handaq, the old Royal Naval Secondary School in Malta.

Around 450 people, representing ten countries including Canada, Malaysia and Australia, travelled to Colerne in Wiltshire to recall their days in the school, which closed more than 25 years ago.

Tal Handaq provided secondary and some primary education for children of British Servicemen as well as children of civilians serving in Malta between 1947 and 1978.

The reunion association is now in contact with 2,200 members, but is always happy to hear from others who spent time at the school - on their books are some married couples who met while teenagers at the school, and others who have rekindled old friendships and since married.

The chairman of the organising committee, Rog Wilkin, said of the attendance: “It is a testament to the happy memories we have of our childhood and teenage years in Malta, and the excellent schooling we received at that time, that so many who attended the school are so enthusiastic about meeting up with old friends and the masters who taught them.”

An associated website is at www.tal-handaq.freeserve.co.uk