IT is 50 years ago since these fresh-faced Hampshire schoolboys turned their backs on cold tapioca pudding and gruelling cross-country runs.

Who could have guessed the next five decades would see them building towns in Hong Kong, saving lives in Bangladesh and serving Queen and country in East Africa?

As well as travelling the world, Toynbee Secondary School’s 1959 class of 4 and 5G have had dozens of children and grandchildren.

The nine pensioners who turned up for their reunion had a lot of catching up to do. They hadn’t seen each other since leaving school but have now vowed to stay in touch.

The old school pals almost missed out on the chance to meet up – until the Daily Echo stepped in. The hunt started when former Eastleigh schoolboy Cliff King found a faded picture in an old box and started reminiscing about old times.

Helped by former classmate Jan Kosniowski he trawled phonebooks and the Internet but was only able to find six of the 14.

After the Daily Echo highlighted his quest another four came forward and Cliff learned that two – Phillip Brown and John Collings – had passed away, Adrian Ward could not make the event and Gordon Brodie lives in South Africa and could not be traced.

The group met at The Crescent Primary School, Toynbee Road, Chandler’s Ford, the site of their old school, for a tour before enjoying a pint in the King Rufus pub.

Dad-of-two, Cliff, said: “It’s been great seeing everyone and it’s brought back lots of memories. It is interesting to see how far people have travelled and the jobs they’ve had – policemen, Government workers, landlords, nurses, architects and engineers.

“It’s great the school has had people go into the world and have terrific careers and it’s thanks to a very good teaching staff.”

The group contacted Ian Millan, their old form master, who is now 80 and living in Tasmania, to tell him about the reunion and received a heartfelt letter which read: “Enjoy being retirees and once again thank you so much for thinking of me, just one fortunate enough to have been a member of the Toynbee Team in the old days.”