A reunion committee has been set up to organise the event and it is expected something like 1,000 former pupils will be attending to make it almost certainly the biggest school reunion in the town's history.

The committee, which includes some early pupils, will also be compiling a special booklet about the school's history, and they are asking former pupils to loan them old school photographs and memorabilia.

The school was officially opened in August 1958, but pupils first started attending in April, and many of these will be attending the reunion along with more recent pupils.

The school was built to accommodate Catholic children from various parishes in the district, including St Paulinus, Westtown; St Joseph's, Batley Carr; St Thomas More, Chickenley; St Mary's, Batley; St Patrick's, Birstall; Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike; St Paul of the Cross, Cleckheaton; and St Francis, Morley.

It was built on land known locally as Burking Banks and provided, for the first time, high class secondary school education for Catholic children, whose previous schools had lacked amenities other schools had enjoyed.

Former pupils remember how they had looked in awe at the playing fields of their new school. Previously their playing areas had been covered in concrete or tarmac.

Most of the early pupils are now in their late fifties or early sixties, and many of them also sent their children to the school, and they in turn, sent their children.

It is expected there will be many three-generation families at the reunion – grandparents, sons and daughters, and grandchildren.

If you have any memories or photographs of the school, please contact Christine Senior at the school, 01924 527000 or e-mail her www.stjohnfisher.org.co.uk.