{"id":452122,"date":"2025-08-31T11:50:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T10:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=452122"},"modified":"2025-09-10T12:40:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T11:40:46","slug":"back-to-peckham-thomas-calton-schools-former-pupils-will-reunite-this-september","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/back-to-peckham-thomas-calton-schools-former-pupils-will-reunite-this-september\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to Peckham: Former pupils of Thomas Calton School will reunite this September"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Former pupils of Thomas Calton School in Peckham will gather for a special reunion on Saturday 20 September, from 2pm to 6pm, at the old upper school on Choumert Road near Rye Lane.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event is being organised by Barry Winters and fellow ex-Caltonians, who came together last year to host their first reunion. The committee includes Barry, Alvin Brown, Yvonne Jackson and Ian (Squashy) Swoish, who all attended the school between 1971-1979.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"473\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Reunion-Comm-2024-473x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Reunion-Comm-2024-473x560.jpeg 473w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Reunion-Comm-2024-236x280.jpeg 236w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Reunion-Comm-2024-123x146.jpeg 123w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Reunion-Comm-2024.jpeg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Thomas Calton reunion committee. Left to right: Alvin Brown, Yvonne Jackson, Barry Winters and Ian Swoish. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The afternoon will include quizzes, games, food and refreshments, a tour of the old school, and live entertainment from south London stand-up comedian Junior Booker, who will be joined by a support act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas Calton had a lower school for ages 11 to 13 on Adys Road in East Dulwich, which is now home to St John\u2019s &amp; St Clement\u2019s C of E Primary School. Students then moved to the upper school, on Choumert Road, between the ages of 14 to 16. Alumni include Chris Eubank Snr, before it was said he was expelled from the upper school.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzY5NTY1NzI1MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"AVoX5B7dbUPDMN3rTS4fX16VxaGQUOepLS4aWl3Yc6PcEWhRuyngjbjvKqihpJZDeR2kd2rtxAB\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"atz7txxwfg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/remembering-the-bon-bonne-herne-hills-legendary-nightclub-and-the-revellers-keeping-its-memory-alive\/\">Remembering the\u00a0Bon\u00a0Bonne: Herne Hill&#8217;s legendary nightclub and the revellers keeping its memory alive<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Remembering the\u00a0Bon\u00a0Bonne: Herne Hill&#8217;s legendary nightclub and the revellers keeping its memory alive&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/remembering-the-bon-bonne-herne-hills-legendary-nightclub-and-the-revellers-keeping-its-memory-alive\/embed\/#?secret=VgotmRJQeT#?secret=atz7txxwfg\" data-secret=\"atz7txxwfg\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The school closed in the late 1980s due to falling pupil numbers at the time. However, the lower building is still a school today and the upper school building is now the Thomas Calton Centre, an adult education centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea for a reunion grew when Barry decided to get in touch with his former secondary school classmates, including his old best friend, Ian \u2018Squashy\u2019 Swoish. The pair met up and reminisced about \u201cthe good old bad days at Thomas Calton\u201d, floating the idea of a reunion.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNjUxMTAxMDQwIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHU5IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Ij4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTknKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1636.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1636.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1636-421x280.jpeg 421w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1636-219x146.jpeg 219w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Thomas Calton reunion in July 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Despite living in Sidcup now, Barry\u2019s job as a surveyor means he covers much of South East London, so he often returns to Peckham. He had a job near Rye Lane last year, just round the corner from the upper school, and decided to take a trip to \u201cthe old place\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The staff at the education centre were thrilled with his proposition for a reunion. Inspired, he decided to bring Caltonian\u2019s back together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the funeral of former pupil David Watt, who sadly passed away in 2024, aged 63, Squashy helped to set the reunion in motion, connecting with other ex-Caltonians at the wake, inspiring them to \u201cto go back to the old school and meet up with some of the old crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first reunion was a great success, with 60 attendees from differing years and classes. This year, Barry, Alvin, Yvonne and Squashy, who attended the school at the same time, have formed a dedicated committee, each taking on a different role to make the day a success.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTI5MjYxMzQ1MCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLast time we had Caltonians going back to the &#8217;60s, we\u2019re from the &#8217;70s and there were some from the &#8217;80s before the school was closed down,\u201d Barry told us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reminiscing on his school days, Barry recalls an interesting school trip to the London Stock Exchange as part of a Thames Television (which was part ITV) programme called This Week. The episode focused on teachers&#8217; pay and on their teacher Chris Eastwood.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"837\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-837x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-837x560.jpg 837w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-419x280.jpg 419w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-218x146.jpg 218w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e-750x502.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TC-Class-3e.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Barry and Squashy&#8217;s class in circa 1973. Christ Eastwood, their teacher is in the middle. Barry is directly to his left and is two to the left of Barry. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Barry recalls watching the trading on the floor from the glass gallery, eating his packed lunch crisps on the steps of the Royal Exchange and being filmed in the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ex-pupils now have a buzzing WhatsApp group and Facebook group and many live all over the world, from Spain to Jamaica and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want everyone who is able to to come for an afternoon of fun and mirth, to refresh memories and rekindle old friendships regardless of what year or class they were in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBring your stories. Bring your laughs. Bring your Thomas Calton pride. Let\u2019s make this reunion one to remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Date:&nbsp;<\/strong>Saturday 20 September<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong>&nbsp;2-6pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;The Thomas Calton Centre, Choumert Road \/ Alpha St,&nbsp; SE15 4NX<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tickets:<\/strong>&nbsp;\u00a323 early bird price, \u00a325 on the day. The ticket price goes towards venue hire, food and drink and entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to pay:&nbsp;<\/strong>Please send payment to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yvonne Jackson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Acc No: 85209694<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sort Code: 60-16-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"uybjilMU5YwJ5sOnD9Cxg4KdufQPtOeMlv2L4pNIfNBzrqmeHVT8DvCwa02tk6I17bHoUAcZZ3oAq83aGLkP9sEpW\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"AoeZFDyhZn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/disabled-people-are-forced-to-slide-down-the-stairs-on-their-bottom-how-peckham-rye-station-is-the-busiest-interchange-in-the-country-with-no-step-free-access\/\">&#8216;Disabled people are forced to slide down the stairs on their bottom&#8217;: How Peckham Rye Station is the busiest interchange in the country with no step-free access<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;&#8216;Disabled people are forced to slide down the stairs on their bottom&#8217;: How Peckham Rye Station is the busiest interchange in the country with no step-free access&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/disabled-people-are-forced-to-slide-down-the-stairs-on-their-bottom-how-peckham-rye-station-is-the-busiest-interchange-in-the-country-with-no-step-free-access\/embed\/#?secret=U6Knb75xL2#?secret=AoeZFDyhZn\" data-secret=\"AoeZFDyhZn\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former pupils of Thomas Calton School in Peckham will gather for a special reunion on Saturday 20 September, from 2pm to 6pm, at the old upper school on Choumert Road near Rye Lane. The event is being organised by Barry Winters and fellow ex-Caltonians, who came together last year to host their first reunion. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19233,"featured_media":452736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"\"Bring your stories. Bring your laughs. Bring your Thomas Calton pride.\""},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"33"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13539,13602,18168,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-452122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-peckham"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=452122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/452736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=452122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=452122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=452122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}