SOME 50 years after the creation of King Henry VIII Comprehensive, which saw the amalgamation of the town's boys' and girls' grammar schools as well as the private St John's School, female former students are to be invited to become members of the King Henry VIII Old Boys Association.

King Henry Vlll's School Old Boys' Association was founded in November 1923 and now, fifty years after the school admitted its first female students, the Association has decided the time has come to ring the changes and extend its membership to girls that attended the school in that time.

At a well-attended AGM held last year the resolution was carried unanimously and next month an EGM will be held to officially launch the newly named King Henry Vlll School Former Pupils' Association.

It is hoped the meeting will attract women and men who want to take an active part in the new association.

David Spencer, the association's general secretary said: "This is a very exciting time for King Henry Vlll's School Former Pupils' Association which, has voted for a change that has been requested by the women ever since the school became comprehensive in the early sixties. 

"It will breathe new life into the activities of the association and introduce new ideas and events, which I for one hope will mean that the new association will go on to at least reach its centenary in 2023."

• Some of the invited former women pupils who attended the KHSOB annual dinner - Lynne Morgan, Wendy Parduze, Margaret Dodd, Charlotte Deering, Amy Bradley, Pav Taruschio, Ruth Watkins, Kelly Whistance and Hazel Watkins.