ON an historical evening the Mayor of Abergavenny, Councillor Sam Dodd became the first woman to be formally admitted to the new King Henry VIII?School Former Pupils' Association - the group formerly known as the King Henry VIII Old Boys' Association.

Councillor Dodd, said that as a proud former pupil she was delighted to become a member of the group, but joked that as one of the town's youngest ever mayors she refused to allow anyone to call her an 'old girl'.

A well attended meeting at The Angel Hotel also saw long serving teacher and head of the sixth form at KHS Lynne Morgan made an honorary life member of the association along with former pupils Amy Bradley and Kate Taylor who pioneered the scheme to allow women to join the group and have recently left the school to study at university.

Also awarded the honour were world champion cyclist Rebecca James, Abergavenny Chronicle editor Liz Davies, KHS head girl Kelly Whistance, deputy head girl Charlotte Deering and former pupils Wendy Parduze and Ruth Watkins.

Honorary Associate Membership was awarded to mayoress Mrs Margaret Dodd and Pav Taruschio - just two of the self styled KHS Suffragettes, who attended last year's annual KHSOB dinner.

The inaugural meeting of the FPA saw six new members - including five women - joining with a number of others who were unable to attend the meetings also signing up.

"I hope that we will now see a lot of former women pupils joining and taking an active part in the association," said secretary David Spencer.

The meeting saw current president John Henry Davies re-elected to serve until next February's AGM when the role will be taken on by Councillor Dodd.

For information about joining the KHSFPA contact general secretary David Spencer by email at [email protected]">[email protected] or by ringing 01873 850596.