Former members of the 1966 class of Sandown's former Fairway Secondary Modern school gather this week - including one person who is travelling to the Island from Malta!

Organiser and former pupil, Carolyne Downer-Smith, has spent around three years contacting her ex classmates, inspired by a former entire school reunion.

Now based in Hertfordshire, Carolyne has managed to track down an impressive 140 people from her year.

Of those, 66 are due to attend this week and they are calling themselves the Fairway 1966ers.

The former students are now scattered around the globe and Facebook has been a vital tool in her search, said Carolyne.

She told the Isle of Wight County Press: "We will spend a couple of hours chatting and reuniting over a cuppa, sandwich and cakes.

"We are all undertaking a tour of what is still standing of our former classes and the bike sheds, before some of them are demolished or refurbished over the next few weeks.

"The reunion will finish with a great majority of us going to Shanklin Theatre to see The Manfreds."

Carolyne is a researcher and historian and says she has enjoyed the experience of getting her former classmates back together.

Sadly, not everyone will be able to attend.

"It has been sad to hear of so many of us having already passed away," said Carolyne, "and some live abroad and cannot attend.

"All-in-all, it should be a great time, full of memories and nostalgia.

"I will have school photos and headmaster's reports on display."

The reunion will be held on Thursday, March 24 and Carolyne will be easy to spot as she plans to dress in 1960s fashion!

Many of the group are also making a longer break of it and plan to meet at the weekend, before another theatre trip, this time to see Omid Djalili.