THE SCHOOL holds surprisingly happy memories for reunion organiser David Hellier.

A 'naughty boy', he was sent to the school in 1985, but now admits he owes so much to the school, its staff and the 'happy band of brothers' he discovered at Nash Court.

He's convinced the time he spent there played a vital part in his development and that of other pupils who had been labelled 'drop-outs' by society.

The school, a residential establishment for 'difficult' boys from all over the country, was bought in the late 70s from the National Association of Boys Clubs, by the owner of Fishmore Hall School in Ludlow. It later merged with a similar establishment for girls in Worcester.

Dave, now 32, said, "My brother was sent there and it sounded great. I wanted to go as well, so two mates and myself played up a bit at home and we got sent there too.

"Most of us were labelled unteachable, untameable and drop-outs from society, but put together in an equal environment, surrounded by caring teachers and staff and a motley collection of 'brothers in arms', we were a big, happy family.

"We have all done well for ourselves since then and we are proud of what we have achieved since our Nash Court days."

He said, "I love talking to my children about the antics we used to get up to. I don't ever want to forget those days, so I set up a website to keep us together and the response has been fantastic," he added.

Nash Court, midway between Tenbury and Clee Hill, was originally built as a residential school by headmaster, Henry Lucas Oakley in 1846. It was later sold into private ownership.

When the National Association of Boys Clubs took over the building in late 1948, it became a training base and camp site for staff and members of the Boys Brigade. A stained glass memorial window in St John the Baptist Church is dedicated to the work of the Association.

Brian Donnelly, of Greater Manchester, went there in 1974 on a Liverpool Missions Outward Bound Course and made friends with Peter Blanken and Keith Sinnott. They still keep in contact.

He recalled, "It was part of a team building exercise and we found ourselves tackling a tough obstacle course, crossing water-filled quarries on rope lines, and taking on the mud- filled assault run."

The school was shut in 1991 when cut-backs in local authority funding saw numbers falling off.

Complete with swimming pool, sports fields, tennis courts and a range of wooden out-buildings, it was finally sold by the liquidators, and has since been restored and renovated.

Memories of life in the Teme Valley still linger for Dave Hellier and the 'nice but naughty boys' from Nash School - as they do for the Tenbury Air Cadets, who met in the WI hut at Burford - cross-country running through the foothills of Clee, soccer matches against Ludlow lads, fishing in the estate pool, and, with permission, painting 'graffiti style' on the corridor walls.

"These are just the tip of a very big memory iceberg and it was all new to us townies," said Dave. "We had never held a fishing rod before, or played conkers, or swam in a stream, and when our families came to visit us we went into Tenbury and Ludlow where everybody was always very kind and friendly.

"You don't forget the good times in your life, and staying in touch is important.

"Some of the staff like Alma, the cook from Ludlow, and teacher Peter Kurkas, from Tenbury, still live in the area so we are now returning with our own families because this is where it happened for us."

"We were taught the basics of good behaviour, and learned to build on it. It's a great shame that schools like Nash are rapidly being depleted by government.

"In my experience, they do a lot of good."