Seventy-five-year-old Marieta Rigamoto said the sight of Dudley High School’s former and current students gathering for the school’s 120th anniversary on Friday brought back fond memories.

Mrs Rigamoto was the most senior ex-scholar among others who were at the school on Friday in Suva to celebrate 120 years of existence.

She said she clearly remembered wearing the purple Dudley High School uniform.

“Being here today brings back so many memories of my days here particularly because I was a boarder and one thing I had to get used to was the Indo-Fijian diet, that was my biggest problem,” she said.

During her school days she also learned how to speak Hindi and to respect other cultures.

“I know most of the students from my year have passed on and others may have health problems because of age, but I think more awareness should have been made to other students about the anniversary,” she said.

“It is a big milestone for the school and it’s also a time to reminisce the sacrifices made by the Australian and New Zealand missionaries to establish the school.”

Shubashni Narayan of Sydney, Australia, said she arrived here on Wednesday for the anniversary.

“After hearing about the anniversary on the ex –students Facebook page, my cousin and I decided to attend it since we are both former students of Dudley,” she said.

“I meet a lot of the former students in Australia but it feels very good to see everyone and I even saw some students from my year as well as some of the juniors and seniors today. The event is very well organised.”

Dudley High School Ex-students Association president Asena Tunisau has urged those who were unable to attend the school’s anniversary to attend the school dinner on September 2.

The tickets for the dinner are $50 each. A thanksgiving service will be held at the Dudley Methodist Church on September 3.