TODAY'S Memories spread is an absolute treat and features pictures that will transport you back to schools days in the 1970s and 80s.

They are part of a newly-digitised collection of more than 300 photos of Gilberd School students and have been kindly sent in by Jonathan Moran.

They belong to Eddie Ross, who taught modern languages at the school from 1966 until the late 80s.

Until recently, he continued to work at the Gilberd's former North Hill site for the Colchester Sixth Form College.

"Mr Ross always took a keen interest in the wellbeing of students and spent almost his entire career at the school," said Mr Moran.

"He only recently stopped teaching at the sixth form college and was still providing pastoral support to students right up until the pandemic hit earlier this year.

"During his time at the school, he organised a number of school trips.

"Fortunately, he took a lot of photos which have recently been scanned and he has kindly shared them with the Gilberd School archive.

"Deputy head James Mitchell now has copies of all these photos and hopefully quite a few will feature at some point on the Gilberd Archives Facebook page (facebook.com/gilberdarchives).

"We’d love to put names to faces so perhaps there are some past pupils out there who will recognise themselves and their friends."

The Gilberd maintains a large photographic archive and they are always looking to add new content.

Old Gilberdians who have photos or film from their time at school to share can send it directly to the school at archives@gilberd.com