A group of women were devastated when they turned up at their former school for a reunion – only to find it had been demolished.

Marie Burdett organised for ex-pupils of Chapter School for Girls in Cliffe Road, Strood, from the 1950s to the 1980s to visit the site after Taylor Wimpey sent an open invite for ex-pupils of neighbouring Temple School to have a look round before it gets pulled down to make way for housing.

But on asking the developer about the Chapter site and arranging a visit for Wednesday last week, wires got crossed.

Miss Burdett, 47, said: “Just a few days before, I found out it was already being pulled down. We couldn’t believe it.”

It turned out the only land Taylor Wimpey owns is Temple’s, while Medway Council owns Chapter and began their demolition earlier this month.

"It’s so disappointing. We just wanted to walk back through the halls, remember what wonderful times we had, and have one last photo of us all outside." - Marie Burdett

The mum-of-five from Borstal added: “We’re all devastated. A couple of us took a brick from the rubble as a memento, but it’s so disappointing.

“We just wanted to walk back through the halls, remember what wonderful times we had, and have one last photo of us all outside.

“There is a time capsule somewhere on the site too, and the builders have said they would let us know when they come across it. So fingers crossed they do.

“It would have been nice of the council to let us know when the demolition was happening like Taylor Wimpey did for Temple.”

What was meant to be a large meeting, with people from across the country coming along, saw only six attend after hearing the news.

Some like Julie Robinson were “terribly upset”. Having moved to Australia she had planned a visit back to Medway in the next couple of weeks expecting to see the building before demolition started.

Miss Burdett is now looking to arrange a bigger reunion, even without the school standing.

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