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Connecting different generations for the return fixture

Our Marden Sporting Memories Club welcomed pupils from Leigh Academy Marden to one of their recent sessions, following a visit by Club members to the school last year. 

As part of Sporting Memories increasing inter-generational activities, the Marden Club enjoyed a day of discussions about school and sport from over the decades to the modern day as well as enjoying a series of games together.

Following on from last year

In 2025, the Marden Club made their way to Leigh Academy Marden for a joint session where the students met our Club members for the first time. It was a nostalgic trip back for some of our Club members, as they had been pupils themselves at the school during the 1940s and 50s, when it was known as Marden Primary School.

That day saw the students and our members connect over their memories of the school and enjoying some activities such as teaming up to play boccia and indoor curling together.

The return fixture

After developing a connection between the Marden Club and Leigh Academy Marden, it was decided that another session would take place in May 2026, with the students making their way to Marden Sports Centre where the Sporting Memories are held.

On a pleasant May afternoon, the students made the mile-long walk from the Academy to the Sports Centre to join our Club members for their usual weekly session. The walk by the students led to the first discussion point of the afternoon, with our Club members sharing their stories of back lengthy journeys to get to their schools during their younger days – with the longest being tallied at a 12-mile journey to school – albeit that journey was completed on a bike across the hills of Yorkshire!

The students were also shown images of the school from the 1920s that were shared by Club member Robin Judd. Robin showed the images (shown below) to the current students who asked why no one was smiling in the photos!

The rest of the session saw the students enjoy the company of our members, with the Academy students even helping to serve refreshments to everyone in attendance. As with the first meeting, there were further discussions on sport and school, followed by some games!

This included members and students having a go at boccia, bullseye beanbags and even the old classic shove ha’penny. The shove ha’penny game brought much fascination by the students and they were surprised to learn that halfpenny’s used in the game were once legal tender.

Sue Eltringham, Lead Facilitator of the Marden Sporting Memories Club, enjoyed the students visiting the group’s session by commenting: “It was lovely to welcome everyone from Leigh Academy Marden and our thanks go to the headteacher and the staff at Leigh Academy Marden for supporting the children to take part in a wonderful afternoon of reminiscing and games together.”