The first Asian pupil in a school that is set to close in the summer has told of his time there.

Subhash Chudasama, 60, came forward after he discovered Beardwood Humanities College, Blackburn was organising a final reunion for all pupils.

Under the Council’s Building Schools for the Future scheme the Preston New Road school was put up for closure.

Staff at the school have been organising a large scale reunion at King George’s Hall and had asked former pupils to get in touch.

Subhash, who now lives in Preston but attended the then Billinge Grammar School from 1965 to 1970, said: “I had to come to England as a refugee and I first came to Blackburn.

”I remember my first day at school. It was a very cold, smoggy and dark cloudy, rainy day. At break time we were given a quarter of a pint of cold milk free of charge. It was so cold in school I had to wear a vest, shirt, pullover, jacket and an overcoat. I was the only Indian in the whole school, so I had no Indian friends.

“I was feeling homesick, but I quickly made friends with people there.”

Subhash left school with six O-levels, the equivalent of high grade GCSEs, and three A-levels.

He went on to Staffordshire Polytechnic and studied for an honours degree in electronic engineering.

He said: “Before I was admitted to school I was first interviewed by the headmaster, Mr Griffin. He said: ’Subhash if you want to be accepted by this school you will also have to study French and Latin’. I accepted and in the first year I got 99 per cent in Latin, which surprised my schoolmates.

“The reason I got 99 per cent is because in Latin the verb comes a the end of the sentence. That is same as my mother language, Gujarati. So when I had to translate in my head it was easy to translate from Latin to Gujarati to English and vice-versa.

Subhash said: “I’m sad the school is closing but the reunion will be be a very happy occasion and I would love to see old friends and possibly staff.”

The 'Big Reunion' is to be held on Saturday June 16. The event is presently sold out.