IT is said to be a rare event indeed for two serving key officers of any organisation in the voluntary to have rendered combined service of 100 years.

But that is the remarkable achievement which the Old Rivingtonians' Association is celebrating — with secretary Olive Fisher and treasurer Beverley Davies having been in post for 55 years and 45 years respectively.

Mrs Fisher, nee Sutton, attended Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School from 1954 to 1959 after which she became a qualified librarian.

In the summer of 1963, just four years after leaving school, Mrs Fisher was encouraged to attend an Old Rivs committees meeting by friends. She was already a Sunday School teacher and leader of the Brownies at St Elizabeth's Mission Church and had been told by her mother not to take on any more jobs. Mrs Fisher ignored the advice has has been secretary ever since.

She held the post of president of the association in 1972

Mrs Fisher said: "My Presidential year coincided with the retirement of Alan Jenner has headmaster at Rivington, immediately prior to the grammar school becoming the high school.

"It was my great privilege to deliver a retirement message on behalf of the Old Rivs at a wonderful dinner held at Haigh Hall.

"Other very rewarding and stimulating aspects have been acting as the contact point for innumerable former pupils of Rivington wishing to renew contact with the school."

Mrs Davies, nee Hester, attended Rivington from 1963 to 1969 after which she went on to work in the financial sector making her the perfect candidate for treasurer. Her mother had been association president in 1970.

Mrs Davies said: "There are really too many memorable events and occasions to itemise individually, but my prevailing emotions are of pride and satisfaction when contrasting now and then situations.

"When I started, the association was in pretty dire straits financially, and in some of the early years we had to have whip round at the AGM to pull in the subscriptions there and then, in order to pay off outstanding printer's bills!

"It's quite remarkable to reflect on the great progress we have made as an organisation in the meantime, enabling us to donate over £70,000 to a number of local, regional and national worthy causes as well as making some substantial donations to the fabric of the school, particularly with regard to the old chapel. Especially rewarding from my perspective was the funding of the Jenner Memorial and Old Rivingtonians windows in 2004 and 2005, respectively."

The Association of Old Rivingtonians is amongst the country's oldest former pupils' organisations, having been established in 1904.

Membership is made up of former pupils, staff and governors of Rivington and Blackrod High School, and its grammar school predecessor.

David Kaye, press secretary, said: "Whilst organising its annual programme of reunions and social activities, the association remains mindful of those less fortunate, and all proceeds from these functions are channelled into the President's Charity Fund, which has been operating for some years now, and during 2017 passed its own rather special milestone. "