Thanks to the Ross Gazette, there has been a reunion in Fiji between a former teacher in Ross-on-Wye and one of his pupils.

Her Excellency Melanie Hopkins, a former pupil at Bridstow Primary School and John Kyrle High School, and now British High Commissioner for Fiji, Tonga, and much of the South Pacific, welcomed Jim Herbert, Melanie’s former Head of Year 7 at John Kyrle to her new home.

Jim lived and taught in Fiji for two years as part of the Voluntary Service Overseas scheme where he met Ann Hoddell, also teaching with VSO. On returning to England in 1976 they got married, and moved back to the Ross-on-Wye area. Ann worked with her father, John, on the family farm at Lewstone, while Jim continued to teach.

Jim told the Ross Gazette that he had planned to return to Fiji with his wife Ann to celebrate 40 years of marriage, with five friends who had also been volunteer teachers at the same time. He said:?“Imagine our surprise on reading the Ross Gazette in June to discover that a former pupil from Ross, Melanie Hopkins, had just been appointed as the Representative of the Queen and the British Government in Fiji and the South Pacific.”

Through the Gazette, Jim was able to contact Melanie and they arranged to meet in Fiji in October.

After a memorable holiday in Fiji, visiting schools and meeting old friends, the group of former volunteers were entertained to lunch at the residence of the British High Commissioner overlooking Suva Bay, hosted by Melanie and her husband Allessandro.

They discussed the changes in Fiji over 40 years; bigger and better equipped schools, tar-sealed roads and busier towns, but always the same beautiful country and the same warm welcome.

They also discussed Melanie’s plans for her three year posting; trade talks around sugar exports, the effects of climate change, so devastating in the South Pacific region with more cyclones and coral islands disappearing under sea water, and forging stronger links with Britain following Brexit.

Melanie would also like to build links between Ross-on-Wye and Fiji. Jim told the Gazette:?“She is still very much a Ross girl, one who has built an incredibly successful career with the diplomatic service, having also had postings in Cuba and Geneva. Melanie is an excellent example to other young people in Herefordshire.”

He added that Melanie’s example shows that you do not have to live in London or the South East, or go to a public school to become a high achiever.