Photos by Linny Folau.

Tupou High School is celebrating its Golden Jubilee in a three-day event that has attracted hundreds of ex-students from overseas. The celebration for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga school began today, Thursday 20 June, with an ex-students march led by the Patron Princess Pilolevu Tuita in central Nuku'alofa.

Bands from the Free Wesleyan Church secondary schools accompanied the march from the Tupou Tertiary Institute at Fasi-moe-Afi to the Centennial Church where a roll call for the alumni and former staff was held.

A launching of  'History of Tonga', a book by John Thomas, a missionary to Tonga in 1826, was held at TTI. The book was compiled by former principal, Rev. Dr Geoff Cummins and edited by Dr. Nigel Statham.

A lunch and entertainment hosted by staff and students followed this afternoon at the Maamaloa grounds. The school's founding principals Dr John Norman and Dr Geoff Cummins spoke about their experiences during their days at Tupou High School, to be followed by a 30 minutes flashback documentary highlighting formative events of the school's history this evening.

On June 21, the celebration will continue at the Vaololoa Campus with a musical concert led by the Tupou High School Choir. Tupou High School hosts a lunch and entertainment with a social evening for alumni.

King Tupou VI is expected to attend a memorial service on Saturday, June 22, that will include the unveiling of a plaque at the vestry where the classes in 1963 began, followed by a Golden Jubilee luncheon and entertainment. The ex-students will conduct their Annual General Meeting in the evening.

The celebrations end on Sunday evening, June 23 with a farewell service.

Were you in the march? If you see yourself prominently in any of our photos, please send us an email with your name and the number of the photo, and we will add your name to the caption. <members [at] matangitonga [dot] to>