Mr Jackson, of Foxearth, Dick Colson of Long Melford, Harold Cooper of Gestingthorpe and Fred Pawsey of Cavendish all attended the Sudbury Grammar School school in School Lane during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

They have stayed in contact ever since, a friendship spanning an incredible eight decades.

Mr Jackson, Mr Colson and Mr Cooper went into farming, while Mr Pawsey became a teacher, working at local schools, including Hedingham School, where he was headmaster.

School did not make such an impression on the young Bob, who had to cycle in from Bridge Street every morning.

"They were strict in those days," he said. "I got the cane most mornings."

"He wasn't keen," added son David. "He would rather have been on his tractor, and he took any excuse not to go in."

Working in the farming world meant that they often bumped into each other, with Mr Jackson and Mr Colson in particular enjoying a great friendship over the decades.

The four have seen each other become married men, fathers, grandfathers and even great-grandfathers as the years have passed.

As well as long friendships, Mr Jackson has also enjoyed a lengthy marriage. Mary, his wife of 62 years, joined him at the party, along with son David, daughter Liz Newton, and most of their six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

catherine.mcmillan@

sudburytoday.co.uk