Founders Day celebrations in June.

It all began, says Saltus spokesman Daniel Blagg, when the late Harry Cox told him, "You ought to be checking on these British boys who came out here during the war.'' Those British boys -- many of them from the country's leading families -- were sent to Bermuda to escape World War II. "Quite coincidentally,'' says Mr.

Blagg, "our maintenance men were clearing out the attic in the senior school hall and found these rather ratty old boxes, some of them still bearing burn marks from the fire that swept through part of the school in 1976. Luckily, they did survive that fire!'' Inside were photographs and records of `war evacuees', or children from the families of service or censorship personnel, who attended Saltus Grammar School between 1939 and 1945.

"These records had never been entered in the alumni files and I suppose they were put aside and everyone forgot about them. It must have been agonising for the parents to send their children out of the country, to cross an ocean that was full of enemy shipping.'' Mr. Blagg, who has since been in contact with several of the `old boys' on the list (including Lord Lever who has written his reminiscences of his time at the school), is hoping that as many `old boys' as possible will attend the June celebrations. "Even those who, for one reason or another, are unable to come, are contributing some kind of memoir. The response, so far, has been really amazing.'' In addition, Saltus would like to hear from people who were either at the school, or old boys who served in World War II, to contact him as soon as possible. "We are also pursuing two projects through the English and History Departments, gathering oral reminiscences and, hopefully, the school will eventually publish reminiscences about this war period. I don't know of any other project that has covered this era. It seems to be a part of Bermuda's history that has never really been explored. I'm sure, for instance, that other schools also received evacuees. Some of the children,'' he adds, "endured appalling danger to get here.'' Anyone who would like to help or provide information is asked to contact Mr.

Blagg at 292-6177.

REMEMBERING THE OLD-BOYS -- A V.E. Day, 1945, parade makes its way down Front Street. The photo was part of a find of old memorabilia relating to Saltus Grammar School during the war years.