IN February of last year, I told about being contacted by Joe Duffy, of Motherwell, who trained as a marine radio officer at Greenock’s old Watt Memorial School.

A member of the worldwide Radio Officers Association, he had been asked to get information and pictures about the school — located at the corner of William Street and Dalrymple Street — for the ROA’s quarterly magazine.

He told me then: “Part of our website has an area for training colleges and the only UK and Irish one missing is the Watt.

“Most of the Watt students in the ROA sailed with the Clan Line, Brocklebanks, Blue Funnel, Shell, BP and of course the ‘Queens’ of the Cunard Line.” Joe studied for his radio/radar ‘tickets’ at the Watt from 1956-57, then sailed with the Clan Line for two years before returning to Greenock for further study.

My story and a subsequent article illustrated by a picture of cadets at the school sparked the idea for a reunion, and such a gathering will be held next Wednesday.

Eighteen members of the ROA, including one who is 93, will return to the building where they studied for their radio officer ‘tickets’.

While the property’s marine training days ended many years ago, much of its internal layout remains the same so old memories should be easily rekindled.

Provost Robert Moran plans to meet the ROA members during their visit.

My story last February mentioned that the James Watt Memorial Engineering and Navigation School was officially opened by the Dunfermline-born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on 1 June 1908. He had given a considerable sum towards its construction.

It later became known simply as the Watt College. The property closed in the early 1970s when the new Watt College opened in Finnart Street. A couple of years prior to the closure the marine radio classes moved to the new Glasgow College of Nautical Studies.

The accompanying picture shows the college building in earlier times.