Graduates and former students of Saltus Grammar School will be able to find each other in the schools new Alumni Directory from next year.

The directory, scheduled for release in January 2001, will contain the address, education, business and other information about past graduates.

It is expected to be the most complete and up-to-date reference of Saltus' over 2,500 graduates.

To aid in gathering the necessary information, which was once contained in the schools files, Saltus is sending out its first ever Alumni Survey.

"Saltus suffered a disastrous fire in 1976, which burned many of our student records,'' said Development Director Daniel Blagg.

"When I came to the school five years ago, I discovered that many former students' records had been destroyed.'' He added that many of the files he now works with still bare scorch and burn marks.

He said that until now the school has never had the resources to conduct a proper survey.

Headmaster Nigel Kermode agrees that there is a need for the Alumni survey and directory.

"I understand that there are actually 5,000 manila file folders in Mr.

Blagg's care,'' Mr. Kermode said.

"About half record Saltus students from the early days, starting in 1883, and naturally many of those have passed away.

"We are interested in recoding better information about the school's later graduates -- those who attended form the 1920's on, an especially those in the 50's and 60's.'' He added that the fire had destroyed the bulk of the information they had collected from those decades.

Mr. Kermode encouraged all former students to quickly respond and return the questionnaires.

He said: "Improving our alumni database will be another step forward for Saltus and is a process in which all our graduates and former students can participate in.''