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The Chalet School #50
The Chalet School Reunion
Grizel Cochrane, one of the original Chalet School pupils, leaves her unhappy home in Australia and comes back to England to sort out various business affairs. She stays with Joey in the Tirol and, to cheer her old friend up, Joey organizes a reunion of Chalet School girls.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
3 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
171 books113 followersElinor M. Brent-Dyer was born as Gladys Eleanor May Dyer on 6th April 1894, in South Shields in the industrial northeast of England, and grew up in a terraced house which had no garden or inside toilet. She was the only daughter of Eleanor Watson Rutherford and Charles Morris Brent Dyer. Her father, who had been married before, left home when she was three years old. In 1912, her brother Henzell died at age 17 of cerebro-spinal fever. After her father died, her mother remarried in 1913.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 12, 2013
This one cracks me up, primarily because it's such a sort of underwhelming exercise. If you've got this far in the series, you're fairly committed to the Chalet School. You get it. You get the whole 'mountains shifting position' and the 'Mary Lou is the second coming' and 'Miss Annersley's pale blue-grey-pink-delete as applicable eyes'. You get that.
But then you get this, and it always feels to me as rather a by the numbers exercise. It is a reunion of the 'foundation stones' of the school, all of those from the Tyrol days, to coincide with the arrival of mean-girl Grizel at Freudesheim.
So why does it get four stars from me? It gets four stars because of the following moments. I shall give you ten and if they do not convince you then I shall eat my hat.
1. The intense discomfort Brent-Dyer has in giving Grizel her 'happy ending'.
2. The 'sturdy young sapling'
3. Frankly the 'sturdy young sapling' and the role it plays in the Grizel / Len incident gets a star for itself.
4. The fact that Sophy Hamel is 'sonsy'.
5. The torturous white bread metaphor that is repeated. REPEATED.
6. THE PONY AND TRAP TO THE SAN THING.
7. Mary-Lou's Pollyanna moment.
8. Bruno's attempt at Seppuku
9. Corney Flower appears in it. This is awesome because she is Corney Flower.
10. The best piece of London geography related flirting you will ever read. "They say, if you walk down Oxford Street, you'll run into someone you know" *bats eyelids*
Seriously, if you have got this far, you owe it to yourself to read this one and to savour the joyous banality and eccentricity that is a book at this point in the series. And if you haven't read any of the others? For God's sake, don't start here. Do anything but start here. It really won't end well.
But then you get this, and it always feels to me as rather a by the numbers exercise. It is a reunion of the 'foundation stones' of the school, all of those from the Tyrol days, to coincide with the arrival of mean-girl Grizel at Freudesheim.
So why does it get four stars from me? It gets four stars because of the following moments. I shall give you ten and if they do not convince you then I shall eat my hat.
1. The intense discomfort Brent-Dyer has in giving Grizel her 'happy ending'.
2. The 'sturdy young sapling'
3. Frankly the 'sturdy young sapling' and the role it plays in the Grizel / Len incident gets a star for itself.
4. The fact that Sophy Hamel is 'sonsy'.
5. The torturous white bread metaphor that is repeated. REPEATED.
6. THE PONY AND TRAP TO THE SAN THING.
7. Mary-Lou's Pollyanna moment.
8. Bruno's attempt at Seppuku
9. Corney Flower appears in it. This is awesome because she is Corney Flower.
10. The best piece of London geography related flirting you will ever read. "They say, if you walk down Oxford Street, you'll run into someone you know" *bats eyelids*
Seriously, if you have got this far, you owe it to yourself to read this one and to savour the joyous banality and eccentricity that is a book at this point in the series. And if you haven't read any of the others? For God's sake, don't start here. Do anything but start here. It really won't end well.
September 6, 2015
When Elinor M. Brent-Dyer and her publishers realized the next book would be the 50th in the Chalet School series, they decided it should be special, so she wrote a story reuniting many of the original pupils, with a special focus on the first (besides Joey), Grizel Cochrane.
Grizel is returning from New Zealand, heartbroken, and breaking her journey with a visit to Jo, before continuing to England to wrap up her late stepmother's affairs. Jo decides to host a house party of old friends, which leads to adventures — amusing, dangerous, and romantic; leading up to a happy ending for Grizel.
This seems an odd book to be part of a children's series, as it includes jealousy, death, and romance. I'm not sure how much I would have liked it if I read it as a child.
Grizel is returning from New Zealand, heartbroken, and breaking her journey with a visit to Jo, before continuing to England to wrap up her late stepmother's affairs. Jo decides to host a house party of old friends, which leads to adventures — amusing, dangerous, and romantic; leading up to a happy ending for Grizel.
This seems an odd book to be part of a children's series, as it includes jealousy, death, and romance. I'm not sure how much I would have liked it if I read it as a child.
August 3, 2016
It turns out the ghastly Maynard triplets have a telepathic connection with their mother - even when they don't go on the actual walk, they manage to experience the horror of Bruno attempting to throw himself off a cliff.
It also turns out that they are doing 'matric' next summer, so it seems the Chalet authorities have listened to my complaints about this and reviewed their public exam arrangements.
This is Grizel's story, of course. At the start she is even more bitter and resentful than when we last met her; by the end, transformed by an accident to her back (a favourite device), she has found romance and happiness. It's a fairly slim story - the appeal is in catching up with lots of old Chaletians (including Miss Maynard, although she's unrecognisable) at Joey's house party.
The story is topped and tailed by termtime but, with the exception of a few meals during the house party, it takes place entirely out of school, centring on Freudesheim. There are a few mildly amusing moments - the lift, Corney's skirt, Sophy's belt buckle - but the major incident is the action-packed cliff-dangling rescue scene. As EBD cliff-dangling rescues go, this one is fairly believable (my absolute favourite is the one in Seven Scamps, when a troop of soldiers just happen to be marching by and can help out) - it harks back to Joey and Elisaveta stringing their vests together in 'Princess'. But, overall, I strongly suspect that those buying the original hardback were more captivated by the cover (showing lots of old Chaletians in Joey's Salon) than the contents.
It also turns out that they are doing 'matric' next summer, so it seems the Chalet authorities have listened to my complaints about this and reviewed their public exam arrangements.
This is Grizel's story, of course. At the start she is even more bitter and resentful than when we last met her; by the end, transformed by an accident to her back (a favourite device), she has found romance and happiness. It's a fairly slim story - the appeal is in catching up with lots of old Chaletians (including Miss Maynard, although she's unrecognisable) at Joey's house party.
The story is topped and tailed by termtime but, with the exception of a few meals during the house party, it takes place entirely out of school, centring on Freudesheim. There are a few mildly amusing moments - the lift, Corney's skirt, Sophy's belt buckle - but the major incident is the action-packed cliff-dangling rescue scene. As EBD cliff-dangling rescues go, this one is fairly believable (my absolute favourite is the one in Seven Scamps, when a troop of soldiers just happen to be marching by and can help out) - it harks back to Joey and Elisaveta stringing their vests together in 'Princess'. But, overall, I strongly suspect that those buying the original hardback were more captivated by the cover (showing lots of old Chaletians in Joey's Salon) than the contents.
May 26, 2025
The very first two pupils of the Chalet School were Joey Bettany and Grizel Cochrane. Now Grizel is returning after years in New Zealand, Jo is determined to hold a reunion for some of the foundation stones of the school. But the weekend leads to far more for Grizel than meeting up with some old friends…
In some ways this reunion is a disappointment - I think almost every reader has a favourite early character who doesn’t appear (mine is Gisela). But in others it’s more of an adult light romance, pitched between Elizabeth Goudge, O Douglas and DE Stevenson, than a school story. Grizel arrives at Joey’s completely worn out by a difficult and frustrated life. She gets rest, friendship, and a late romance with, of course, a doctor. There is something very satisfying about Grizel finally getting her happy ending. Anyone can be a real Chalet girl, and anyone can find a new beginning at any stage of life with a little support. A lovely hopeful read.
In some ways this reunion is a disappointment - I think almost every reader has a favourite early character who doesn’t appear (mine is Gisela). But in others it’s more of an adult light romance, pitched between Elizabeth Goudge, O Douglas and DE Stevenson, than a school story. Grizel arrives at Joey’s completely worn out by a difficult and frustrated life. She gets rest, friendship, and a late romance with, of course, a doctor. There is something very satisfying about Grizel finally getting her happy ending. Anyone can be a real Chalet girl, and anyone can find a new beginning at any stage of life with a little support. A lovely hopeful read.
January 9, 2026
This story is her “50th” Chalet book (there is various numbering for the stories but it is clear this is meant to be the 50th) and she chose an appropriate theme to celebrate 50 books of the series! EBD was an amazingly prolific writer and can justly be congratulated for reaching this milestone. The story is set right after “The Chalet School Triplets” and before “Jane and the Chalet School”. In “Reunion”, EBD gives a follow-up plotline to one of the series’ reoccurring characters, Grizel Cochrane. As fans know, Grizel is a prickly character with plenty of hardship in her past. She is a consistent member of the series from the very beginning, first as one of the first students, then as a leader and eventual Head Girl, followed by becoming one of the CS teachers. Plagued by an unhappy existence, it seems as if she’s one of those people who will never find happiness in life. One interesting note: the beautiful cover is depictions of all the Old Girls at the reunion, and there is a key to who everyone is (you’ll need a magnifying glass to read the names if you have the GGBP paperback version).
Storyline:
The school is in the Oberland (Switzerland) when Joey finds out that Grizel will be coming for a visit after many years and personal hardships. Joey decides to hold a reunion of Grizel’s classmates from the first year or so of the Chalet School as a surprise for Grizel. Many old and familiar names are able to come to the reunion. Grizel arrives beaten down, but begins to perk up under the TLC she receives from Joey and Company. There are many fun reminiscing events, and many excursions around the area for all the friends. It’s not an EBD book without some accident, this time to Len Maynard. Grizel is severely injured rescuing her. Her accident leads to a time of recovery and self-reflection, as well as reacquainting herself with a newly met friend. Mary-Lou makes a brief appearance, herself struggling, but she is able to help Grizel even though dealing with her own pain. The story wraps up with a happy ending for Grizel, a long time coming. This is one of EBD’s best.
Storyline:
The school is in the Oberland (Switzerland) when Joey finds out that Grizel will be coming for a visit after many years and personal hardships. Joey decides to hold a reunion of Grizel’s classmates from the first year or so of the Chalet School as a surprise for Grizel. Many old and familiar names are able to come to the reunion. Grizel arrives beaten down, but begins to perk up under the TLC she receives from Joey and Company. There are many fun reminiscing events, and many excursions around the area for all the friends. It’s not an EBD book without some accident, this time to Len Maynard. Grizel is severely injured rescuing her. Her accident leads to a time of recovery and self-reflection, as well as reacquainting herself with a newly met friend. Mary-Lou makes a brief appearance, herself struggling, but she is able to help Grizel even though dealing with her own pain. The story wraps up with a happy ending for Grizel, a long time coming. This is one of EBD’s best.
July 14, 2021
This is the 50th book in the series and was written as a celebration of that fact. Not the place to start if you’ve never read any Chalet School books before. For the fan a nice ending for Grizel who never seemed to have the luck the others had. Also enjoyed the article about Sophy in the GGB edition.
January 4, 2024
Satisfying because Grizel gets an ending; unsatisfying because to get it she has to lose all her Grizel-ness, boo. Also starts holding forth about pronunciation of Grizel as Grizelle (stress like 'gazelle') which has never been mentioned before so too late, our family says Grizzle and always will
October 30, 2019
One of the best!!!
March 18, 2020
I enjoyed this. I always felt that EBD was rather mean to poor Grizel who had a really rough start in life. Perfect reading for a day in bed with what may or not be the pandemic virus.
April 6, 2024
Loved having Grizel as a major character again. Even if her personality is unrecognisable!
May 31, 2024
A good catch up with old characters, with the usual EBD mixing up names etc.
February 20, 2025
I enjoyed hearing about Grizzel, but found the endless drama irritating and found myself gliding over some of them
December 16, 2025
One of my favourites of the series.
January 7, 2026
There are some good parts and some really quite poor parts. So many great characters were brought back for this book, and then ended up barely appearing at all. I did enjoy Grizel’s story though.
September 24, 2025
This was one of the earliest Chalet School books I read almost 50 years ago and despite not being a school story at all , plus lots of characters and past events that were unknown to me , I still loved this book!
SPOILERS
Shortly after reading this book and a few others from the later years in the series I managed to buy second hand copies of Jo and the Chalet School, and Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School in the Armada paperback editions,so these tied in with’Reunion’.
I was always touched by Grizel’s unhappiness (Grizel’ssuicidal thoughts, the scene where she breaks down in tears on finding the tears in her bedroom at Joey’s and her engagement, all remained with me ,even though in many of the CS books I read originally 50 years ago I often only recalled one sentence or one event from the book).
When I read the earlier books with Grizel as a schoolgirl and young adult and realised what a difficult time she had, I appreciated even more that EBD finally gave Grizel her happy ending.
Oh, and then there is the cover with a group of smart , happy females with no male in sight - except for Bruno the dog.
SPOILERS
Shortly after reading this book and a few others from the later years in the series I managed to buy second hand copies of Jo and the Chalet School, and Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School in the Armada paperback editions,so these tied in with’Reunion’.
I was always touched by Grizel’s unhappiness (Grizel’ssuicidal thoughts, the scene where she breaks down in tears on finding the tears in her bedroom at Joey’s and her engagement, all remained with me ,even though in many of the CS books I read originally 50 years ago I often only recalled one sentence or one event from the book).
When I read the earlier books with Grizel as a schoolgirl and young adult and realised what a difficult time she had, I appreciated even more that EBD finally gave Grizel her happy ending.
Oh, and then there is the cover with a group of smart , happy females with no male in sight - except for Bruno the dog.
June 29, 2025
The main character in this book is Grizel Cochrane. At the start of the story she’s emotionally drained, possibly heading towards a breakdown. Her business in New Zealand has folded, her best friend has got married, and her stepmother in the UK has died.
Brent-Dyer created a complex and three-dimensional character in Grizel. In earlier books she was often bad-tempered and cranky; but she shows herself courageous and likeable in this book and the ending, while somewhat predictable, is satisfying.
It's not an essential book to read for those more interested in the Chalet School itself. It would be an odd one to read if not familiar with the earlier books, too, as there's quite a cast of people involved.
However, as a long-term fan of the series, I enjoyed it very much - it must have been twenty years or more since I last read it, and I'd entirely forgotten the storyline.
Brent-Dyer created a complex and three-dimensional character in Grizel. In earlier books she was often bad-tempered and cranky; but she shows herself courageous and likeable in this book and the ending, while somewhat predictable, is satisfying.
It's not an essential book to read for those more interested in the Chalet School itself. It would be an odd one to read if not familiar with the earlier books, too, as there's quite a cast of people involved.
However, as a long-term fan of the series, I enjoyed it very much - it must have been twenty years or more since I last read it, and I'd entirely forgotten the storyline.
December 28, 2015
I enjoyed the idea of this book and the telling of it. However Grizel has never been one of my favorite characters so I found this a difficult one. I wanted a bit more exploration of the darker side of her character. However I did enjoy most of the exploration of the triplets being more grown up and interacting with the grown ups.
April 6, 2013
I enjoyed this book. Yes somewhat old fashioned by today's standards but an enjoyable read. A happy ending is a requirement with none of the ambiguousness that can be part of today’s fiction for teens.
May 20, 2009
I really didn't care for this one - Grizel always was and still is a bit of a wet blanket.
March 24, 2016
Very thin on story line, but oh how I still enjoy reading this series
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews