HUNDREDS of former staff and pupils celebrated the 90th anniversary of a Winchester school last Friday – including one couple from the other side of the globe.

Stanmore Primary hosted its “Giant Tea Party” to mark the occasion which saw an attendance of more than 250 people across the day.

Special guests included the grandson of the school’s first headteacher, Ian Dart, who had travelled from from Victoria in Australia, Ernie Nunn, aged 95, who started at the school in the year it opened (1929), and Margaret Cole MBE, who was the lollipop lady at the school for 40 years.

Chris Lindsay, who has been a governor at Stanmore Primary for ten years, said: “This school is, of course, a building! But it is much more than that to the people who have memories here.

“It’s a place of play, a place of work. It’s a place to have fun, and a place to develop. But most importantly, it is a key part of the community up here in Stanmore, and I am very please to see such an excellent turnout.”

Guests were invited to walk around the school grounds to view displays of old photographs, and some pieces of work created by the current pupils.

Towards the end of the afternoon, speeches by Mr Lindsay and the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Eleanor Bell, were given in the school hall. The speeches were followed by entertainment from the children.

Cllr Jamie Scott, who attended the school between 1969 and 1975, once worked as a teaching assistant, and is now a governor of Stanmore Primary, said: “This school has played a massive part in my life. I’ve had some amazing times here both as a child and as an adult.

“It’s fantastic to see it still going so strong, and to still be so heavily involved. Some things have changed substantially as you can imagine, but looking around still brings back some fantastic memories that I’ll cherish forever.”

A plaque to commemorate the opening of the school 90 years ago has now been installed.