Pebsham School celebrates in Seventies style

There was a party atmosphere to the final assembly of the week at Pebsham Community Primary School this afternoon.

And with good reason.

The school is celebrating its 30th anniversary and staff and pupils had some surprises in store for some special guests.

Sandra Simmons (nee Barraclough) is the school's "oldest" pupil. She had travelled from her home in Liverpool to take part in the celebrations.

Jason Tilbury was also an original pupil.

Ann Gallatly was the first deputy head and Sally Clark and Yvonne Halder among the first teachers.

Christine Blatchly was an original teaching assistant, Mary Hoy its first assistant cook, Thelma Nance its first crossing patrol lady, Marlene Peddlesden an original dinner lady.

All had places of honour at the assembly together with original head teacher Bob Platt and his wife Judith.

A special "throne " had been created for the lady without whom the school might never have existed.

As last week's Observer anniversary feature explained, it was Megan Traice as ward councillor and Tom Tyler as priest at St Michael's Church who organised a survey of Pebsham and east Bexhill to prove to the county education authority that Pebsham needed a new primary school.

The children launched the proceedings with a rousing rendition of the school song.

Jelly and cake were served, 30th anniversary party balloons were everywhere as head teacher Pat Strickson told pupils gathered in the school hall: "We have some absolutely amazing people here today'¦"

Introducing Mrs Traice to the children, the head said: "If it had not been for her work we would not be here at all. We would be in other schools, doing something else."

Pupils "signed" Happy Birthday in sign language as others set off party poppers. Megan Traice was presented with a bouquet and invited to cut a birthday cake bearing the school badge.

But despite the tank-tops and the other Seventies costume, it was not all a case of looking back.

Class by class, starting with the eldest children, the Eagles, pupils brought forward the offerings they had prepared for a chest. They have been looking to the future. Into the chest - to be opened by a future generation of pupils celebrating the 40th anniversary in 2018 - they put items to tell them what 2008 was like.

Everyone in the school had signed the Eagles' autograph album.

The Owls brought pictures of work taking place in the school, a lucky owl figure and a CD of pupils singing.

There was a record of typical 2007 Christmas gifts by the Kites. The Kestrels left a Happy 40th Birthday message for their successors, the Swifts a picture of the entire class, the Robins a copy of the book If The World Was A Village and the Wrens a class picture and Bob the Builder.

Bob the First Headmaster, whose initial tasks had extended to choosing the hall curtains, was the first to see the joke.

He reminded today's children of his expectations expressed at the first assembly 30 years before - "To be happy, to be helpful and to work hard."

Two pupils recited the school prayer. And for Bob Platt the school sang the end-of-day song from his era "We are going home."

For visitors like Sandra Simmons an afternoon of pure nostalgia ended with a conducted tour of a school much enlarged from her day.

Sandra attended the original portable classrooms at Chantry School while Pebsham was being completed.

She said: "It was a lovely school. I was very happy here; very different from my old school in Yorkshire."

Thelma Nance came to Pebsham School after being "lollipop lady" at St Peter and St Paul School.

"Turning out to come here today in the rain was quite like old times!"

She liked working at Pebsham so much that after quitting the crossing patrol post she worked as school cleaner.

There was one place Mary Hoy wanted to see - the kitchen. "I was assistant cook here for 25 year. It was always a lovely friendly school."

Jason Tilbury said: "I remember it was a great school. Play-time was my best part of the day. When we played football Mr Platt used to join in.

"It was really good fun here."