TEACHERS and pupils, past and present celebrated 40 years of education at Fordingbridge Junior School at an open day on Friday, September 26.

Cake was cut, tea was served and visitors took a trip down memory lane, looking back over four decades of teaching and learning at the Penny’s Lane site.

Fordingbridge Junior School, which is will be 185 years old next year, moved to its current premises in 1974.

The school opened in 1835 as Fordingbridge Primary School at what is now the Avonway Community Centre Head teacher between 1962 and 1986 Bill Bray was one of the special guests at the open day.

He said: “What I think struck me most were the children. They were just so forthcoming and sophisticated. The little girl who showed me around could have been working at Windsor Castle.

“I loved working at the school, to be honest I used to begrudge the holidays. It was amazing to be back. It was a lovely day and lovely to meet the staff and the children.”

Kim Robertson is the head teacher at Fordingbridge Junior School.