A Burnham-On-Sea school which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year has being attracting former pupils, parents and teachers with an exhibition charting its history.
Stephen James, head teacher at St Andrew’s School in Dunstan Road, opened the doors this week to let local people join in with the celebrations.
A range of books, photos, posters, memorabilia and even old school desks went on show at the school.
The items showed how the school has developed from the one founded by Burnham benefactor George Reed (the man behind The Reed’s Arms and Pier Hotel) a century and a half ago.
In addition to old school sketches and artefacts, there were also former attendance records on display, much to the interest of former pupils.
John Smith, pictured right, who was a pupil at the school from 1939-1942, said the exhibition had been a “trip down memory lane which stoked up all kinds of happy memories for me.”
The school, originally called the National School, was initially based at the top of College Street at the junction with the Esplanade and opened in 1856. Following WW2 it was renamed St Andrew’s after the parish church with which it had links. In March 1973 the school moved to its current site on the former Coronation Field in Dunstan Road.
A brand new tea towel showing the drawn faces of all the current pupils also was also on display at the exhibition to commemorate the event. Rebecca Adderson, 9, is shown holding the collectable item.
During the week, a time capsule filled with memorabilia from the school – including a school uniform, computer disc, plus school equipment such as rulers and pencils – was buried. It will be unearthed in 50 years’ time.
