School set for huge party to mark 80th anniversary

Buy photos » Students Holly Stevens, Zoe Jenkins, Molly Densham can’t wait to celebrate the school’s 80th birthday. Picture by Neville Collins 201211NCE Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com

STAFF and students at a Vale school are preparing for a huge party to celebrate its 80th anniversary next month.

Pershore High School will be hosting a celebration of the milestone with an afternoon tea event on Thursday, June 21 and are urging former pupils and staff from the school to visit and make it a day to remember.

The school opened its doors for the first time in January 1932 when it was originally known as Pershore County Senior School and taught a total of 480 children.

The new school should have welcomed its first pupils in the previous September but problems with the building work meant it could not open until a term later. The opening saw 430 pupils first meet headmaster Mr Pardoe and his 13 teachers.

Now the school holds more than 1,500 pupils and during its 80-year history the Station Road school has seen just five headteachers at the helm.

The celebratory events begin at 4.30pm on June 21 and the school's current headteacher Clive Corbett told the Observer it was going to be a great afternoon for young and old alike.

He said: "It is going to be a great occasion and everyone here is working hard and is excited about celebrating the event in style.

"It will be great for all the community to come together and share their great memories of the school. We are lucky here to have such a great history and visitors will be able to see old photographs and memorabilia which best reflect our past.

"We have a new catchphrase saying 'We are proud of its history and are confident of its future' and when you think about it everything we do here plays a big part in the school's history and the future as we are taking care of the next generation's youngsters," he added.

To mark the occasion Mr Corbett is writing a book titled 'Pershore High School - A History of 80 Years' which will be available to buy on the day.

Plans are also in the making for current students to design a special commemorative garden as part of the school's celebrations.

For more information about the event call the school on 01386 552471 or e-mail office@pershore.worcs.sch.uk.

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