A FORMER prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and a BAFTA award-winning author were among the guests as pupils and staff at Chesham High School learned about what makes them unique.

Lessons at the White Hill school were cancelled as students took part in a special humanities day on the theme of 'Who do you think you are?' on Monday.

One of the discussions on tolerance, called 'Tribe or Prejudice', brought together former Guantanamo detainee and best-selling author Moazzam Begg and ex-far right activist Andy Sykes.

It also featured contributions from several community groups from around the south Bucks area.

A lecture by science writer Dr Simon Singh looking at the Big Bang and black holes was among the other highlights of the day.

Students also found out about their genetic heritage and took part in Sitar lessons in the music department and lessons in Chinese, Urdu, Czech and Russian.

Chesham’s Silver Surfers Group came to the school library to investigate their own family histories via the internet.

The event was arranged by Dr Siobhan Bygate, the school's Community Development Manager, and her two assistants David Batsman and Ria Martin as part of the school's programme as a Humanities Specialist Status School.

Dr Bygate said: “This is the first time we’ve done a humanities day for everyone in the school in one day.

“It’s been a great success to examine cultural communality and diversity with the help of some major names and local specialists, yet still find room for such groups as Chesham’s Silver Surfers club.”