Amersham: St Mary's Primary School celebrates birthday

St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Old Amersham marked its 150th anniversary on Friday, September 29 with a parade, a tea party and a church service.

To kick things off, the headteacher Julie Hills rang the newly refurbished school bell before pupils, governors and school alumni dressed in Victorian costumes marched into St Mary’s Church for a service.

The headteacher said: “We wanted to create a day to remember for all our children as well as marking this significant moment in Amersham’s history. Seeing the whole school parading through Old Amersham dressed in Victorian clothes was very special.”

The parade (Image: Michael Greenwood/Dawn Lammin/Anna Peck)

The procession was led by a banner heralding the school’s values created by one of the parents and decorated with leaf made by each of the children and held on a bespoke frame created y Mr Latchford of Amersham’s Men’s Shed.

The children shared memories of Amersham (Image: Michael Greenwood/Dawn Lammin/Anna Peck)

Then the children took to the stage to share their studies of Amersham’s history, with a mention of Amersham Museum’s support. They buried a time capsule with modern memories to be buried on the school grounds.

Among the visiting alumni was a member of the Thames Valley Police Mounted Section.

The children wore historical costumes (Image: Michael Greenwood/Dawn Lammin/Anna Peck)

The school opened officially on September 30 1873 during the reign of Queen Victoria and 19 years before the Amersham station opened as an extension of the Metropolitan Railway.

It cost £1,275 to build at the time, which was funded by local residents and grants from the Diocese of Oxford.