Corridors alive with sounds of centenary happiness

18 November 2009

Pictured from left are pupils Robert, Jasmine, Tharshika, Mark, Vanessa, SDorcha and Ameelia in period dress

THE CORRIDORS and classrooms were ringing with the sounds of celebration as one of Newham's oldest schools marked its 100th Birthday.

Staff, children and former pupils and head teachers all joined in for a mammoth party at St Winefride's RC Primary School in Manor Park last week

It marked the occasion with a special Centenary Mass led by Bishop Thomas the Bishop of Brentwood. He blessed statues of St Winefride from Holy Well for each of the classes. Some of the children dressed in Victorian outfits to welcome guests.

The celebration included a buffet chool in which some of the parents dressed in WWII outfits and prepared a special buffet from the 1940's. Children commemorated WWII with a presentation, highlighting that St Winefride's pupils were evacuated to Norfolk and Cornwall and that every child survived the war despite constant bombings of the area.

The school was opened on August 23 1909 The celebrations are the first part of three events set up to mark the Centenary.

Full story by Kay Atwal in this week's Recorder.