HUNDREDS of people flocked to Churchfields Academy in Salcombe Grove to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday.

Former students and teachers enjoyed reminiscing on the decades past and enplorng the stalls and activities on offer, including stands selling books, jewellery, cakes, beauty products, make-up and activities including hair-braiding, holistic massage and a bouncy castle.

Among the visitors were Robert Bowles, Andrew Scott and Nicholas Goddard, all 61, who were members of the first year group to join the school, in 1964.

Robert said: “It’s difficult to remember exactly what it was like except that we all had very happy memories.

“They built most of the school round us when we started. We used to come here and there wasn’t a playground or a gym, it was basically a building site with a classroom on it.”

For David Jellis, who taught maths at the school between 1975 and 1986, revisiting the school was also a pleasant trip down memory lane.

“It is nice to think that the work you did here and the students you taught are now part of the history of the school,” he said.

“It’s nice to come back and be a bit nostalgic.”

Esther Newman, who organised the day, said: “It went really well, much better than I ever expected.

“There was a really good turn out and it was great to see so many former students come along.”