SCHOOLCHILDREN helped to bury a piece of history to mark their school’s first birthday.

Pupils from East Wichel Primary School, at Wichelstowe, were at the Baybury Pub yesterday to place a time capsule in the grounds which they hope will be dug up in 50 years’ time.

The school has been marking its first anniversary and the time capsule included a range of memorable items from lunch menus to predictions from pupils about what they think the future will be like.

The Baybury opened a month ago and manager Debbie Keen said that the community spirit in Wichelstowe is really starting to grow.

She said: “It is great to see the community coming together and we are planning a number of events like this to help that. It has been good working with the school and we also have a tree planting coming up. I think a community pub was needed and there has been a great response from people.”

Headteacher Caroline Henham said the first year has been tough but enjoyable as more children move to the area and join the school.

She said: “It is a special day not only to help commemorate the opening of the pub but also to mark our first year. It has been really exciting to have this going on and the children have all got involved.”

One of the pupils who buried the capsule was 10-year-old Charlotte who said it was exciting to think it would dug up in 50 years’ time. She said: “I think it is a good idea that the community will have this and will be able to see in the future what it is like now. I think it will be very different in 50 years’ time with a lot more houses and much louder.”