Delighted pupils and staff at a Suffolk primary school marked their 50th birthday celebrations in style.

East Anglian Daily Times: Pupils at St Mary's C of E Primary School in Hadleigh with Bishop Mike Harrison and headteacher Andrew Frolish (centre). Picture: NATALIE PRIMMPupils at St Mary's C of E Primary School in Hadleigh with Bishop Mike Harrison and headteacher Andrew Frolish (centre). Picture: NATALIE PRIMM (Image: NATALIE PRIMM)

Five decades after St Mary’s C of E Primary School in Hadleigh was officially opened by Bishop Leslie Brown in 1968, all-signing, all-dancing performers kicked off a day of festivities last week.

During a special assembly on the day itself – March 15 – each class presented work they had put together about the special occasion.

Fifty balloons were used by Year 1 (Oak Class) to make a large hot air balloon sculpture, with their memories of the school in the basket.

Diary entries were also penned by Year 6 (Willow Class) as if they had been there on the day.

In a talk delivered to a crowd of pupils, former students and staff members, headteacher Andrew Frolish thanked everyone for coming and added: “It is a rare and incredible thing to see so many members of a school community, past and present, come together.”