SOAP star June Brown - better known as EastEnders' Dot Cotton - returned to her old Suffolk school yesterday in support of a former classmate.The Albert Square favourite, who was born in Needham Market, was at Ipswich High School in Woolverstone together with long-time friend Eva Nussbaum, who was talking to students about her experiences as a Jewish girl growing up in Nazi Berlin and a teenage refugee in the UK.

SOAP star June Brown - better known as EastEnders' Dot Cotton - returned to her old Suffolk school yesterday in support of a former classmate.

The Albert Square favourite, who was born in Needham Market, was at Ipswich High School in Woolverstone together with long-time friend Eva Nussbaum, who was talking to students about her experiences as a Jewish girl growing up in Nazi Berlin and a teenage refugee in the UK.

Ms Nussbaum also planted a commemorative chestnut tree in the school grounds in memory of her family, who all died in Germany.

She first came to Ipswich in the 1930s as part of the Kindertransport programme which took children from the occupied territories during the Second World War and placed them with British families.

She said: “Something like this has never happened in my 81 years. I never imagined that something like this would happen, unless there was some kind of miracle.

“Today has been a miracle. I've had lots of experiences in my life, but this is totally new and very, very special. I loved it. Everyone was so interested in my story. It has been lovely.”

Ms Brown added: “It's like she's coming full circle. Our school wasn't here but it feels familiar and she has somehow found her peace.”

Ms Nussbaum and Ms Brown, who were also joined by their former classmate Mary Hodgson, attended Ipswich High School between 1939 and 1942 when it was based in Westerfield Road.

Headteacher Elaine Purves said it was a honour to be able to welcome the three former pupils back to the school after all these years.

“It's been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “I never imagined it would be quite as emotional or special as it turned out - it was really nice.”