Memories were shared by students, teachers and alumni to celebrate a school’s golden anniversary.

The Hunts Post: Hartford Junior School 50th Anniversary, (l-r) Year 3 pupil Mika, with mum Willeke Swainston, looking through the old photos,Hartford Junior School 50th Anniversary, (l-r) Year 3 pupil Mika, with mum Willeke Swainston, looking through the old photos, (Image: Archant)

As a part of its 50th birthday Hartford Community Junior School decide to look into the school’s past which came up with some interesting tales from when the school opened on Wednesday, October 21 1964.

Teaching assistant Clare Garrick said: “I wanted get memories from people because I wanted them to feel part of the celebration and to know they had some part of the school and recognise that they are part of the Hartford’s history.”

To find people who had previously worked at the school or were pupils Miss Garrick took to social media to spread her plea.

She said: “It has been really interesting for me to read what people have remembered and look through the photos.

The Hunts Post: Hartford Junior School 50th Anniversary, (centre) Pauline Wilson, (73) who has been at the school since it was built, cutting the cake, with current and former pupils,Hartford Junior School 50th Anniversary, (centre) Pauline Wilson, (73) who has been at the school since it was built, cutting the cake, with current and former pupils, (Image: Archant)

“The pupils have also found it really interesting to see how things have changed; many didn’t know that we used to have a swimming pool.”

On the day ex-pupil Melvyn King was at the school to help unveil a plaque and cut a special cake to mark the occasion.

He said: “I was at Hartford between 1965-1969. I have really good memories of my time there because I had such a good happy time.”

Melvyn recalled the time that he was allowed to pick the books for the library after the council gave the school money to expand their book collection – he has now been in the book business for 47 years.

Another former student Sharon Lacey was delighted to be back at the school that she also worked at as a teaching assistant for 13 years. She said: “I was at Hartford Junior on the first day it opened when I was five-years-old. At that time it was called Hartford County Primary school.”

The memories were displayed at the joint summer fair with Hartford Infants on Saturday (July 12) where hundreds came out to mark the 50th academic year.

Many of those who either worked or attended the school were amazed with the display of old photos, newspaper cuttings, sporting achievements and memoirs that had been found by current staff and pupils.

Some recalled the swimming pool that was replaced by the bike sheds and the famous ‘tea leaf pudding’ made by cook Ivy Cobb while others talked about the time capsule that was buried at the school for the 25th anniversary.

Fair goers were also treated to a tour around the flower beds that were specially designed to mark the birthday with winning designs from a competition being planted.

“We also had belly dancers, archery, zumba, hook the duck and we sung happy birthday to Hartford in the school hall,” said Miss Garrick.