STARS of the big screen are due to present prizes to a group of children at an Ipswich school.Actor John Alderton, famous for his role in the comedy series 'Please Sir' and his wife Pauline Collins of 'Shirley Valentine' fame, will be guests of honour at Amberfield School's Founder's Day on Friday .

By Georgina James

STARS of the big screen are due to present prizes to a group of children at an Ipswich school.

Actor John Alderton, famous for his role in the comedy series 'Please Sir' and his wife Pauline Collins of 'Shirley Valentine' fame, will be guests of honour at Amberfield School's Founder's Day on Friday .

Alderton, who can currently be seen staring in the hit movie Calendar Girls, first discovered a connection with the Nacton area while researching his family history for a book he is writing.

During his research, he discovered that one of his ancestors was an inmate of Nacton Workhouse – a building which now forms part of Amberfield School - and is buried in a pauper's grave in the grounds.

It was during a visit to the site earlier in the year when the couple agreed to return as guests of honour for the special ceremony where John will present the prizes.

'Please Sir' was set in the fictional Fenn Street Comprehensive and followed the adventures of teacher, Bernard Hedges, who was played by John Alderton.

Hedges was usually seen trying to teach the notorious 5C, whose nickname for him was 'Privet'.

The series began in 1968 in black and white, but soon transferred to colour. John Alderton left the series in 1971 and 'Please Sir' ran for one more season after that, before spawning another series called 'The Fenn Street Gang'.

Collins appeared last Sunday in ITV1's Agatha Christie adaptation 'Sparkling Cyanide'.