CLIFF Lane Primary School in Ipswich celebrated its 70th anniversary with songs, games and performances.

A PRIMARY school in Ipswich celebrated its 70th anniversary with songs, games and performances.

The pupils and staff at Cliff Lane Primary School enjoyed a fun-packed day yesterday to mark the milestone.

A special assembly was held where children sang songs created 70 years ago, including Hi Ho, from the 1937 Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Competitions took place throughout the day, with younger children drawing their favourite Disney characters, and the older pupils taking part in a quiz on 1939.

The youngsters also got the chance to enjoy a puppet show, a street party and dug up a time capsule which pupils buried in 1989. There are plans to bury a new time capsule in September.

Everyone dressed in outfits from the 1930s or as Disney characters.

Two large 70th anniversary cakes were also made, and were divided among pupils and staff.

The school was first built in 1939 but before it opened, the start of the First World War meant it became a billeting centre for evacuees.

One of the evacuees who stayed at the centre for five months was 82-year-old Dennis Hart, who visited the school yesterday and led talks about the history of the building.

Mr Hart, who now lives in Essex, went into each class and the children were given the chance to interview him.

Deborah Coleman, history co-ordinator at the school, said: “It has been really fabulous and very successful.

“The children have been learning all about the history of the school and it was very powerful for them to meet Dennis Hart.

“One of the boys in my class, Jack Lacey, said it was the best day of his life.”

Is your school celebrating a milestone anniversary? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.