Theresa May joins St Edmund Campion for 50th celebration

A Catholic school has celebrated its 50th year with a visit from Maidenhead MP Theresa May.

St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary, in Altwood Road, opened in September 1963 as St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School. The name change came in the 1970s.

Mrs May, who is also the Home Secretary, visited the school on Friday, April 25, to plant a tree marking its half century.

She also raised an eco-flag to mark the school's commitment to sustainability.

Angela Quinby was in the first class to start the school and her children were pupils there in the mid 1990s.

Angela, whose maiden name is Mangion, described the founding headteacher, Mr Anthony Scott, as a 'gentle giant', who always put the pupils first.

In the early days there was not a computer in sight, times tables were chanted out en masse and the cane could be used to enforce rules.

Despite that Angela said the ties have remained similar, although in the 60s none had the modern clip-on attachments.

Now a senior administrator for a clinical development company, the 55-year-old enjoyed the school dinner routine.

She said: "In those days we used to set tables with eight people per table.

"The dinner ladies used to bring dishes to the table monitor who would serve everybody. It was civilised in those days!"

Angela added: "It's always been a lovely school, a great reputation. It has always got a waiting list. It's started off well and grown from there."

On Saturday, June 7, the school will host an open day for former pupils.

Headteacher Tricia Opalko said: "There will be a chance to look around the school and see how it is today ,plus there will be a chance to relax and catch up with old friends in the evening."

Email ecpta@hotmail.com for more information.