Sherborne Abbey CE Primary School celebrated a special milestone last week – 25 years since the official opening of its current site on Lenthay Road. The original ceremony in 2000 was marked by a royal visit from HRH Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who unveiled the school’s new home.
While no royal representatives were in attendance this time, the celebration was no less joyful. Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher welcomed many staff members who were part of the school when it first opened its doors 25 years ago, with familiar faces returning to mark the occasion.
The event was made even more special with an early birthday celebration for Sheila, a resident at Trinity Care who will turn 100 in the coming weeks.
The school community gathered for a morning of performances and reflections. The choir delighted the audience with songs, and pupils from Years 5 and 6 gave a preview of numbers from their upcoming production. The school’s musical theatre group also took to the stage, followed by Year 3 pupils who read a specially written ode to Sheila. The poem reflected on the many changes she has witnessed in her lifetime, with a particular focus on her remarkable wartime service at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker.
The day also included the unearthing of a time capsule buried in 2000 when the school was first built. Inside were video recordings, photographs of the children who attended Sherborne Abbey Primary at the time, and a book of memories. Pupils will explore the contents in the coming weeks before creating their own time capsule to preserve memories for future generations.
