FINDING out he was the first-ever child named on the register of a school celebrating its 70th anniversary this week was a moving moment for a Derby man.

Jack Anthony went back to Cherry Tree Hill Junior School and was surprised to find his name at the top of the list.

Along with many children in the Chaddesden area, Mr Anthony transferred from Morley Road school when the new junior school, in Sunny Grove, opened in March 1940.

Mr Anthony, who now lives in Littleover, said: " I remember clearly my time at the school. When I started I was in Mr Ferguson's class and he a reputation for being quite tough.

"I also used to attend the youth club at the school and learned to ballroom-dance there as well."

An open afternoon followed a day of celebrations involving current pupils who dressed in clothes from different decades of the school's existence.

Chaddesden WI provided refreshments as former staff and pupils gathered to exchange memories and look at old photographs adorning the walls.

Bafta Award-winning playwright Don Shaw, who used to live in Arridge Road, was delighted to be back at his old school, which he left in 1945.

Clutching his school report, which stated he had "distinct talents", he recalled that his interest in acting, theatre and writing started at the school.

He said: "I played the part of Toad in Toad of Toad Hall and this kindled an interest for me in the stage and was my first appearance before an audience.

"After that I became involved with the Derby Playhouse. It's marvellous seeing people from the past here today."

Among them was Gordon Bowley, another of the first pupils to start at the new school.

Now living in Borrowash, Mr Bowley said: "I remember how the head teacher, Mr Heath, used to line us up in the playground and inspect our hands to make sure our nails were clean.

"He also inspected our shoes and in order to make sure they shone we frequently rubbed them on the back of our socks as he came down the line."

Also helping to explain the history of the school and the surrounding area was the Chaddesden Historical group.

Member John Crosby attended the school between 1947 and 1952 and still lives in Chaddesden.

He said: "I have very fond memories of my school days. We were always playing rugby and football.

"I also remember we all had to dance round the maypole on May Day. I hated the school dinners to begin with, but later grew to love them."

As a school built during the Second World War, air raid shelters were built in the grounds and pupils were frequently ushered into them when the sirens went off.

This week's celebrations were doubly poignant because it is Cherry Tree Hill's last year as a junior school.

From September, it will merge with the adjacent Cherry Tree Hill Infant school to become a primary school for children aged three to 11.

Former teacher Jean Parry, who went on to be head teacher at Oakwood Infant School, said: "It was a lovely school to work in and there were some wonderful staff here."

Acting junior school head Malcolm Hetherington said the celebrations had gone very well.

He said: "It's been quite a humbling experience because I have only been here for a couple of years and feel just a small part of its history."