LOTHINGLAND Middle School is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a garden party picnic next month.On September 12, past pupils and staff will gather together to enjoy an afternoon of reminiscing about the school, which began life in 1959 as a secondary modern.

LOTHINGLAND Middle School is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a garden party picnic next month.

On September 12, past pupils and staff will gather together to enjoy an afternoon of reminiscing about the school, which began life in 1959 as a secondary modern.

To help mark the occasion one former pupil has sent in an old photograph featuring 20 children who would go on to study at the school.

The cheerful children pictured here are in their final year at Bradwell Junior School, in 1966, but many would go their separate ways after taking their 11-plus exams.

Jean Samuels, nee Brooks, of Belton, was one of those who went on to study at Lothingland School, and can be seen standing to the right of teacher Mrs Milligan.

Mrs Samuels said: 'Sadly we did not have any photos taken whilst at Lothingland and as far as I know no photographic records exist of our six years spent there.

'I think we were very lucky children to have been educated at a school in a rural location and the teachers in the main were of the old school and taught you whether you wanted to learn or not - this stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.'

The full line-up at Bradwell reads: (back row) Karl Reynolds, Timothy Pickett, John Wyatt, Audie Skipper, Leslie Kerrison, Deborah Hansell, Mrs Milligan, Jane Beare, Graham Hellas, Jean Brooks, Stephen Fennell, Gillian Groom, Helen Connell, John Reeve, Mary-Ann Smith and Ann Holloway.

(middle row) Stephen Bullent, Sandra Newark, Lesley Gardner, Susan Clarke, Tina Bush, Andrew Payne, Lynn Bexfield, Jayne Graystone, Lorraine Darby and Ann Chapman.

(front row) Arlene Bensley, Christine Audiore, Kim Wynes, Elaine Futter, Lorraine Sly, Mandy Scott, Janice Ashby, Lorraine Palmer and Paula Moody.

Old friends, colleagues and teachers from Lothingland school are invited to the party, from noon until 4pm, as live music, a bar, tea, coffee, cakes and displays on the school's history are put on.

'People are encouraged to bring a picnic to help relax and celebrate the life of the school which only has two years left before its final closure due to reorganisation,' said current headteacher Paul Morton.

Present pupils in the school are set to mark the milestone with a whole host of other events throughout the year.