PAST and present pupils at a Poole school took a trip back through time together at the weekend.

To celebrate 75 years since Poole High School was founded, former students returned to the building to enjoy a special anniversary event on Saturday.

The day had a World War Two theme, complete with a Spitfire parked in the school’s grounds and staff from Bovington Tank Museum showing hats, gas masks and ration books to visitors.

Operations manager David Newman said: “The building was opened 75 years ago, in 1939, by the Earl of Shaftesbury.

“One of the most exciting parts of the day was having the Spitfire at the school. We based the day around the 1940s, and in particular the wartime years, and we also had a vintage tea tent, a marching band and food and games for the youngsters. One of the most popular features of the day was an exhibition in the hall, which took in decades of the school’s history, right from the beginning.”

Pupils at Poole High, in Wim-borne Road, also had Friday to look into their school’s past.

Mr Newman said: “The Spitfire arrived on Thursday, which coinci-ded with a World War Two day at the school.

“As well as being an absolutely fantastic and exciting thing to have in the grounds, it’s also educational.

“The students were extremely respectful, and had a real interest in it.

“They dressed in 1940s school attire, and learned about what would have happened at school at that time. Lunch was also based on wartime rations, including Spam fritters.”

At the end of the day, students participated in an air raid drill.

“We hope that day, as well as the wonderful event at the weekend, has given them a real opportunity to see how former students at the school lived,” said Mr Newman.