SIXTY years ago, as Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen, a small Poole school was also starting its own incredible journey.

So, six decades on, as the nation gears up for a summer of diamond jubilee celebrations, hundreds of wellwishers decided to take a step back to the 1950s at Sylvan First School.

The school, in Livingstone Road, held a party on Saturday marking its own milestone anniversary.

Children’s television presenter Kirsten O’Brien even made a special trip from London to launch proceedings.

The CBBC SMart presenter and stand-up comic told the Daily Echo: “It is lovely to be here, especially on a day like today.

“I know the children have been working hard on all their artwork to mark the occasion, and they’ve done really, really well. They’ve really gone for it.”

Highlights of the event, which was attended by hundreds of adults and children, were the planting of a commemorative tree, 1950s rock and roll song and dance performances by pupils, period cuisine, a recorder recital and even the children’s choir performing ‘World in Union’.

Head teacher Sarah Lee explained: “Today is about celebrating 60 years of the school.

“This is our diamond jubilee, so we’ve invited pupils, past and present, parents and teachers, past and present.

“I’ve been head here for five years and it is an amazing community and a great school.

“We have generations that have attended here.

“Many of our pupils’ parents came to this school. We’ve also got staff working here whose parents were pupils.”

Among those attending was former teacher Rosemary Stevens, who worked at Sylvan First for 30 years, starting in 1972.

“I retired in 2001,” she said.

“But I have to say there have been many changes.

“I still come in one morning a week. It is a wonderful school.”

Meanwhile, former teacher Shelley Taylor said: “It has been a lovely event and it has been nice to be back where I had so many memories.”