Hillingdon 's Meadow High School marked its very special birthday with a spectacular ceremony with staff, students and the Uxbridge MP Boris Johnson on Friday (October 7).
The Foreign Secretary was given no time to rest at the school Royal Lane, as he was recruited to cut a ribbon, bury a time capsule and cut the birthday cake.
Meadow High is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and to mark the occasion opened a new sensory garden and set up its own temporary museum including artifacts from the special school's history.
'It's wonderful for the kids'
MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip Mr Johnson told getwestlondon: “I want to congratulate everybody who was involved in the sensory garden.
“It's a wonderful facility for the kids. There's a great atmosphere in the school.
"It's fantastic to see the continuity of this institution that provides first class education in this part of the borough."
The new sensory garden project was spearheaded by horticulturalist at the school Dee Lennon and her assistant Bernie Cryan.
Meadow raised the money itself, including a team of staff who walked the length of Hadrian's Wall to raise £2,000.
Students had a hand in both designing and installing the new garden, which also features a quiet commemoration area to remember students of the school who have sadly passed away.
Week long celebration
A week long celebration marked the school's half centenary, including fancy dress days, with the highlight the visit from the former Mayor if London.
Hillingdon's Mayor, Cllr John Hensley, also attended the event.
He said: “The school has a good charted history over the last 50 years and it's gone from a very small school to now a big one.
“You can see how well supported the school is, which can be seen as a reflection of how the community views that the school provides.”
Also at the event were the three daughters of the original headteacher Keith Everett, as was as the original secretary at the school Doreen Dane.
'It's really fantastic'
The 90-year-old who lives in Denham Green, said: “I never would have thought it could have grown so much.
“It's really fantastic.”
The school opened in 1966 with just 56 pupils and has grown over the last 50 years to cater for 226 students.
While burying the time-capsule, which is set to be uncovered in another 50 years, it was revealed that another capsule buried 25 years ago has gone missing.
