OLD faces were welcomed back to recall their time at The Marlborough School in Woodstock as it celebrated its 75th anniversary.

On Monday four previous headteachers, the Bishop of Dorchester and the Duke of Marlborough visited for a series of events with students at the Church of England secondary school.

The building’s foundation stone was also rededicated in a special ceremony with the duke, whose grandfather opened the original school in 1940.

Deputy headteacher Chris Hart said: “The original stone had been damaged and there have been some alterations done to the school. We were very fortunate to be graced with the duke’s presence and the new stone looks really good.”

The past headteachers gave a short talk on what they remembered of the school.

In 1940, when the school was first created, the local community raised £3,250 towards the total cost of the building project, which altogether stood at £13,000.

Not long after it opened the school had to accommodate a large influx of Second World War evacuees, the subject of a history project current students are working on with the Woodstock Society.

An a cappella choir of students opened the event and Year 7 pupils were invited.