Sandwich Technology School is celebrating its 80th anniversary with four generations of head teachers under one roof.

The last four head teachers met last week to mark the school’s birthday and congratulate one of their long-standing members of staff, Colin Aldred.

Roy Elliott, who was head from September 1982 to August 1997, Richard Wallis from September 1997 to December 2009, Veronica Gomez, January 2010 to December 2014 and current head teacher Tracey Savage from January 2015, all attended.

Mrs Savage said: “It is very rare that a school is in a position to get together four generations of head teachers and to meet with my three predecessors was a real privilege.

“The wealth of experience and knowledge of Sandwich Technology School that was sitting around that lunch table is an amazing and, for me, humbling thought.

“The thing that makes Sandwich Technology School so very special, I think, is the same thing that has made today possible – STS has a real family-like community. This meant that, when I first had the idea of getting the four of us together and invitations were sent, everybody readily accepted them.”

Mr Aldred, 57, a science teacher who has taught science and PE at the school for 36 years, is leaving for a different career.

He has worked under all four of the heads and was originally employed by Anthony Gilbert in 1979, who has now passed away.

Mrs Savage said: “Colin’s impressive 36-year service to the school and its students comes to an end this summer.

“This lunch offers a perfect opportunity for the four of us to wish him well and to say thank you for his fantastic contribution to the life and history of Sandwich Technology School.”

Mr Aldred said: “It’s a great place to work. I’d started teaching the children of the children I taught when I first started which is nice.”

He will now work for a ground maintenance company called CMW Ground Care.