To mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of The Dell School in Chepstow yesterday (28th January), former pupils and the first headteacher were invited back to tell present-day pupils how the school started.

Keith Rowlands joined a special class assembly yesterday along with The Dell's present headteacher, Stephen King, and marked the occasion with some memories of when the Dell first began from the amalgamation of Mathern and St Arvans schools.

Mr Rowlands came to take over the headship after spells at Overmonnow in Monmouth and Trellech School, when The Dell started out as an eight-classroom school with 150 pupils.

He is now a grandfather to one of the pupils so retains close links with the 411-pupil school today.

Also enjoying the celebrations was Mark Davies, who was a pupil at the school in 1989 and is now a Year 4 teacher.

The school buried a time capsule yesterday to be opened in another 25 years time, including pictures of the children, a collection of their fortnightly newsletters and a CD of their music.

As well as photographs of the technology the pupils use today, they are adding the 'wishes' of the children.

Wishes include the hope that pupils in 25 years' time can look back on life as they have done in Chepstow in 2014, and that children all have a place to live and something to eat and live happy and safe lives.

Pictured Front Page is head boy Evan Kennedy and head girl Lillie Nichol with headteacher Stephen King getting set to bury the time capsule.