Princess Anne visits Newbury for Mary Hare School anniversary

HRH met staff and pupils as school celebrates 70 years

MARY Hare School for deaf children enjoyed a royal occasion on Tuesday when the Princess Royal came to visit.

Princess Anne met governers, staff and pupils at the school to mark the contribution made by Lattitude Global Volunteering and its volunteer support staff and to see the work carried out at the school in its 70th anniversary year.

The Princess Royal, a patron of the volunteering charity, was shown video footage of the school’s opening at its current premises in Newbury in 1949, and met former pupils, including Victor Markham, who left the school in 1958.

The princess also helped to plant a tree in the school grounds to commemorate the anniversary.

Principal Peter Gale said: “Mary Hare School has, throughout its long 70-year history, relied upon the generous support of the volunteer sector and we are delighted that HRH The Princess Royal, as patron of Lattitude Global Volunteering, is here to support this momentous year.”

The school has welcomed volunteers from Lattitude every year for the past 15 years.

The charity offers overseas volunteering placements to 17- to 25-year-olds from all over the world to help out in the classroom and during the pastoral care of the deaf pupils at Mary Hare School.

Lattitude chief executive Joanne Smithson said: “Lattitude is delighted to be able to join Mary Hare School today in celebrating its 70th anniversary and to showcase the contribution of our volunteers to the work and life of the school community.”

The Mary Hare School currently has 230 pupils from all parts of the UK.