Current and former students met to honour the oldest living Berkeleyite at the 110th anniversary of the Berkeley Institute.

The school was founded in 1897 and has produced countless leaders in a variety of fields, including four Premiers and hundreds of people turned up for the annual Founders Day ceremony at the Heritage Worship Centre yesterday.

Evelyn Smith, who is 101 and two months, is the oldest living student and completed her final year at Berkeley in 1922, was honoured at the event.

Mrs. Smith, whose favourite subjects were English and arithmetic, was a class mate of Dame Majorie Bean.

Current prefect Ashun Wolffe spoke of Mrs. Smith's upbringing and said that she does not recall anyone getting a detention "because we knew how to behave".

He reminded students that when she was a student she would walk to and from school everyday and do homework by candle light.

Mrs. Smith was presented with the Torch Keeper Award for service to the school.

She said: "I want to congratulate all of you and I want you to go out into this world and give credit to your teachers and your parents working hard every day for your education. I want you to be a Berkeleyite."

Secretary of the Berkeley Institute Board Gary Phillips gave a rousing speech which had students cheering.

He urged them to remember the struggles of the founders and first students and added that being a Berkeleyite meant working hard and being proud of your Alma Mater.

"They said, just change the name," he said speaking of the 1990s when the public school system was converted from parish schools to two mega-schools and graduates of Berkeley lobbied to make their school one of the new mega schools.

"No, we will not change the name. I am proud to be a Berkeleyite and to see what we have done. You must strive for excellence.

"To do anything less would be to lessen the rich legacy of the Berkeley."

Several students spoke at the event and the choir sang several songs including "Agnus Dei".

Principal Michelle Simmons, who was educated at the school, said: "This morning we have seen some of our young people who have been learning about our legacy of hard work and commitment to excellence.

"They will carry our legacy into the next generation."