Young drummers led a procession through the streets of the west end yesterday as a school celebrated its 80th anniversary.

Sandys Secondary Middle School invited two surviving members of its first ever class — Hope Bascome and Miriam Wilson-Trott — to take part in the proceedings.

The two women travelled in style in a horse and carriage from the school on Scott's Hill Road to St. James' Church.

They were followed by pupils, teachers, governors and former students of the school.

The church service included an address from Canon James Francis and a musical selection from the Sandys choir.

Later in the day, Senator David Burch, a Sandys graduate, was the keynote speaker at a ceremony in the school's assembly hall.

Guests included the current deputy head boy and girl of the Berkeley Institute, Amaury Symonds and Sherrita Arorash, and the head boy and deputy head girl of CedarBridge Academy, Randolf Bakabak and Jasmine Whitehurst, all former Sandys pupils.

Principal Timothy Jackson, who took over from Melvyn Bassett as head of the school in September, said the day had been fantastic.

"The same dreams and goals that the founders and early teachers and headmasters had are still in existence today," said Dr. Jackson. "They are to provide the best education for the children of the Sandys parish so they can be productive citizens of this country and the global society."

Sandys Secondary Middle first opened its doors on Thursday, October 27, 1927 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Foley.

They gave up their living room and bedroom in order to be able to teach local children.