A SCHOOL is searching for its oldest ex-pupils as it prepares to mark its centenary.

Wood Lane School, in Bignall End, is 100 years old this year.

To mark the milestone, the school has organised two days of events in July.

One of the days will involve turning the clock back 100 years to how the school would have been in 1909 and inviting ex-pupils to speak about their memories.

At 90 years old, Arnold Johnson is believed to be the oldest, surviving pupil.

Mr Johnson, who lives in Stephens Way, Bignall End, went to the school in 1924 when he was five years old, and still has fond memories of his time there.

His eldest brother, Caleb, also attended the school on the day it opened, but has since died.

Mr Johnson, who was known by his schoolmates as 'Stunty', said: "One of the things I remember most about the school was the discipline.

"They used to hit your knuckles with the cane if you were naughty but I was good and never had to go through that.

"One of the old headteachers used to have a gun in his office and I used to wonder to myself if he used it to shoot people if they caused trouble.

"You didn't have school meals like you do now. Back then your mum made your sandwiches at home and you took them to school with you.

"The school would never get closed if it snowed, either. I remember once a car had got stuck in the snow and it was that deep we walked over the top of it, but we still made it to school."

Mr Johnson served as a sergeant with the Cheshire Regiment during the Second World War, during which conflict some of his old classmates lost their lives.

Mr Johnson's granddaughter, Laura Nixon, also went to Wood Lane School, as do two of her three children, Olivia, age eight, and six-year-old Alice.

Her youngest child, Harry, aged four, will start at the school full time in September, meaning the family will have had a connection with the school in all the 100 years it has been opened.

Mrs Nixon, aged 27, who lives in Ravens Lane, Bignall End, said: "It's a lovely school and holds a lot of special memories for all our family, especially with grandad going there and now my children as well."

A group on social networking site Facebook has been set up to celebrate the school's 100th anniversary. So far it has attracted more than 100 members.

A celebration day has been organised at the school on Saturday, July 11 starting at 1pm. There will be a summer fair with old fashioned games. Ex-pupils are being encouraged to come along in period clothing from when they were at the school.

Headteacher Gaynor Rogers said: "We are trying to find as many ex-pupils as we possibly can to come and join in with the celebrations.

"We want them to come into the school on the Friday and speak to our current pupils about how the school was when they were here.

"Wood Lane is a brilliant community school and we're delighted to be celebrating its 100th birthday."