A REUNION of former pupils was held to celebrate the 21st birthday of an Unsworth primary school.

Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School in Parr Lane invited past pupils, parents, staff and local dignitaries to their anniversary celebrations recently.

Director of Education Mr Harold Williams was present along with the Deputy Mayor of Bury, Coun Wilf Davison and local councillors.

The chairman of governors, Rabbi Avrohom Jaffe gave a speech and spoke of two dedicated people who worked tirelessly together to bring the dream of a Jewish primary school to reality.

Rabbi Jaffe said: "The late Leslie Donn was a councillor for Bury and together with Sidney Beenstock was a prime mover for the school. Mr Beenstock set up the Spear Trust, who actually purchased the buildings and handed them over to the school. Without them our school would not exist."

Rabbi Jaffe also paid tribute to Mr Williams whom, he said, had been a staunch supporter of the school from the outset and a retirement gift was presented to Mr Williams on behalf of the school.

Mr Williams said he had watched the school grow from strength to strength and was looking forward to seeing it continue to move forward, especially with the prospect of a new school on a new site.

The school is hoping to submit plans to create a new campus on green belt land off Old Hall Lane in Whitefield, although residents living near the proposed new school have raised objections.