SIXTY children and staff and 100 parents, governors and visitors from Rake, Petersfield, Liphook and beyond packed the new "great hall" at Rake First School recently to celebrate its formal opening. 

The occasion was made even more memorable by the arrival of the Rt Rev Lindsay Urwin, Bishop of Horsham, who arrived in full regalia of purple cassock with wooden staff, to officiate over the opening.

The hall has been built to replace the old hall, which was too small for the present day needs of the school. 

Headteacher John Arnold explained: "The old hall had capacity for the children to meet together, but we were unable to hold events including parents and visitors. 

"We also wanted more space to enable the children to have more opportunities with gymnastics and other activities. 

"The new great hall enables us to do all this and we are absolutely delighted with it".

The hall was built over the summer and was completed on budget and a month early.

The children were able to watch the development of the building and learnt a great deal in the process. 

One of the most exciting days was the day when the cranes arrived to erect the green oak beams which form the internal structure of the building. 

"It was a truly amazing sight, watching the cranes lift the huge oak beams into place," said Rachel Cochrane, the chairman of governors. 

"By the end of the day, the whole structure had been fitted together and we could see for the first time the shape of the building. 

"We are so thrilled to have not just a new building, but a very beautiful one that will add so much to the learning opportunities for the children." 

Each child in the school took part in a presentation as part of the opening ceremony. 

All the work was original and had been written by staff and children. 

Bishop Lindsay kept the children enthralled with tales of African villages, and even took a straw poll of which children thought his clothes looked "cool" and which thought he looked "sad". 

The celebrations were completed when the bishop cut a specially commissioned cake, created for the occasion by Mrs E. Studd.