CAMELSDALE Primary School celebrated its 114th birthday last Friday with a grand opening of Humphrey’s Café.

Purpose-built to serve up hot meals as part of the government’s policy to ensure all infant pupils receive a school lunch, it seats 220 diners in a bright and colourful space with tables kindly purchased by the school parent teacher association (PTA)..

The cafe also includes a kitchen and toilets, and the project included the refurbishment of the playground, new drainage and the installation of a storage facility.

Chairman of governors Paul Branch did the honours and special guests included West Sussex county councillors, Haslemere Mayor David Round and and mayoress Melanie Odell, plus representatives from Cheesemurs the builders.

Cafe namesake Humphrey the Camel also trotted up.

Headteacher Sarah Palmer, said: “We are absolutely delighted with our new community facility.

“It is a great space for the community to hire, too. The café is already providing a good range of meals, with the children having designed their favourites.

“In eight days we have served 674 lunches – the take up so far is very good.

“We are still looking for another catering assistant, so do contact the school if anyone’s interested. Thank you to everyone who made it happen.

“We may be the oldest community school in West Sussex, but we have very up-to-date facilities.”