A SCHOOL near Ludlow that started out with nine boys, two headmasters and one teacher, is celebrating the end of its 50th anniversary year.

Moor Park, at Richard's Castle, was founded by Derek Henderson and Hugh Watts in 1964.

The school had a beautiful but leaky house, no heating or playing fields, and instead of a minibus, an old Austin Hillman estate was used. With the seats down the vehicle could fit in the entire school, two adults and a dog.

Mr Watts recalled the school as "something akin to a country house party – with plenty of work thrown in."

In the intervening half-century, Moor Park has gone mixed, grown to 264 pupils, and employs more than 100 full and part-time staff.

It has purpose-built classrooms, science labs, computer rooms and an art wing.

Moor Park now regularly runs 12 teams and has scored success at both regional and national sporting events.

The school was this year short-listed for an Independent Schools Awards for its ‘Big Weekend’ boarding events. Themed week-ends have included Bollywood and The Oscars and have seen the boarders dressing up and enjoying activities that fit the theme.

These weekends have proved a big hit, with places fully subscribed by boys and girls of all ages.

Moor Park will round off its 50th anniversary with a Christmas fayre on Saturday (November 29) from 11am to 3pm. There will be 40 stalls offering homewares, jewellery, clothes and food, plus a pop-up café, plenty of children’s activities and Santa in his Grotto.

The pupils have voted to support Sophie House, a Martha Trust home in Hereford that offers lifelong care to profoundly physically and intellectually disabled young people.