While the passage of 100 years may witness many changes, one thing remains certain – you cannot rely on a sunny day in July.

But undeterred pupils, their parents and staff of Beeches Primary School, in Beech Avenue, gathered under ominous clouds for the mouthwatering feast and games.

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However, the rain held off and the youngsters defiantly retained their enthusiasm as they tucked into tasty treats with their pals on the school playing fields.

The lunchtime fun had been kicked off by some old-fashioned games, including egg and spoon races and skipping to pay tribute to the school's heritage.

Mayor of Peterborough Pat Nash was on hand to cut the cake and said she was thrilled to attend the event which had more than 500 pupils enjoying an al fresco break

The sound of the school's steel drums provided a musical backdrop as the culmination of weeks of activities to celebrate the school's extra-special birthday came to an end.

The site has seen numerous name changes over the years and has faced temporary closures during the Second World War, along with a fire, more recently in 2004, that nearly destroyed the hall and classrooms.

The school celebrates its diversity with more than 30 countries represented by pupils and staff which follows previous influxes of immigrants from the Italians in the '50s to the Indians and Pakistanis in the '70s to the recent eastern European migrants.

Year two pupil Benas Bastrobas (8) joined the school two years ago when his family moved from Lithuania and loves every minute of the school timetable.

He said: "I love all learning, reading, writing and sums. I like making new friends and I like the fact the school is really old. The picnic has been brilliant."

But it seems that playtime has not completely changed over the years.

Benas said: "In our breaks I play catch, and hide and seek with my friends, it's great fun."

From a new pupil to a former pupil, Shakila Hussain joined her daughter Hina (7), her fifth girl to attend the school.

Mrs Hussain attended back in 1979 and has two daughters now at university, with Hina planning to go to Oxford.

She said: "I always come along to sports days and events here. There have been a lot of changes since I was here, but all for the better. I am proud that my daughters have all come here."

History of Beeches Primary

• February, 3, 1908, the Cromwell Road Council School for girls opened its doors with 62 pupils at the site of what is now The Beeches School.


• In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War the school was used as a billeting centre and an air raid shelter was put in the playing field.


• In 1953 the school had the whole week off for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Pupils and teachers got to take home a mug each and then they were taken to the cinema (The Odeon) to see the film "The Queen is Crowned".


• The school was re-opened on Thursday, December 8, 2004, after a fire in October destroyed two classrooms and damaged 10 other rooms.