FORMER pupils and staff are celebrating a York school’s 200th anniversary tonight.

Manor CE School is holding a founder’s dinner at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall in Aldwark with guest speakers Margaret Sentamu, wife of the Archbishop of York, and Lord Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat peer and former Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, whose children attended the school.

Deputy head and event organiser David Crane said: “The school was originially set up in Aldwark 200 years ago with 200 boys and only one master, Samuel Danby, to teach the poor boys of York, so it seemed fitting that we should have the meal there.”

The meal is one of a host of events organised by the school in Nether Poppleton. As well as a commemorative book, there is a special service at York Minster on May 21.

Open to the public, admission is free, but tickets must be obtained from the school in advance. There will also be an open day at the school on July 5.

The A4, 104-page hardback commemorative book is still under production and will feature a full history of the school.