DURING the war years a school's sport fields grew vegetables; later in the 60s the buildings underwent big structural developments and in more recent years its alumni has included Commonwealth champions.

And this academic year St Birinus School in Didcot will be celebrating its 80th anniversary.

The school in Mereland Road opened its doors in September 1936 as Didcot Senior Boys' School for boys aged 11 to 15.

Its first headteacher Mr E L Hutchings wrote in his log book: "The boys attended this school for the first time today; 226 children were placed on the roll."

Within three years of the school opening war broke out and the site became a reception centre for evacuees from West Ham and class sizes could be as large as 50 boys.

In his memoirs 'What Good Luck Really Is', policeman Joe Emery who attended the school in 1940s said he remembers learning about gardening.

He wrote: "We spent considerable time learning gardening because this was around 1940 and the whole population was encouraged, if not required, to Dig for Victory and provide food self-sufficiency so far as possible.

"The school playing fields were all used for growing vegetables and we must have grown tons of potatoes that were stored when dry in 'clamps' or long pits lined well and ventilated with long straw."

When war ended in 1945 a fifth form was established at the school, in 1950 it was renamed St Birinus School and the school Sixth Form was established in 1978.

In 1960 there were 450 boys on roll and major additions to the building: a new gymnasium, school hall, kitchen and a metal workshop.

As a tribute to the school's 50th anniversary Arthur Evans, headmaster of St Birinus from 1971 - 1987 said: "Today the school seeks to meet the educational needs of all boys of secondary school age, whatever their talents and their abilities may be and to strengthen its already substantial links with the local community."

Events to celebrate the school's 70th milestone included a whole school sponsored walk which raised £11,461 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Appeal and its link school in The Gambia, West Africa.

As the school headed into the noughties, former pupils Daniel Rivers and Ben Watson won medals in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in shooting and weightlifting.

John Marston, current headteacher of the school, said: "It is an honour, I have been at the school for six years and head teacher for two.

"I was at the remembrance parade and several of our boys walked through the town in our school uniform.

"So many people who have lived in Didcot recognise our boys and it shows how important we are in the fabric of the community.

"We have seen so many generations walk through our doors and I'm proud to lead the next generation through as head."

As part of its celebrations the school choir will be joined by Didcot Festival Chorus and the Oxford Symphony Orchestra on Saturday for a concert at Didcot Leisure Centre.

Students and staff past and present will gather for the concert at 7.30pm.

Didcot Sixth former Kieran Agg will take a starring role in the performance as he will play a solo piano part in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy.