The past and future came together at Swire Smith Middle School.

To mark the middle school's closure when it will become Long Lee Primary School former teacher Mary Beaumont, 98, was invited to help seal a time capsule.

Mary, who began her teaching career in 1917, had to leave when she married; in the 1920s married female teachers were not allowed to continue working.

But at the outbreak of World War Two there became a shortage of teachers and in 1941 she returned to work.

Mary taught at Eastwood School, which was later split in two, the upper age group going to Swire Smith Middle.

Under headteacher Arthur Binns, Mary taught a range of subjects but her speciality was physical education, particularly swimming.

Her former pupils include Kendall Mellor, who swam the Channel in 1963.

Mary was also one of the first ever special needs teachers and worked with those who failed their 11 Plus exams at Eastwood before transferring to Oakbank, which used to be a remedial school.

On Friday she donated a whistle she used in Eastwood's games lessons to a special time capsule.

Swire Smith pupils have marked the school's closure by gathering memorabilia like videos and photographs to seal in the capsule

This will be hung somewhere in the school and not opened until the July 14 2020.

"It commemorates the closure of the school and links it with the new primary," says head Louise Smith, who will also head the new school.

Mrs Beaumont also presented a progress shield to pupil Shalehah Begun.

She requested former boss Mr Binns' name to also be engraved on the trophy.