MEMORIES of a west Dorset grammar school are shared in today's Looking Back.

Beaminster and Netherbury Grammar School closed in December 1962.

The school was known for its academic high achievers.

Click on the image above to see our photo gallery of pictures from the grammar school.

A report from the Bridport News on Friday, November 21, 1930 tells of a school awards day.

SPEECH DAY: The Countess of Ilchester distributed the awards at the annual speech day and prize giving of Beaminster Grammar School, held yesterday (Thursday) evening at the Public Hall.

This honour was appropriately fitting for during the past year the school has been outstandingly successful, a record having been set up in that 15 Oxford School certificates and two Higher School certificates have been obtained.

A report in the News on July 25, 1959, tells how a new school was due to be built in the town.

At Beaminster and Netherbury Grammar School speech day, at which Lady Colfox distributed the prizes, the headmaster, Mr F.M. Porter, spoke in his annual report about the new school which is to be built in Beaminster.

The headmaster anticipated that the new school might be ready to open in September 1961 - at the earliest - or in September 1962.

Dealing with examination results, Mr Porter referred to the success of Heather Warren, of Netherbury, in being awarded a county major scholarship. She had gone to Harwell, he said, and was now one of the few girl scientists at Winfrith.