TIM Healy's school day memories came flooding back yesterday when the celebrity paid a visit to his former haunt.
The Auf Wiedersehen Pet actor had been invited to Pelton Community Primary, near Chester-le-Street, to help mark a special occasion.
Rising repair bills for the ageing, Victorian buildings at the school meant it was top of Durham County Council's list for replacement.
Now the junior and infant school buildings are to be replaced with a £3.2m school, so yesterday Healy arrived at the school for a turf-cutting ceremony.
Headteacher Ivor Williams said the star amazed everyone by recalling where he sat in each classroom and the names of his former teachers.
The actor had been brought up in Benwell, Newcastle but moved to the Pelton area when he was nine.
Mr Williams said Healy took time to speak with teachers and pupils and signed autographs.
Also at the ceremony was Durham County Councillor Jim Cordon, North Durham MP Kevan Jones, Durham County Councillor Brian Walker and Hilary Best, chairman of the Sure Start partnership.
The new school will include a 39-place nursery.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article