Everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in period costume.

The school was founded in 1843 and the children, aged between four and 11, found out just how strict school would have been for pupils back then.

But 21st Century technology was on hand in the shape of a video conference with an historian to help the children with their discoveries about life in Victorian times.

The conference took place in the school's new large classroom, which I was asked to officially open with the help of some of the children.

Congratulations to headteacher Peter Lacey-Hastings and his staff for making learning memorable and fun.

Helping hand

We have all heard stories of elderly people being conned out of their life savings by bogus doorstep callers and rogue traders but now help is at hand.

Police in South Norfolk, in partnership with South Norfolk Council, have launched the Nominate a Neighbour scheme.

As you will have read in the Diss Express recently, elderly and vulnerable people can apply for a card which advises unknown callers to their home that they must deal with a "nominated neighbour".

I applaud South Norfolk's new superintendent Paul Sanford for promoting such a worthwhile scheme.

To apply for a card and a free information pack write to Nominate A Neighbour Scheme, Long Stratton Police Station, Ipswich Road, Long Stratton NR15 2TB

New roads

I am pleased to see work has started on the Pulham crossroads roundabout which should be a great improvement – and not before time.

Meanwhile, residents in Long Stratton are still waiting for their bypass.

The other day in a Commons corridor, I bumped into Geoff Hoon, the new Transport Secretary, so I told him about Long Stratton.

I have now written to him to explain exactly why the present funding arrangements are so unfair to schemes such as the Long Stratton bypass, which already has planning permission, and to urge him to split the available money between local and regional schemes.

Only in this way will locally important schemes such as the Long Stratton bypass get the money required.

For more about Richard Bacon, visit his website