A CLASSIC book has been returned to its original home more than 100 years after it was given out to a star pupil.

Graham Gasson, of Mile End Road, Colchester, presented pupils at North Primary School with the copy of Tom Brown’s Schooldays by Thomas Hughes, which his grandfather Charles Pipe was given for good behaviour in 1909 when he attended the school.

The gift was originally presented by the school’s first headteacher, John Harper, and Mr Gasson decided to return it to pupils who attend the school now after he found it while tidying up.

Mr Gasson, 65, who lives within a mile of the school, was invited to a tea party and was presented with a copy of the Melancholy Moon which was written by talented pupil Fia Danes last year.

Mr Gasson said: “I was given lots of books many years ago and when I retired last November I was going through them and noticed Thomas Brown’s Schooldays.

“When I opened it up I saw it was signed by John Harper and was addressed to my grandfather.

“It might have been there for 30 or 40 years.

“Then I decided to call the school to ask if it collected memorabilia like this and I got a call back from the headteacher a few days later who invited me in to the school.

“When I got there I was given a tour of the building which was incredibly interesting and, out of the blue, I was presented with a book in return which one of the pupils had written.

“Everyone at the school was happy and it was such a nice day.”

Headteacher Alan Garnett was delighted to welcome the book back to the school.

He said: “I was delighted to receive the book. We invited Graham to the weekly tea party which we hold.

“In return we gave him a book by one of our pupils, Fia Danes, which has been published. She wrote a little inscription for him which he seemed grateful for.

“Then he was given a tour of the school and shared some of his memories about Colchester, which was lovely.”