Government minister Lord Bassam returned to his old school at Clacton for the first time in 30 years to chat to pupils and meet up with a few old schoolfriends.

The Labour peer, who was a pupil at what is now Colbayns High School between 1964-71, said: "I feel quite emotional.

"It's quite weird - since I haven't been here since I collected my history prize in 1971. It was the History of the Second World War by Chester Wilmott."

Lord Bassam studied for his A-levels and went on to get an MA at Kent University.

Lord Bassam, 47, who is a Home Office minister, was brought up in Great Bentley and attended the village primary school before going on to what was then known as Pathfields.

Lord Bassam, or Steve to his friends, was made a life peer thanks to Tony Blair's attempt to increase the Labour influence in the House of Lords three years ago. He nearly chose Great Bentley to put in his title but eventually plumped for the town where he made his reputation and still lives in Brighton.

He described Clacton as fortunate to have two good schools. Then, he said, because of their status - Colbayns was a secondary modern and the Clacton County High School, a grammar school - there was a certain amount of competitiveness, but now both were on an equal footing.

Friday's trip, which also included a visit to Clacton County High School, was part of a series of local visits. During his talks with the Clacton pupils he said he was struck by their awareness of the importance of not wasting their education, especially through truancy.

Lord Bassam was accompanied by Harwich MP Ivan Henderson.

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