A FINCHLEY school is appealing for photographs and memories as it gears up to celebrate its 90th anniversary.

Preparations are under way at Finchley Catholic High School, in Woodside Lane, which will mark the occasion next year.

They include an anniversary exhibition of artefacts and photographs from the school’s archive, currently being prepared by a group of Year 9 history students, who met last week with former teachers Conn O’Halpin and Peter Keenan.

It is also appealing to its alumni to send in their memories and pictures of their time as pupils there, so they can be added to the archive and online gallery.

Former pupils include The Sun editor Tony Gallagher, London Irish rugby player Declan Danaher, screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin, and Giuliano Grazioli, a former striker for Swindon Town and Barnet FC.

Other alumni include Damian McBride, a former adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, The Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens, and theatre and TV writer Dennis Kelly.

The school can be traced back to a small hall in Dale Grove, where Canon Clement Parsons began teaching a group of 18 boys in September 1926.

It was officially opened in June 1927 by Cardinal Bourne, and the move to its current site took place in 1928.

The late 1960s and early 1970s then saw the unification of Finchley Grammar School and Challoner School into Finchley Catholic High School.

A full calendar of events to mark the anniversary is available on the school’s website.