Swimbridge School celebrates centenary

Pupils and staff at Swimbridge Church of England Primary School are celebrating 100 years of existence. The vicar leads a procession and flowers are laid on the grave of the Reverend John Russell before a church service. The Church of St James at the heart of the village has medieval origins but has only been a parish church since 1866.

The first vicar of St James is the John (Jack) Russell, the famous sporting parson who lends his name to the breed of dog. It is while up at Oxford University that Russell sees a milkman exercising a dog. He buys the dog a terrier bitch and names her Trump and her first litter are the origin of the Jack Russell strain of terrier breed that is known worldwide today.