IT WAS a bittersweet celebration that marked the end of a Basingstoke school’s life.

Chineham Park Live took place last Saturday at Chineham Park Primary School in Shakespeare Road, Popley, which Hampshire County Council is shutting in August.

The school is being closed due to falling pupil numbers and a long history of poor performance.

The latter resulted in damning reports by education watchdog Ofsted and eventually the decision by the county council – the local education authority – to shut the school, despite a campaign to save it by many parents and other supporters.

Chineham Park Live organiser Trudie Gregory, whose two children go the school, said: “This is a charity event, but this year it has also become a celebration of Chineham Park. It has been quite emotional.”

There was an emotional time when pupils from the school took to the stage to sing a heartfelt rendition of “So Long, Farewell” from The Sound of Music.

Watching the performance, Miranda Melle, 31, of Keats Close, Popley, said she fears the disruption that changing schools will bring to her eight-year-old son, Dume. She said: “He will miss his friends and teachers.”

Louise Annetts, 35, of Chaucer Close, Popley, whose 10-year-old daughter Aimee Neale attends the school, said: “I feel really annoyed because the school is like a little family. All the parents know each other, so to shut it down is just the pits.”

Despite the spectre of the school closure hanging over proceedings, festival-goers enjoyed a lively programme.

The day began surreally at 2pm when Star Wars stormtroopers arrived with the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Keith Chapman, who formally opened the event.

In sweltering temperatures, a variety of bands and musicians then performed for about six hours, including Ray Phillips, the former drummer of Welsh rock band Budgie.

Organised by Chineham Park Parent-Teacher Association, the festival has been billed as a fringe event of the main Basingstoke Live festival, which takes place on July 10 and 11.

All money raised will be split equally between St Michael’s Hospice in Aldermaston Road and Naomi House Children’s Hospice in Sutton Scotney.