The tree replaced a lime planted by Mr Ginn in December 1977 to commemorate his retirement, which was cut down earlier this year to make way for an extension to the school.

Barbara Ginn was also presented with two crosses carved from the original tree, one of which was made by the son of current headteacher Kieran Salter, before being taken on a tour of the school.

Year Six students Yasmin Bright, Lydia Knight and Oliver Giles talked to Mrs Ginn and wrote the following account of her visit.

"Mrs Ginn was a very nice lady and appeared to be very excited to be invited to visit the school, and she was very polite as she did not want to disturb any of the classes.

She used to come into St Michael's School as a volunteer and she really enjoyed teaching recorders at the school.

She must have enjoyed it a lot as she did it for 14 years after she retired as a secondary school teacher at what is now The Cottesloe School.

The longest-serving member of staff at St Michael's is Mr Stone and Mrs Ginn said: 'I remember when he first came to the school.'

Mrs Ginn told us that the music room used to be an empty room that was used as a store for the chairs. Everyone used to learn the recorder and they either had one of their own or a school one was given to them. The school had a lot of woodwind instruments and two pianos.

We asked Mrs Ginn, 'When Mr Ginn's first tree was cut down were you very upset?'

She said, 'Yes to start with I was. It was a very beautiful tree and in a very pleasant aspect.

'My husband planted the tree when he retired in 1977 and he enjoyed seeing it grow over the next four years before he died on December 14, 1981.

'I am really pleased that the tree is being replaced.'
The school is much bigger now than when her husband was headteacher. He was in the new building for only one year. Since then the school has been made even bigger. Of course there were no computers in the school in those days.

We asked: 'Did your husband enjoy being headteacher of the school?'
'Yes, she said. 'He loved it, he thought it was a wonderful school and he loved children.

'He was very keen on music, acting, dance and drama and he wanted all the children to have a chance to enjoy these too."