Helena Bonham Carter Goes Back To School To Open New Building

Helena Bonham Carter returned to the school she attended as a child to unveil a new extension building last week (ends01Feb15).

The Harry Potter star was a pupil at all-girls South Hampstead High School (Shhs) in Hampstead, north west London, and she returned to the institution on 28 January (15) to launch a new state-of-the-art block.

Bonham Carter mingled with teachers and pupils and gave a speech recalling her days at the school, and she was also reunited with her former headteacher Averil Burgess, who was in charge from 1975 until 1993.

Current headteacher Helen Pike says, "The opening exceeded expectations and I have never seen the girls more excited. Helena was generous, witty and fun. We are so proud that she is an old girl of Shhs and it was perfect that she opened the school for us."