THE Duchess of Gloucester visited the Cotswold Chine School on Friday to officially open a new amphitheatre, which was built to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary.

Founders Oda and Cooper Bryan purchased the building of the Cotswold Chine Hotel in 1953, and in January 1954 Cotswold Chine Home School was started.

This year marks the 60th anniversary since the opening of the school, which was established to care for children with complex needs.

Oda and Cooper first met while working in a Camphill Community in Aberdeen, which was founded by Dr Karl Koenig and based on the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner.

According to their daughters Christiana and Cordelia Bryan, who grew up at the school in Box, near Nailsworth, the couple were inspired by what they had seen in Aberdeen and wanted to set up their own project.

There were just four students when the school originally opened in 1954 and now there are more than 40.

“I think our father would be very proud to see the school he and our mother created still going strong after 60 years,” said Christiana.

The Duchess of Gloucester was given a tour of the grounds before opening a newly constructed multi-use games area and the outdoor amphitheatre.

During the opening, she thanked former and current staff and pupils for their very kind welcome and expressed her congratulations to all those who helped the school to reach such an important milestone.