Boris back in Primrose Hill. Mayor Johnson returns to his old primary school

Published: 27 January 2011
by TOM FOOT

HE couldn’t quite remember the name of his former primary school, but London Mayor Boris Johnson recalled many happy memories as he went back to the classroom on Friday.

Visiting what he called “Princess Road primary school,” (Primrose Hill primary school) the Mayor showed pupils how to climb on to the roof of the bike shed, remembered playing a malfunctioning robot in the school nativity and confessed to being involved to the odd playground scrap.

“I had the first fight in my life here,” he said. 

“In fact, I got beaten up. I had the fight with someone three years older than me, it was a girl. Don’t get into fights,” he told pupils. Mr Johnson was invited to the school by members of its Latin club, who heard the Mayor had an interest in primary schools that teach it. They performed a play about the Romans before bombarding him with questions.

Mr Johnson also visited younger children in their classrooms and was given a box of “Happy Hens at Primrose Hill School” eggs.

Despite fond memories, Mr Johnson, who left when he was nine years old, said: “It seems it is better and happier than it was in the 1970s.”

Headteacher Paul Campbell said he hoped the visit would open children’s minds to a career in politics.