ONE of Cookham's most famous sons is to be the subject of a BBC1 documentary.

Kenneth Grahame, who wrote the Wind in the Willows, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but was orphaned in early childhood and went to live with his grandmother at The Mount' in Cookham Dean.

The house that Grahame lived in is part of the Herries School, Dean Lane.

Headteacher Angela Bradberry was approached by the show's makers who are doing a programme about a trip along the Thames, presented by Gyles Brandreth. The programme, to be shown on The One Show, will look at many characters asociated with the river.

It was filmed last week. Mrs Bradberry said: "We were very happy to welcome The One Show to the school and proud of our connection - that the school is where Kenneth Grahame lived."

The tales of Mr Toad, his friends and the villainous weasels were inspired by Grahame's days in Cookham and became a children's classic. It was also made into a film in the 1990s starring many of the Monty Python team and Steve Coogan.

Herries School has maintained its links to the author who mainly wrote fantasy stories for children. In the nursery room the school has paintings and a mural of some of the characters from the Wind in the Willows, which caught the programme makers' attention, pictured above with two pupils. Mrs Bradberry said: "When they saw the characters in the nursery they decided that this must be where they took the film."

Toad of Toad Hall is thought to be based on Grahame's son Alistair, who shared a similar personality, and the book was originally written for him.

Staff at the school met former MP and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, the show's presenter, who took a trip in a boat down the river.

Mrs Bradberry said: "Gyles Brandreth was very complimentary and said what a lovely school it was. We were delighted to meet him and we had coffee with him in the staff room. We were very happy to show off the school and to help and accommodate them."

Residents of Cookham will probably have to wait until April for the programme to be aired. The One Show is on BBC1 television weekdays at 7pm.