A TEACHER got a blast from the past when she made a chance visit to her old school.

Carol Healey, of Ashley Green Road, Chesham, was spooked to find that class records at Hampden House, which were due to be destroyed that day, belonged to her.

Mrs Healey, the former school's Latin teacher in the 1970s, said: "Out of all the documents that had survived, I was amazed to find receipts for my lessons and papers in my handwriting relating to my former pupils.

"It was really quite spooky."

The discovery at the school near Great Missenden happened when her son author and transport historian John Healey was researching places of interest along Chiltern's railway lines.

These included Hampden House, and by chance he learned from eavesdropping on a pub conversation, that it was now used for wedding receptions.

The pair decided to visit the school, which closed due to money problems in the early 1980s.

Mrs Healey added: "When the employees at Hampden House realised why we were there they invited us on a tour and showed me the old schoolroom.

"One explained they had just discovered a secret cupboard filled with old papers, which they had been systematically burning.

"He thought the documents might be of some interest to me because I had worked there."

Stanger still, Mrs Healey said a few days later she saw a repeat of the cult 1970s series, Hammer House of Horror, featuring the old school house.