Students from Maryport’s Netherhall School have celebrated an important birthday.

The Mary Grave Trust, which has helped Netherhall students travel abroad for educational purposes, celebrated its 45th birthday.

The trust was set up in 1971 by Burton Dunglinson in memory of his mother, Mary Grave, who was from Maryport.

The initial grant was for £20,000 but more was received for the fund on Mr Dunglinson’s death in 1976.

It is now valued at over £1.7m and grants totalling around £50,000 are made each year to young people primarily from West Cumbria.

Born and educated in Workington, Mr Dunglinson was responsible for the relocation of the former ElectroFlo and Solway Flowmeters factories from London to West Cumbria. Having worked in America in the 1920s, he was aware of the value of travel for young people.

The trust began working with Cumbria Community Foundation in 2005 and since that date, over £615,000 has been awarded to more than 850 young people.

Most grants fund school trips such as language trips to France and Spain or art and religious studies trips to New York. Other activities supported include work experience in Spain, peer education in The Gambia, a maths winter school in Singapore, a wrestling tournament in Brittany, sea cadets summer camp in Sweden, an expedition up the Amazon and a guide exchange visit to Eastern Siberia.

Netherhall teacher Mark Bailey, whose pupils received support said: “The fund gives the school confidence that families are supported to take part in great activities we offer.

“Coming from a family where my parents were long-term unemployed meant I never went on any school trips as a child, it means a great deal to me to see your organisation doing this kind of work.”

Students told representatives about a recent trip to New York and then enjoyed a birthday cake to mark the occasion.