A group of children were thrilled when the 11th generation granddaughter of Sir Hugh Myddelton came to their school, which is named after the famous philanthropist.

Pupils at Hugh Myddelton Primary School, in Myddelton Street, Finsbury, laid on a special assembly for the visit of Lorraine Howard, whose ancestor built the New River in the 1600s to bring clean water to London.

Mrs Howard, 57, who lives in Ireland, said: “It was wonderful. The children were lovely and kept asking the sort of questions only children can, like: ‘How well did you know Hugh Myddelton?’ I have never been to Islington before, but it was such a nice reception.

“I have been researching a family history for around 20 years and have been to a lot of places, but I have never had a reaction like this.”

Barbara Rogers, an administrator at the school, said: “It was really lovely and the children learned a lot about her great, great, great grandfather.

“She was very interested in the school and seemed really nice.”