Successful former students of the journalism training programme at Harlow College have returned to their old haunt to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Famous names who graduated include Richard Madeley, from TV's Richard and Judy Show, former Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie, Mike Wooldridge, BBC radio's Today programme presenter - and former Mirror editor Piers Morgan.

Piers Morgan joked in a letter read at the launch of a new journalism centre: "I had a marvellous time at Harlow... mainly because there were 56 in my class and only six males."

But on a more serious note for current journalism students, he added: "My advice to you is to work hard, play hard and only be a journalist if you can do both at the same time and to a high standard."

Until the new centre opened, classes teaching law, local and central government, shorthand and, of course, writing were held in different classrooms around the building.

The new centre brings together these resources, dominating the ground floor of one building.

College principal David Ellerby said: "It's great to have a celebration of what we have achieved, and many of our students do go on to achieve great things."

Martin Bell, the former MP and BBC war correspondent, was a special guest at the launch and said: "I wish there had been journalism courses like this when I was starting out.

"Journalism has never been more challenging, so intimidating and so spun, but what really matters isn't the prestige or fancy titles but the good opinion of those who have worked with you and those who have worked against you."

Harlow College is affiliated to the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Its most recent successes include students winning last year's Young Journalist of the Year, the Guardian Student of the Year award, BBC Essex's Travel Writer of the Year award - and it recently receiving a Grade 1 'Outstanding' Ofsted Government education report.

The report stated: "There are good specialist accommodation and resources for journalism ... students are highly motivated and produce high-quality practical work. There's very good teaching in journalism, which draws on the wealth of industrial experience and links that staff bring."

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