AN INDEPENDENT Worcester school will hold its final speech day this evening after 700 years.

Royal Grammar School (RGS) Worcester is to be merged with Alice Ottley School, both in Upper Tything, from September.

The schools are two of the oldest in the city and are to be combined to form a new, enlarged school with almost 1,500 pupils.

Tonight, RGS will hold its annual speech day when there will be a celebration of pupils from the school, along with three speeches from past and present pupils: Digby Wall, president of the Old Elizabethans - the school's ex-pupils association.

Former Worcester and England cricketer Tim Curtis, school captain from 1977-79 and current director of sport/English.

James Gibson, current school captain.

The school's chairman of governors, Bill Stallard, who is retiring, will also be commended at the event, from 7pm tonight.

The new school will be called the Royal Grammar School Worcester and the Alice Ottley School and will be based on the existing campuses.