Guiseley school nets its oldest former pupil to open new ICT Suite (From Wharfedale Observer)

Guiseley school nets its oldest former pupil to open new ICT Suite

12:00pm Saturday 20th October 2007 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Former pupils are being invited to a historic school to help celebrate the opening of its state of the art ICT suite.

The new suite at St Oswald's School in Guiseley will be opened by a 96-year-old former pupil, and staff are hoping many others will attend.

Anne Telford, from St Oswald's said they were hoping to get the oldest ex-pupil and the youngest present-day pupil together for the opening, and shesaid they were issuing an open invitation for others to come along and see how the school has changed.

St Oswald's, which was opened in 1590, hasbeen an important part of the community for hundreds of years, and Miss Telford saidthey wanted to involve the community in the opening of the ICT suite.

She said: "It is going to be really nice talking to old people who were ex-students and hearing all their tales.

People have already been coming forward with their memories since hearing about the appeal for the oldest pupil.

Miss Telford said: "I was talking to one lady yesterday and she remembers them having cots in the infants so the young children could have a sleep."

"Most people I have spoken to have very happy memories," she said.

"Although some people remember having to dodge the board rubber.

"I think they are all looking forward to coming back and seeing how the building has changed and how teaching has changed."

She added: "I spoke to a few of the older ex-pupils yesterday. It'snice to hear the stories they have come out with and it's nice for the children to listen so that they don't lose the history of the school."

The open day, on November 9, will be open to present and former pupils, parents and members of the community.

Miss Telford said: "Obviously we don't know how many are going to turn up - but we're hoping quite a few will."

"We just felt because there are various transformations going on around the school it would be nice to say thank you and to invite people to come and look round.