GHYLL Royd School is turning 130 years old this year and is inviting former pupils to be part of the celebrations.

Head teacher David Martin and staff are keen to reconnect with hundreds of former pupils known as ‘Old Roydians’.

The school, at Greystone Manor, Ilkley Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale, is organising an Alumni day where former pupils can speak with the current crop of pupils about their time at the school and what they did on leaving Ghyll Royd.

The provisional date for this event is Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

Mr Martin said: “We would love to hear from a range of people to hear about their lives and career paths which we hope will inspire and excite the current pupils.

“We are in touch with many former pupils, but we are sure there are hundreds more out there eager to reconnect and share stories with our children.”

Ghyll Royd School opened in 1889.

Headmaster Augustus Wooldridge Godby founded the school “to prepare the sons of gentlemen for entrance to the Royal Navy and public schools”.

Mr Godby initially rented before purchasing the house on Grove Road, now known as Hollingwood Rise, and remained headteacher for 33 years until his untimely death in 1922.

In 1999 the school moved from Ilkley to Greystone Manor in Burley-in-Wharfedale and in 2009, Ghyll Royd became a co-educational preparatory school.

More recently Ghyll Royd was the only Prep School in the North of England shortlisted in the Independent School of the Year awards.

Ghyll Royd’s marketing manager Rebecca Wilson is in the process of compiling old photographs and newspaper clippings for a presentation for pupils past and present to come and view over the next few months.

If you are a former pupil or a relation of an Old Roydian please email rebecca.wilson@ghyllroydschool.co.uk or call 01943 865575 if you would like to be involved in the celebrations.