Home Local News Bickerstaffe CE School celebrate 175th birthday of the school

Bickerstaffe CE School celebrate 175th birthday of the school

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Bickerstaffe CE School celebrated in style to mark the school’s 175th birthday with approximately 120 guests, on Friday 14th June. After visiting classes to talk to the children, the Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes opened proceedings by offering prayers and blessings for the school, children, staff, parents and local community. School were delighted to welcome ex members of staff, ex pupils, as well as residents from the local area.

Two bagpipers lead the children and VIP guests from the school building onto the field where they performed in front of an audience. The children from Class One sang a song that they had created especially for the occasion, Class Two children performed a poem that they had written with help from local resident, Sheila Beeby and Class Three re-enacted memories from past pupils over the years. The audience were amazed to learn that in approximately 1908, a child had kicked a ball over the school fence into the adjoining farm. Upon collecting the ball, the Farm Manager locked the child in a shed for the afternoon as a punishment! Class Four then performed another song with dance actions for the audience.  Following this, the guests enjoyed watching the children perform traditional Morris and Maypole dances, which the school performs annually in June at the Village Treat Day.

The children were also delighted that Gaynor Owen, the Mayor of West Lancashire, attended and officially cut the cake, which signalled the start of Afternoon Tea. The school’s PTFA served a selection of sandwiches and cakes with tea and coffee. Guests were also given a small gift to take away with them to remind them of the special occasion. Former pupils Isla Webster and Isobel Housley also sang for the audience as they tucked in to their afternoon tea. Everyone enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new acquaintances. The weather, which had been mostly rain, stayed dry with some bouts of sunshine. Mrs Norma Rimmer, who lives on the farm next door to school, commented that ‘everyone will remember the afternoon with a warm glow in their hearts, which will stay with them forever.’

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