St Gabriel's Primary School celebrates golden anniversary

St Gabriel’s RC Primary School in Castleton has celebrated 50 years since the school opened its site on Vicarage Road South.

Originally located on where the motorway now crosses Manchester Road, the school opened at its present-day site on Friday 27 February 1970.

Schoolchildren, staff, parents and the local community celebrated the 50-year milestone on Thursday 20 February with an exhibition of the school’s history and official blessing by Father Michael Johonnett.

Old documents, artefacts and photographs to show how the school has changed over the past 50 years, as well as what the building was like before the new one opened, made up the exhibition, sparking much discussion from the community.

 

 

A former pupil at the school, the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, also joined in the celebrations and famous celebrities who once attended St Gabriel’s were also invited back, such as Colin Baker, the sixth Doctor Who.

The children at St Gabriel’s have been taking part in a local study to find out more regarding the history, culture and traditions that lie on their doorstep. Activities ranged from walks to the old site, meetings with past pupils and staff, as well as trying school dinners from the 70s.

 

 

Father Michael, using the original format from the formal blessing in 1970, re-enacted the historic event including some of the hymns from the original blessing with a twist of the children’s more modern favourites. Father Michael blessed the crucifixes displayed in all the classrooms which was a re-enactment of what the Bishop did 50 years ago.

Mayor Sheerin said: “I was invited as I attended after the war as a boy in the 1950s, so they asked me what it was like. My father was one of two school governors and the headmaster at the time was Anthony (Tony) Ball.

“Children sang hymns which they really enjoyed, Father Michael gave them a talk and I was able to finish off the event by reminiscing that I was there 50 years ago. I remember the school being built; it was in a field on its own with no houses or fences built around it. Things were totally different, but it was a wonderful new school full of light, compared to the old school building.

“I have many happy memories over the years, working in the school with the children, teachers and the parents, mainly due to being a governor for 15 years, and starting up the annual school pantomime, which has been produced every year for the past 40 years now.

“All my children also went to St Gabriel’s and have lots of fond memories.”