St Gregory’s R.C. Primary School celebrating its 90th birthday

This June, St Gregory’s R.C. Primary School celebrated 90 years since it was founded.

The School opened in 1926 and since then has actively served the surrounding Deepdale community by teaching over 18,000 children.

To mark the special anniversary, the school held an afternoon of activities which were themed around each decade of its operation and produced a timeline of photos running through the school, donated by past pupils.

The school children, staff and past pupils all enjoyed a birthday picnic to help celebrate.

Head Girl, Seranne Gregory, said: “We’ve really enjoyed learning all about the school’s history and taking part in the activities.

“Making a time capsule and burying it in the grounds was really cool.

“I’d love to know what the people living in the future think when it’s dug up!”

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Teaching assistant and former pupil, Julie Hetko, remembered how the children used to enjoy the summer. She said: “They would put up a big paddling pool at the back of the school and we’d spend the whole afternoon in it splashing about having fun.

“You don’t get to do things like that today.”

Former pupil and now School Office Manager, Michelle Talbot, said: “My lasting memory is of the old school canteen at the top of the playground.

“We would drink out of tin cups – I’ll never forget the taste of the tin or the smell of the canteen!”

Many pupils from the school have gone on to success in a wide variety of careers such as David Lucas, a former footballer for PNE and Sheffield United who now coaches Fleetwood FC, and brothers Kevin and Farrell Kilbane who went on to play football for Ireland.

Headteacher, Philip Bates, said: “The 90^th anniversary gave us a great opportunity to look back on the school’s history and look forward to what the next 90 years will bring.

“The pupils buried a time-capsule in the grounds with information about our history and what life at the school is like now.

“Who knows what it will be like in 90 years?

“Maybe if some of the children are still alive they will come back and see how much it’s changed!”

The school will be holding a formal celebration on 29 June.

Did you go to St Gregory’s R.C. Primary School? Did you help celebrate its 90th anniversary? Let us know in the comments below