A RYEDALE primary school is celebrating two special anniversaries this weekend with a birthday party for past and present pupils.

West Heslerton Primary School is marking 50 years on its current site and 130 years since the original school was built on what is now the village hall in Church Street.

Lunches were eaten in the previous village hall in the Old Scarborough Road in a building that residents remember as being built of corrugated metal.

This was thought to have been demolished when the A64 was re-routed.

The first name on the school register was Frank Tindall in 1887.

Over the years the school expanded and during the 1960s both the old school and the village hall were used to teach pupils. The school became too overcrowded so a new school built at the very top of High Street on land donated by the Dawnay Estate and opened on April 10, 1967.

Former pupil Jane Ware said: “I remember very well the building of the new school and how we used to play on the building site. I lived in the village from birth to 19 and it will be a trip down memory lane to return.”

The school will be celebrating 50 years on the current site on Saturday, from 11am to 2pm.

Head teacher Rachel Wells said: “We are delighted to welcome everyone to our school as it reaches its 50-year milestone.

“We look forward to welcoming former staff and pupils to see how the school has evolved in the last half century whilst maintaining the quality of care that the school is renown for.

“We look forward to celebrating the exciting new features of our school and our nationally recognised outstanding practice.

“We are looking forward to hearing many happy memories from the past 50 years and to finding out what individuals have achieved since their time at Heslerton School.”

“We would like to invite all present and past pupils to celebrate with us from 11am to 3pm on this day. Come along and relive your days at school, meet old friends and enjoy memories.

“We will be serving tea and coffee but feel free to bring a picnic and spend time reminiscing together.”