A CELEBRATION of 100 years of education will be held at Malton School next month.

Former students and staff and anyone connected with the school will be invited to a special event and an appeal has been made to anyone with memorabilia to get in touch to help with a display.

The school was founded by the Archbishop of York in 1547 but is celebrating its centenary at the current site this year as the East Wing was opened as Malton Grammar School on September 25, 1911 by Earl Fitzwilliam.

Malton Grammar School began with 40 pupils, both boys and girls, which was quite unusual at the time, and soon grew to more than 100.

Fees of nine guineas per year were payable, though there were free places for 25 per cent of the school’s population.

The first head teacher – and there have only been seven in 100 years – was a young man named Ernest Loraine Watt, who took up the post aged 33, and remained as head until his death in 1937.

Deputy head Steve Fearnley said Malton School was also celebrating the 40th anniversary of its creation as an 11-18 comprehensive school, when Malton County Modern and Malton Grammar School joined forces in 1971.

“We would be delighted to hear from people connected with the school. In particular, we would welcome the loan of any memorabilia – uniform, exercise books, photographs – anything connected with the school’s past,” he added.

Mr Fearnley, who has written a book on the history of the school, and is responsible for creating and maintaining the school archives, said a display of archive material from the early days would be available to parents of current and prospective students at this year’s open evening tomorrow (Thursday).

The centenary celebration will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 7pm–9pm.

“Invites will be going out to former students and staff and others connected with the school’s long past, and we would love to hear from anyone who would like to come,” Mr Fearnley said.

“The evening will provide an informal opportunity for reunions of former school friend and guided tours of the school will be possible, so that people can see how things have changed over the years.”

He added that current students will also make some short presentations about school life in 1911, 1971 and 2011, and there will be some musical items.

A light buffet will be available and there will be a licensed bar.

“We are very proud of our school’s long history and very grateful for the continued support and interest we receive from former students and staff,” added Mr Fearnley.

I always enjoy meeting people and hearing their recollections of school days – so look forward to seeing new and old faces at our event on October 18.

“We continue to preserve all that is good from our traditional approach, while embracing change and development in order to move Malton School forward.”

To get in touch write to: Centenary Celebrations, Malton School, Middlecave Road, YO18 7SX, e-mail stf@maltonschool.org or phone 01653 692828.

The Gazette & Herald will be running a series of features to mark Malton School’s centenary celebrations. Anyone who has any old photographs from the school that they would like to include should contact Karen Darley on 01653 695600 or email maltongazette@gazetteherald.co.uk

We would also welcome photographs from other former and current schools in the area to include in the paper.