Special guest joins celebration

Mervyn King opens the new classroom at Old Town School.

Lord King, who was a pupil at the school in the 1950s, talked to pupils and staff and also looked around the new facilities at the Wadsworth school.

The project, which began in 2012, received much support from local organisations including Hebden Bridge Round Table, Rotary, the Parish councils and Lord King himself, who made a donation of £1,000 to the build.

It opened in January 2015 and means that all children are now taught under one roof, but the official opening was held off until the school’s special visitor was able to come along.

Headteacher Janette Batty said: “We’ve hung on until Lord King was free and it was an absolutely fantastic day.

“He spoke to all the children and delivered a really inspirational speech, talking about his own experience and also encouraging the children to aim high.

“We had a big picnic as part of the celebration and also a performance.

“It was a really brilliant day and lots of the families came to join in.”