Parents, former pupils and teachers were all invited to take a trip down memory lane last week to celebrate Henry Bloom Noble School’s 100 year history.
Around 1,000 visitors attended the open week held at Fairfield Junior School, in Tynwald Street, Douglas, and Ballacloan Infants’ School, in Demesne Road, to mark the school’s rich history.
Visitors had the chance to view old photographs and trophies, tour the school and also reminisce with old friends.
Named after the renowned Douglas businessman and benefactor who died in 1903, Henry Bloom Noble is an amalgamation of Ballacloan Infants’ School and Fairfield Junior schools.
It became known as Henry Bloom Noble in 2014, the same year as Education Minister Tim Crookall secured Tynwald approval for £9.5m to replace both of the ageing sites with a new purpose-built school on the old Noble’s Hospital site in Westmoreland Road.
Head teacher Ian Walmsley said he was ‘delighted’ with the turnout over the week and said everyone who attended enjoyed looking at old records and photographs.
‘We had people in their 80s who recounted what life was like in school during the war, a group of ex-pupils who were delighted to find an old football trophy that they had won, and many conversations between people that began with “Do you remember when?”
‘The week was an emotional time for many and there was quite a few tears shed.’
Mr Walmsley said it was important to mark the closing of both Douglas schools.
He said: ‘We are, of course, really excited to be moving to new premises, the facilities both inside and out are absolutely fantastic, but it’s also tinged with a little sadness.
‘I always say that our school is full of character and characters.
‘The characters will, of course, be coming with us and we hope to take some of the character as well.’