In January 1996, Bishop Road celebrated its 100th birthday! The PTFA (including parents, teachers, pupils and volunteers from the local community) worked together to put on the school Centenary Celebration, a event which saw over 500 former pupils returning for one giant school reunion. Some came from as far as Australia and Canada! Local businesses contributed generous donations and prizes for a raffle to raise funds, and the thank you letters below show just how well-received the celebrations were.
Not only were old school photos from the archives displayed to bring back poignant memories, the day was full of other surprises. Reg and Ernest Silverthorne, the two oldest ex-pupils that got in contact, opened Silverthorne Hall in a grand ‘naming’ ceremony. The intricate school wall-hanging, created by teachers, parents and children, was finally completed and put on show in the hall (it is now hanging in pride of place in the new school library). The school had a huge 100th year birthday party with a giant iced cake and card, every former pupil was given a special Centenary book of photos and memories to take away with them, current pupils came and met old pupils over refreshments and all pupils were given a special Centenary mug to remember the day.
The school war memorial was also unveiled – old pupils will remember that the school war memorial, which now rests in Edgar Hall, was removed and erected in St Michaels and All Angels Church on Gloucester Road after the Second World War. Subsequently, the church closed down and to mark the Centenary, the school held a re-dedication ceremony’ in Edgar Hall which was a very special moment for many in attendance.
Below are some photographs of the celebrations, showing the huge effort by the PTFA and the impressive turnout on the day.
