THERE was a day to remember in 1987 when staff, parents and pupils celebrated the centenary of the village school at Askam.

The Mail, on Tuesday, September 29, noted: “While pupils marked the special day with a variety of events, such as tree planting, a tea party and the burial of a time capsule, parents and grandparents poured over old school log books and photographs in a centenary exhibition.

“Among those reflecting on their schooldays was Flo Cain, who at 89 was the oldest ex-pupil living in Askam.

“She was invited to plant a shrub in the school garden and was then presented with a bouquet by youngest pupil Lynne Braithwaite.

“The oldest pupil, Alan Hughes, presented her with a centenary plate and Brendan Keverne handed over a centenary sampler, worked on by himself and other members of his class.”

The pupils wore Victorian clothes and sampled games from the 1880s.

They also had a go at Victorian education, writing on slates as a stern portrait of Queen Victoria looked down on them.

The article noted: “After a day full of events, the children sat down to a centenary tea where a huge cake was cut and they were each presented with a centenary mug.

The foundation stone of the school was laid on September 28 in 1887 and the building was remodelled to create a county primary school in 1977.

Former pupil, the Askam councillor Fred Baker, said the school had 150 pupils in his day and the teachers were Miss Smith, Miss Beck, Tom Bell, Bill Tyson, Ernie Bateson and Mr Brown.