BACK in 1997 youngsters at Barrow's Yarlside School took part in the range of July events to celebrate the building's silver jubilee.

There was a gala on the school field, a fun day featuring an obstacle course, a sculpture contest, disco and a production of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

Stephen Phillips got to play the title role as the troubled Danish prince — whose stage props included the skull of poor Yorick.

Other pupils to take leading roles in the show included Lisa Walker and Anthony Owen.

Old uniforms and pictures were brought in by former pupils, some dating back to the school's first days in 1972.

A week of activities ended with a Silver Jubilee Party where all the children received commemorative mugs.

Barrow's 1997 mayor, Margaret Martindale, got into the 25th anniversary spirit and visited the school to be the judge of the sculpture contest.

In a silver jubilee programme, headteacher Barbara Lowes noted: "The school has always sought to be a focal point in the community.

"We have shared many things together, including choir concerts, harvest teas and harvest gifts."

Youngsters from the 46-strong school choir — aged from five to nine — made a big impact when they gave concerts for the Furness Carers Association at the Trinity Church Centre and at Barrow Sixth Form College for the NSPCC in 1994.

An article in The Mail, on December 8, noted: "Well-known songs like Daddy wouldn't buy be a Bow-wow and other music hall numbers of the early 1900s brings a touch of nostalgia for older people."

In February 1989 youngsters were shown around the Barrow lifeboat, the James Bibby, by mechanic Fred Keenan.

He was able to answer all their questions with ease until Craig Shaw, aged six, asked: "Where are the torpedoes kept?"

November in 1994 saw 31 pupils and three adults head to the Kingswood Centre on the Shropshire and Staffordshire border for a mix of outdoor pursuits and environmental study.

After a strenuous day of computing, basketball, fencing and quiz, Marc, one of the pupils on the trip noted: "When I went to bed everybody was talking so I got to sleep at two o'clock in the morning and I woke up at 5am."

By November 2006 the Yarlside Nursery and Primary School had its own website.

The school at Red Oak Avenue had a new ICT suite for the 220 pupils to develop technology skills, said acting headteacher Claire Miller.

She said: "Children enjoy coming to school and are very enthusiastic."