BRAM Longstaffe Nursery School on Barrow Island continued its 50-year celebrations in 1989 with a birthday cake cut by the longest-serving staff member Edna Burke and the headteacher Sheila Palmen.

A second cake was cut later in the day by the nursery’s headmistress from 1939 to 1969 Miss Doris Raby and Mrs Bram Longstaffe, the widow of the man responsible for nursery education in Barrow.

Tiny tots from Bram Longstaffe Nursery were in fine voice during a sponsored nursery rhyme sing at the end of the summer term in 1989.

It coincided with the nursery school’s birthday celebrations.

The event raised £350 for Age Concern to pay for a music centre.

In 1995 another nursery facility for Barrow toddlers was officially opened.

A satellite classroom of Bram Longstaffe Nursery was unveiled at South Walney Infant School by Cumbria county councillor Alf Horne.

The nursery, which cost £20,000, would provide nursery education for 26 youngsters.

Funding, provided by the county council, was used to provide new furniture, books, play equipment and a new hard surface play area.

Anne Hardy, headteacher of parent nursery school Bram Longstaffe, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with South Walney School to provide quality nursery education in the area.

"The Bram Longstaffe nursery school satellite class has been in two locations in Barrow over the course of the last five years and we pride ourselves in knowing that we have been able to go where there is a particular need.

"In this instance the area committee has helped provide us with premises that are second to none."

In 1996 the pupils of Bram Longstaffe Nursery School held a sponsored obstacle race, with slides and tunnels to negotiate as part of the course.

The aim was to raise funds for new library equipment, to replace old furniture and blinds.

The nursery was keen to improve the range of resources for the development of English skills by equipping a new library and making a newly-converted room available for study and speech therapy work.