AN OPEN day to say a fond farewell to the existing Wallyford Primary School has been hailed a “resounding success” by the chairman of the local community council.

Alister Hadden praised the parent council, which organised the event on Saturday, as everyone enjoyed a trip down memory lane.

School photographs from the 1950s to the present day were on display at the Salters Road school as staff and pupils prepare to move into a new £18.9 million facility being built to cope with the influx of new housing in the area.

Mr Hadden said that visitors of all ages queued for the opening of the school doors at 10.30am, adding: “There was a constant steady flow of people and families, along with former teachers, to see the vast amount of photos that were on display.”

The photos also featured the former Crookston School, which closed in 1957/58.

Mr Hadden, a former Crookston pupil, added: “On display were also trophies with many of the former pupils’ names on them.

“People got the opportunity to take a trip around the school to see their old classroom, in some cases for the first time in 30 years. Visitors also enjoyed coffee, soft drinks, cake and biscuits served by members of the parent council.

“The open day gave dozens of people the opportunity to meet classmates they had not seen for numerous years.

“They all thoroughly enjoyed catching up with each other and many individuals took along their own photos of their memories at Wallyford over the decades.”

The open day was also supported by local councillors and keen photographer Angus Bathgate, from Wallyford, who caught the event on camera for posterity.

Mr Hadden said: “All the organisers and those who contributed with memorabilia are to be congratulated for all their hard work, time and effort in bringing this event together.

“Thanks also to everyone who came and supported this Wallyford Primary School open day, making it such a memorable, successful occasion before its doors close.”

Pauline Clark, parent council representative, said: “What a day it was. There were so many stories and so many happy people. It was a great success.”

Ward councillor Kenny McLeod added: “I attended P1 at Wallyford Primary School as I stayed on Salters Road before moving to Tranent.

“I played in the grounds of the school as I grew up and kept being chased by the janitor whose house looked on to the school. The children and teachers of Wallyford Primary will be super excited and looking forward to the attending the new school.”

The existing school will soon close and move to the new building, which is nearing completion on the outskirts of the village on Future’s Way at the St Clements Wells development.

The Wallyford school project has received a £4.5 million grant from the Scottish Government’s Schools for the Future scheme.

The new school comes amid the construction of 2,050 new houses in the Wallyford area, while the council is minded to grant planning permission for another 600 homes at Dolphingstone to the east of the existing site, subject to conclusion of the relevant legal agreements.