IT was a day for reminiscing when over 100 former pupils returned to a Huddersfield school yesterday.

They were there for one last look at Moldgreen Junior Infants and Nursery School before the bulldozers move in.

The school bell will ring for the last time on December 17 and then work will start on demolishing the 130-year-old building.

But yesterday's visitors enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Acquaintances were renewed and stories were swapped as the current pupils worked as normal.

Head teacher Mr Bob Whitehead said: "So many people have visited, former pupils, teachers and head teachers - one former teacher, Mr Trevor Burgin, who taught here in 1951 even taught a class for a quarter of an hour!

"It's a sad day for me as I was a pupil here for four years and I have been teaching here for 20 but we are looking forward to having a new building.

"This was built in 1873 for Victorian education. It has served its purpose well but now we have to move on."

It will take up to two years before the new building opens on the same site.

In the meantime children will be taught in portable buildings in the recreation ground adjoining Ravensknowle Park.

The open day was organised by Mrs Lorraine Zito, school community development worker, and Ms Cheryl Hall, learning mentor.

"We got the archives out and old pictures of the school and past pupils which people have enjoyed looking at," said Mrs Zito.

"One lady told me it was the first time she had been in the boys' school because it was segregated when she was a pupil ."

Mrs Hilda Townend, of Ravensknowle Road, 76, remembered the little cot beds which she and other four-year-olds used in the afternoons. "I never liked them," she admitted.

She was returning with three generations of her family who attended the school.

"All of my three children came here, my five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and they all enjoyed it," she said.

Daughter, Barbara Tracey, 49, of Julian Street, Moldgreen, said she had good memories as a pupil and then as a parent helper. One of the first to go to the school's nursery was her daughter 26-year-old Sarah Tracey.

Completing the four generations were Rhyce, nine, and Bradley, four, who are both looking forward to the new school.

They and another couple of special guests were brought to the school in a limousine provided by Mackness funeral directors, of Moldgreen.

Alice Scott, 94, of Victoria Street, Moldgreen, and Winifred Wood, 90, of Birkhouse Lane, are believed to be the oldest living former pupils.

Mrs Wood said: "I feel sad in a way but I suppose as time goes on things have to alter and I am glad the new school is going to be built in the same place."

David Flint Wood came to Huddersfield from Somerset in 1947.

He said: "In 1949 they amalgamated the two school and made it co-educational and in 1953/54 Rawthorpe High School was built and the seniors moved there.

"This was the old Moldgreen Board School - and the wall between the boys' school and the girls' school was guarded!"