Orielton CP School has closed its doors for the last time after 144 years of educating children. The school celebrated this achievement by presenting an interactive history tour for past pupils, parents, staff and friends of the school and by hosting an end of school party for the children. Happy memories were revisited as visitors browsed the photographic displays and enjoyed activities such as quizzes, a history trail around the school and abacus tutorials, all presented by the enthusiastic ‘seagull Billy guides.’ Seagull Billy has been the school mascot ever since the headmaster’s son rescued an injured gull back in the earliest days of the school.

On the very last day of term, the PTA threw a celebration party for the children including bouncy castles, magician and a fun photo booth for friends to remember the afternoon. Pupils, parents and staff were also joined by local residents, past parents and past pupils to ensure the school got the send off it deserved. Olive Le Britton-Booth, chair of the school council, wrote this poem to close the Orielton Book of Memories: “The seagull has had happy and sad times throughout history and after 144 years it is finally time to be set free. He will never forget us and we will never forget him. He is thinking of us as he flies gracefully through the sky.”

The staff and PTA would like to thank the local community for all their support over the years and for all their interest in these two events.

Although the school has closed, a new school, Penrhyn Church in Wales VC School, will open to cater for the whole Angle/Castlemartin peninsula and it will be situated in Hundleton.