Familiar faces have been reunited at one of Cumbria’s largest schools, as it hosts celebrations marking its 50th anniversary.

Former pupils mingled with retired staff in the bright, modern surroundings of Jubilee Hall - the main entrance to Trinity School, Carlisle.

Members of the current cohort of youngsters making their way through the school were also on hand to welcome visitors, leading many of them on tours of the facilities which have been transformed in recent years.

Among those to be reunited with an old face was Derek Kay, one of the two co-headteachers who leads the 1,700-pupil school today.

He said: “I’ve just bumped into a maths teacher who was here in 1968. He was a lecturer at my college, the Scottish School of Physical Education, when I was there in the late seventies.

“I never knew he’d worked here until he walked in today and we made the link.”

Mr Kay’s fellow co-head Sheila Johnston said: “This place is all about the students and when you think about the 50 years how many have been through those doors you know it has an impact on the community of Carlisle.

“It has been wonderful to hear the range of stories from ex-pupils. So many have gone on to do wonderful things. For instance there’s someone here who has been instrumental in running the London Olympics and it has also been incredible to hear the stories of the first four girls to start at the school in 1968 and walk through the doors into what had been a male establishment.

“Hearing the first head girl telling you that they hadn’t even thought about the girls’ toilets then and how a sign had to be made, you can imagine how big a change it was to the education system.”

Mrs Johnston also said that this week’s celebrations are a reminder of the secret of Trinity’s success – its students and providing education for all.

Others reminiscing at the school during Thursday’s open afternoon included Duncan Sharpe, of Rainhill in Merseyside.

Originally from Houghton, Duncan, 56, was a pupil at Trinity School from 1973 to 1980.

“I spotted this on Facebook,” he said. “I thought it isn’t something that is going to happen every day so it was worth travelling up.

“My dad used to be a maths teacher here, George Sharpe.”

Duncan, who also went on to become a maths teacher, added: “Even though I’ve driven by the school when I’ve been back, I’ve never been in it since I left in 1980. It has changed so much.

“I thought it was an excellent school back then and I get a good vibe here.

“When I came here there were 330 pupils in a year group and we’d be split into two halves.”

Co-headteacher Derek Kay also said: “People have a lot of pride in this school and when you hear them talking they aren’t talking about the quirky things that happen, they are talking about the people who had an impact on their lives.”

A service was held at Carlisle Cathedral on Thursday evening, which saw around 200 guests gather to reflect on the five decades of Trinity School through performances, poetry and speeches from staff and pupils past and present.

Thursday’s events were carefully researched and planned by a small team at Trinty School including headteachers’ PA Judith Clarke, web developer John Kelly, school business manager Karen Rosary and assistant headteacher Declan McArdle.

Trinity School opened in 1968 amid the move to create comprehensive schools. It was formed when Carlisle Grammar School amalgamated with The Margaret Sewell School, which was for girls, and The Creighton School for boys.