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Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 

Brief history of 'Our Happy School'

 

 

 
 
 
 

Farewell and thanksgiving service marks the closure of
Hillhall Primary School

L to R: Mrs Elsie Thompson - Principal (1956 - 1972), Mrs Angela Moore - Principal (1992 - present) and Mrs Mary McKeag - Principal (1972 - 1992). (back row) The Rev Dr Jack Richardson - Minister Emeritus (Chairman of the Board of Governors), Councillor Trevor Lunn MLA - Mayor, Mrs Laureen Lunn - Mayoress, Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA - Lagan Valley MP and John Connor - Clerk of Session.

L to R: Mrs Elsie Thompson - Principal (1956 - 1972), Mrs Angela Moore - Principal (1992 - present) and Mrs Mary McKeag - Principal (1972 - 1992). (back row) The Rev Dr Jack Richardson - Minister Emeritus (Chairman of the Board of Governors), Councillor Trevor Lunn MLA - Mayor, Mrs Laureen Lunn - Mayoress, Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA - Lagan Valley MP and John Connor - Clerk of Session.

Hillhall Presbyterian Church was packed to capacity on Sunday evening 3rd June for a 'Farewell and Thanksgiving Service' to mark the closure of Hillhall Primary School this summer. Mrs Angela Moore (Principal) welcomed the congregation, Mrs Mary McKeag and Mrs Elsie Thompson (former Principals), teachers and non-teaching staff, past and present pupils and special guests Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA, His Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Trevor Lunn MLA, Mrs Laureen Lunn - Mayoress, and Ms Irene Knox - Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

Minister Emeritus, the Rev Dr Jack Richardson (who served for over 25 years as Chairman of the Board of Governors) conducted the service. His text was Ephesians 3v17 - 'May your roots go down into the soil of God's marvellous love'. He quoted a well-known educator who said, 'A child is like a tender plant - needing the proper environment in which to grow strong and healthy' and continued by saying that the significant venues within that proper environment are, the home, the church and the school. Regarding the school, he emphasised that it needs to have the confidence of parents, to be a learning environment, to educate for life and to remember the three divisions of humanity - physical, mental and spiritual.

L to R: Mrs Lynda Casement, Miss Suzanne Halliday, Mrs Heather Young, and Mrs Angela Moore - Principal. The Mayor and Mayoress meet 92 year-old Jim Rush, the oldest surviving past pupil of Hillhall Primary School.

L to R: Mrs Lynda Casement, Miss Suzanne Halliday, Mrs Heather Young, and Mrs Angela Moore - Principal.

The Mayor and Mayoress meet 92 year-old Jim Rush, the oldest surviving past pupil of Hillhall Primary School.

Mrs Mary McKeag (Past Principal) and Mrs Shirley  McAuley (PTA Chairperson) read the Scripture lessons while Mrs Angela Moore (Present Principal) gave an inspirational reading. Mr Alf Casement on organ led the congregational praise - 'Oh Christ the Same', 'Shine Jesus Shine' and 'One More Step Along the Way'. The School choir, conducted by Mrs Lynda Casement (who teaches music throughout the school) and accompanied by her husband Mr Alf Casement on piano sang 'Father in Heaven', 'The Lord's My Shepherd' and 'Remember'.

Past pupils Iris Sleator and Joe Lockhart (members of the Board of Governors) gave an interesting recollection of their memories of the school. Iris spoke of the days of cowboys and Indian games, pens that needed to be dipped in ink, blotting paper and the introduction of biros. Joe, who started at the old school in 1946, recalled using a hand truck to move equipment from the old school to the present one in 1952. He also recalled that during the war the field on which the present school is built contained 20 - 30 POW Nissan huts and spoke of his memories of seeing the prisoners being marched up and down the road when they were dismantling the nearby radar station. Present pupils - Luke Thompson, Rachel McAteer, Rachel Megaughy, Ellie Thompson, William Dougherty, Jasmine Cobbett, Lauren McGrattan and Ewan McLearn finished off the collection of memories using an acrostic poem of the letters - H.I.L.L.H.A.L.L.

A retiring offering raised £340 for Cystic Fibrosis.

Refreshments were served afterwards in the church hall, providing an opportunity for former pupils to renew old friendships and recall happy memories of their early days at the school.


Brief history of 'Our Happy School'

The first Hillhall Primary School founded in 1893. The renovated building is now the 'Youth Hall' of Hillhall Presbyterian Church.Hillhall Primary School was founded in 1893 and first met in Hillhall Presbyterian Church in what is now the 'Youth Hall' in Church Lane. The present school, built in 1952, is situated on the edge of Lisburn in beautifully maintained grounds. During World War II it was a prisoner of war camp and some of the former prisoners have since returned to visit the area. The oak tree at the entrance (for which a preservation order has been sought) was planted in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The first Principal of the present school was the late Mr Bob Johnston (1952 - 1956), who was succeeded in turn by Mrs Elsie Thompson (1956 - 1972) and Mrs Mary McKeag (1972 - 1992). The present Principal, Mrs Angela Moore took up office in January 1993.

The school, which was built for 50 pupils, has an excellent standing in the community. Forty-six pupils started in September of the current year but today only 33 children attend the school. The assistant teachers are - Mrs Heather Young and Principal Release teacher Mrs Lynda Casement. The school secretary is Mrs Catherine McAteer. The two longest serving members of staff are caretaker and supervisory assistant Mrs Mary Simpson (affectionately known as Mary) and dinner lady and supervisory assistant Mrs Patricia Fleming. Mrs Moore, Mrs Young and Mrs Casement are taking early retirement in August and in September, Miss Halliday will join the staff of Harmony Hill and Mrs McAteer will join the staff of Brownlee.

For many years, Hillhall has been rural and family orientated in ethos. The children enjoy outings to places of interest including residential trips from P5 upwards to places such as London and Paris. The exemplary behaviour of the children is frequently commented upon and the recent inspection report made reference to this fact. Hillhall prides itself on providing a full and varied curriculum. Twice-yearly concerts held in Hillhall Presbyterian Church in which all of the children participate, are highlights of each school year. The pupils have competed in Scottish dancing and have danced in Stormont Buildings and at Saintfield Show and were winners of the Laird Cup at the opening of the Ulster-Scots Festival. They have won many art awards, the most recent being the prestigious McCord Art Bursary.

Recently, the school looked for a slogan to encompass the school's ethos and the overall winner was 'Our Happy School'. Regrettably, soon after this competition, the Principal and Chair of Governors had to announce that the school would close this summer. The school will officially close at the end of August but its 33 remaining pupils will leave at the end of June.

05/06/2007