Hundreds of former pupils of Skipton’s Aireville School are being urged to attend what is being billed as the school’s biggest-ever reunion.

It is hoped more than 300 former pupils now in their 30s and 40s will go along to the school on Friday, March 1, to meet up with old friends and teachers.

The reunion, which will take place in the school hall, will be open to all those who attended Aireville between 1984 and 1994.

Patrick Dowman, who was at the time one of the heads of years, said: “We will welcome students who fall slightly outside these years.”

The event is being organised by three former heads of year, Maggie Tookey, Pauline Jackson and Patrick Dowman but they have great support from former pupils and present Aireville staff.

They have advertised the event on Facebook.

“I suddenly have 500 ‘friends’ and I only launched a Facebook page a few weeks ago,” said Maggie. “The enthusiasm is infectious.”

She said the event would serve a double purpose.

She was recently awarded the MBE for her work in Africa and all the proceeds from the evening will go to support an orphanage for street children and an Aids widows programme in Kisumu, Western Kenya.

“Aireville School has always been a supporter of my agency’s projects,” said Maggie. “I’m proud to be associated with the school.”

The organisers would also like to thank both Tesco and Morrisons in Skipton which have contributed towards the food for the evening.

Tickets are available from the Cross Keys pub in Skipton, Rugged Ways on Skipton’s High Street and the Elm Tree pub at Embsay.

They will not be available on the door.