End of an era.
The old sports hall at Wick High School was demolished yesterday in spectacular fashion as diggers ripped into the 100-year-old property in West Banks Avenue.
Bit by bit mechanical claws tore into the walls until there was nothing left.
It was all too much for MSP Gail Ross who attended the school between 1989 and 1995 – she took to social media saying one last goodbye to her former school.
She said: “Change is inevitable but you can’t help feeling a bit sad when you see something that has been part of your past being demolished.
“I couldn’t watch the North Primary School go!”
Speaking to the Press and Journal she added: “I filmed the wall coming down in the safety of a cordoned off area.
“It’s fantastic news to have the new school campus but sad to see a big part of my life change.
“Although I have many memories on the old school I hope that the children of the next generation can create their own in the new campus.
The old Wick High School games hall coming down today.
Change is inevitable but you can't help feeling a bit sad when you see something that has been part of your past being demolished.
I couldn't watch the North Primary School go! ?@WickHigh @NOSN_MattLeslie pic.twitter.com/8rxOh8FOoP— Gail Ross MSP (@GailRossSNP) February 13, 2019
Out with the old in with the new
Pupils and staff were welcomed to into the new Wick High School campus, that also houses a swimming pool and library, following a £48.5 million redevelopment in April last year.
The facility, which replaced Wick High School, Pulteneytown Academy Primary School, and South Primary School, will receive more than £17 million from being part of the Scottish Government’s Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.
Around 400 pupils and teachers walked from the Old Pulteneytown Academy building to their new school, led by local bagpiper Alistair Miller and P7 pupil Chester Henry who also plays the pipes.
Speaking on the opening day, Lillian Wark, head teacher of Newton Park Primary said: “This is a historic day for us as pupils attending Newton Park Primary School enter the new Wick joint Campus.
Fiona Grant, head teacher of Wick High School added: “The move marks the culmination of months of preparatory work in making the transition from old to new, most recently involving each pupil having a guided tour of the school and community facilities.