After 126 Years, Walker Road School Closes Its Doors and Greyhope School Takes Its Place
Key Highlights :
Yesterday, the school bell at Walker Road School in Torry, Aberdeen rang for the last time. After 126 years, the school closed its doors for the last time as the 329 pupils and their teachers took to their desks at the new Greyhope School on Tullos Circle. The final day of term brought the curtain down on one of Aberdeen’s oldest schools, which opened during Queen Victoria’s reign in March 1897.
Walker Road School had a roll of 600 pupils when it first opened, peaking in 1938, with 1,600 pupils across 38 classes. During the Second World War, troops were billeted to the school. For many generations of Torry children, Walker Road was a place of learning, education, and growth.
The new Greyhope School is located on the site of the old Torry Academy, so a new name was needed. A consultation with parents, staff and pupils led to a shortlist of possible names for the school, based on local geographical features and place names. The four shortlisted were Grampian, Greyhope, Torry and Walker. In total, 579 responses were cast, with 45.77% of the vote selecting Greyhope. The name Greyhope comes from Greyhope Bay, which is located in Torry near the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour and is known for its population of dolphins.
The P&J was given access to take the final ever class photos this week, capturing the school’s final ever cohort of pupils and staff for posterity. An open evening was held to let people see inside the building for one last time.
As the school bell rang for the last time, it marked the end of an era for Walker Road School. But it also marked the beginning of a new era for Greyhope School, and the generations of Torry children who will learn and grow in the years to come.
