Procession To New Dingwall School

980 pupils from Dingwall Academy were joined today by staff, guests and former pupils for a lively procession from the old school down the hill to the new £28 million community school.

Before the procession started both the school and the St Andrew flags were lowered from their poles above the front entrance while 17 year old pupil Cammy Bell played a bagpipe tune especially compiled for the occasion.

The school pipes and drum band then started up, giving a rousing performance throughout the march.  Taking pride of place at the front of the procession was Mr Jackie Fraser (80) who had taken part in the procession to Dingwall Academy from the Tulloch Street building in 1939.  He was delighted to be able to take part and to have the special honour of carrying the lead flag.  The procession was all the more colourful thanks to the eye catching banners representatives from all the feeder primary schools were proudly holding high.

Many people from the town turned up to cheer and line the route as the procession slowly made its way down the hill and around the leisure centre to enter the new school through the main entrance.  Youngest pupils, Emily Cooper and Kyle Sharp had the task of hoisting up the new flags on the flag poles situated at the entrance.  The musicians were enthusiastically applauded and then pupils made their way indoors to start their school day.

Head Teacher Graham Mackenzie was very pleased with how well the procession had gone and how many people from the community had come out to watch the event.  He said:  “It really is fitting that the wider community came along as the new school is very much a community school.  Staff and pupils can now look forward to settling in and starting a new era of secondary education in Dingwall.”