LOMOND School kicked off its 40th birthday celebrations in style with a series of events at the weekend.

Marking 40 years since the merger of Larchfield Boys’ Perparatory School and St Bride’s Girls’ School, the centrepiece of the celebrations was a church service and reception on Friday, attended by several former pupils.

The service, at Helensburgh Parish Church, was attended by staff, pupils, parents, governors, former pupils and past head teachers, as well as invited guests from Argyll and Bute Council.

Provost Len Scoullar and council leader Aileen Morton were present to hear the history of the school, the present-day picture at Lomond and a look to the future.

The service saw pupils past and present celebrate the school through its history with Kandy Muggoch (née Dundas) providing a look back to the beginnings of the school.

Current school captain and vice-captains Cameron Kemp, Mark Sullivan and Mackenzie Serpell respectively shared their thoughts on the school in the present day, and Andrew Greig, head of modern languages, along with Jemma Doherty (S4) and Olivia Kershaw-Yates (J4), completed the circle with a look to the future.

Music was also enjoyed by the congregation with Lomond pupil Lily Garthwaite, and former pupils Sarah Clinch and Becca Hordern all performing during the service.

Two notable former pupils of Larchfield and St Bride’s were also invited to the service and reception – West of Scotland MSP Maurice Corry and Gill Aikenhead, vice-lieutenant of the County of Dunbartonshire.

For both the event was an opportunity for a nostalgic look back, but also to see how life at school had changed.

Ms Aitkenhead said: “It’s a pleasure to be back in the St Bride’s building helping to celebrate this milestone for Lomond School.

“Although much has changed, it’s lovely to see that St Bride’s Hall is still at the heart of the building and there are many areas that would still be recognisable to Bridesians.

Mr Corry added: “I have many fond memories of Larchfield and my contemporaries there. I am sure they would be astounded to see the modern Larchfield Hall, that we’re standing in.

“Lomond is clearly going from strength to strength and I wish the school every success in its 40th anniversary year.”

David Arthur, the school’s first principal, was unable to attend, but sent a message to be read to the reception at school in which he asked that those gathered remember the founders of the school and the enormous amount of work that had been required to create a new entity.

Mr Arthur’s successor, Angus Macdonald, attended and was delighted to find the school in good spirits.

Friday’s celebrations were followed by a sports weekend for former pupils on Saturday and Sunday, featuring hotly-contested football, rugby, hockey and netball matches, while there was also heavy Lomond involvement in the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club’s regatta at the weekend.

Among the ex-pupils participating in the football match was Richard Crawford, who played in the over-23s team during a visit to Scotland from his new home in Australia.

Richard, who now lives in Bathurst, New South Wales, said: “Lomond is very special to me. Not only did I enjoy my time at school but I’m very grateful that the school was instrumental in setting up a year as a gap student in Bathurst when I was 18.

“I also met my wife, Kate, through Lomond, as she came to Helensburgh from Australia as a PE assistant after I had left school.”

The traditional Lomond FPs’ rugby match took on a new twist this year as a team of ex-pupils, captained by David Clark and Liam McIntyre, took on a Helensburgh RFC select to celebrate the long-standing links between the school and the club, while the annual former pupils’ hockey match saw the school’s present-day pupils beat their FP counterparts.

In the first ever former pupils’ netball match, the school’s current team beat Lomond’s former pupils 25-10, with a very happy Katie McGlinchey accepting a shiny new trophy from Tobes Merriman.

The weekend’s RNCYC regatta also saw the incorporation of a Lomond School Trophy and team challenge in the weekend’s programme, with Lomond’s team of Charlotte Ingle, Helena Geoghan and Iona and Ian Symon producing excellent performances against strong opposition on the first day, and Grouse, sailed by governor Linda Pender and former pupil Ailsa Pender winning the Lomond School Trophy after competing in the Sonar Scottish national championship on Sunday.

The regatta’s brand new team challenge also saw Lomond success, with pupils Tom and Harry Matthews, from J5 and J3 respectively, winning the top prize after a series of water-based and land-based tasks throughout the Helensburgh and Rhu area over the weekend in a type of nautical treasure hunt.

Further events to mark the school’s 40th birthday are planned later in the year.