An 87-year-old grandmother is to be guest of honour when Holy Family School formally opens its new language college.

Annie O'Connell, of Upper Hird Street, is a long-standing member of Keighley's Catholic community and grandmother of Scott Adams, a former Holy Family pupil.

Scott, 38, who now runs a nutritional drinks company in Wigan, donated £15,000 to the school's language college fund two years ago.

Deputy head Sean Gilligan asked Annie if she would perform the opening of the school's new Language College at St Anne's Church.

It is believed that she is one of Keighley's oldest Catholics and was one of the first ever pupils at St Joseph's RC Primary School.

Her husband owned a quarry, and his stone forms the front of St Joseph's Church.

Annie said: "Over the years I've always gone to church and helped with all the things I can."

As a former member of St Joseph's Mothers Union she helped organise concerts and coffee mornings.

Her opening duties, though, will merely require her to cut a ribbon.

"I won't have to make a speech and I'm sure it will be very nice," she said.

Annie's moment of glory comes on Friday, November 16, when the opening is staged at 7pm.

It follows two years of planning and building work funded by a £100,000 grant presented to the school in 1999, when it was awarded specialist Language College status by the Education Department.

Since then the school is fast becoming a centre of excellence for an array of languages taught to its pupils and the wider community in a series of adult evening courses.

The new college has state-of-the art language-teaching equipment.

Parents and interested parties will be able to see these new facilities for themselves.

The Danny Ryan Memorial Presentation Dance follows at 8pm the same night. This sees five Keighley youngsters each receiving a share of £2,000 for their courage in illness or disability.

The awards began 17 years ago in memory of a former deputyhead teacher who died in 1985.

Tickets to the dance cost £5 and are available at the school (tel: 01535 210212). Entertainment includes music from Sambuca and The Wild Rovers.