Updates and Correspondence.

This page is aimed at providing a forum for correspondence from former students and to provide up to date information relating to the old school, which by definition won't be lot, but you never know?

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"Students Write"

From:    Ron Dolman    From:   Betty Maslen    From:   Brenda Russell

From:   Reg Everest     From:   Pam West           From:   Tony Collins

From:   Marie South, a 1945 starter                       From: Peter Raymond

From:   Bob Benbow     From: Peter Wood         From : Ken Noble

From :  Kenneth Watson   From: Doreen Bennett

From :  Markham Bailey    From: David Strutt

From:   Others. Short messages and "Snippets"

A Visit to the "Old School" - 26 Sep 2001.

The Local History Museum at Bruce Castle had readily agreed an appointment to look over the material they had relating to Downhills. They did warn that there was not too much there and much of it was incomplete. However "the odd register and admissions book may be of interest". Still having friends living in the area, if I visited them as well, it was going to be a full day, plus the fact I had to work that evening meant there was not a lot of time to spare.

Prior to Bruce Castle, I took a look at the the school. One aim was to get some up-to-date pictures of it. Assuming it had not been knocked about too much, we could take some new photos and place them on the web site. You will all appreciate it is not easy to get a good view of the buildings. You have to be on-site to get a good picture - if anyone has access to aerial photography at a discount, viz. free, get in touch! It had not proven possible to ascertain exactly what use the school is being put. It turned out it is now a day-centre for adults with learning difficulties. The person in charge (who was using the Head's Office) was most welcome and intrigued to think anyone had an interest in the place.

It was my first time back at the school in, say, 38 years. Walking down the top path, it was as if it were only yesterday that I had left. One thing that stuck home was that the place was so very small! One must get a completely different perspective when young, or does it change as you get older? The place seemed tiny! There have been major internal changes, rooms A and B are now one and C has been reconstructed. The decor is er..... "modern".

Nobody was willing to take the decision on whether external photographs could be taken, I would have to ask the council. A return visit to Bruce Castle is on the cards anyway, so it can be arranged.

The field is no more. At the top of the field, there is now a single storey building run by the NSPCC. There is a remnant of the field between the back of this building and the north side of the school. The path along the north wall leading to the girls' playground has gone, the grass now goes up to the wall. A small "extension" protrudes onto the field from the NE corner. I was told the Huts and the Woodwork/needlework rooms had been demolished.

The staff were aware someone was looking for the picture of the "Beaverford"! More intriguing was that a few years earlier somebody else had done the same.

The material at Bruce Castle has provided all the information to complete the students list from 1946-61. Rita Read is a mistress of understatement to say they did not have much. It was priceless stuff. One had to very disciplined not to just sit there and swim in a sea of pure nostalgia.