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Dated
20 November
2008
The idea for this web site
came after the success of the
Brierley Village web site,
and after visiting the
Hemsworth Grammar school web site that is run by one of my old
Willowgarth High
School teachers Dave McKenzie. I especially liked
the idea of ex pupils leaving their
contact details to allow other
ex pupils/teachers to get in touch. I will attempt to follow this
idea (after informing Dave McKenzie I am pinching his idea) and if I
gain half the success that the Hemsworth web site as achieved with
it then I will be more than pleased.
I could have easily added
this new site as an add on to my
Brierley Village web site, but I
felt that after 110 years service to the village of Brierley, St
Paul's memories deserved better and a web site of its own.
I followed the demolition of
St Paul's with my camera and mentioned to the workmen about a time
capsule that we buried in the school grounds. They were very eager
to help me find it during the demolition but we didn't have any
luck. We did however manage to salvage one of the old school gates
and Mike Reed the headmaster at
the new school has promised to have it cemented into the grounds of the
new school. We also salvaged a couple of young trees and hopefully
by now they will also be planted in the grounds of the new school. The
best surprise for me however, was when they unearthed one of the
small coop milk bottles that we used to have our milk in every morning.
Not much to look at but oh how the
memories came
flooding back. It was really sad to see the old school go but after
watching it lay in ruins for years and becoming more of an eyesore
everyday, I suppose it was for the best. I don't want to bore people
at this point and risk a debate, but felt I had to mention that the
way the Church handled the selling of the old school and its grounds
was a disgrace. If handled properly,
the school, for the benefit of the village people and not for
profit, should have been modernised and put to village use as it was
intended when the land was donated
(see Richard
Watson's search of the school deeds).
Anyway, the school has gone
but hopefully its memory will live on through this web site and its
thanks to Phil and Linda Hand (nee Spaxman) from
Amazon Rainwater Systems
for sponsoring the web site and paying all site fees. Hope
you enjoy it. Please feel free to send in any contribution you may
wish to make to the site.
Gary Hotchins webmaster November 2008
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