Catholic primary school celebrates 50th anniversary with new cross from recycled benches
A primary school in Sleaford has celebrated the 50th anniversary of being in its current location with a special visit by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham to bless a new cross made from recycled benches.
The Rt Rev Patrick Joseph McKinney blessed a newly installed wooden cross that has been placed on an outer wall at the rear of Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Primary School to mark the milestone.
The cross has been made by Wayne Chawner, whose wife is deputy headteacher at the school which has been based at its present location on The Drove since October 2, 1974.
Newly appointed headteacher Paul Tibble explained: "The school originally opened in a building behind the catholic church in town in 1882, but then moved here in 1974.
“We wanted to do something to mark the occasion and the cross has been made from some old cloakroom benches that we had in school by Wayne.”
The bishop was invited to bless the cross after leading a special mass in school which saw three former headteachers and other former members of staff as guests as well. there were also parishioners and representatives of the Nottingham Diocese and the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, to which the school is affiliated.
With the actual anniversary being today (Wednesday, October 2), the school is planning to have a ‘Through the Decades’ day on Friday, when staff and pupils will be invited to dress up in period outfits from one of the decades of the last 50 years. Former staff and pupils will also be invited along to look at a collection of old photos and an example of an old school log book from 1974 that teachers used to fill in each day.