BIRKDALE NEWS
March 2003

 Closure Threat Update

As many of you will know by now, the Directors’ announced in January a proposal to close the school at the end of the summer term if no solutions could be found to keep it going.

Much has been happening over the past couple of months. Here is a summary of some of the things that have been taking place:

•  
• Letters of support have been coming in from parents, ex-pupils and staff. Many have also written to their local MP’s and other influential people.
   
• Petitions have been signed with nearly 5,000 signatures reached and these were handed into 10 Downing Street on 26^th March.
   
• Southport MP John Pugh has lent his support as well as Lord Fearn and a number of Education Ministers, including Mr Dowd.
   
• Staff have been working hard looking at various options in order to find ways to keep the school running.
   
• A BBC film crew have been into school as part of contact made with TV presenter Esther Rantzen. [See ‘Esther Puts School In Spotlight‘ story.]
   
• Some ex-pupils have been videoed talking about their time at school and why they think it should be saved. Several ex-pupils were also interviewed for the ‘Southport Visiter’.
   
• Media coverage has been ongoing with articles in the local paper and airtime on local TV news bulletins.
   
• Sir Steve Redgrave has donated a boat to the Birkdale Rowing Club. [See ‘Redgrave’s Boat Donation’ for full story.]

The final decision on the school’s future will be made before Easter. [A decision was made by the Directors, and on 10 April it was announced the School would close in July - Tony]

 Baby Joy For Samantha

I am writing to tell you good news. I had a baby girl called Katie Jayne Samuels born on 9^th February. She weighed 9lb 6oz, 56 and the time was 4.15pm at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Samantha Samuels [nee Peel] (ex-pupil)

Reunion 2004

Plans are underway for the next Reunion, which will be taking place in May 2004. It will not be at the Floral Hall, but at a new venue. The Reunion Association is also hoping to set up its own website, where details about the get-together will be posted along with other info. The Committee are meeting regularly and further details will be announced soon.

 Redgrave’s Boat Donation

Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave visited the school on 21^st March to donate a rowing boat.

The boat, an Ayling AX2 Coxed Four, was donated by the ‘Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust’ and will be used by the school’s Rowing Club. Sir Steve set up the Trust on his retirement with the aim of raising money for children’s charities. The rowing boat is named ‘The Lady Ann’ after Steve’s wife.

Sir Steve took time to answer questions from pupils and to sign autographs. Head of Care Peter Munro says: “We would like to say a big thank you to Sir Steve and his Trust. The children were really excited with his visit and are looking forward to using the boat.”

 Friends Reunited

Like to see your old school friends again? Lost touch with a friend? Then look no further! We've found a fantastic website where you can reunite with your friends! Just simply register at www.friendsreunited.co.uk. It’s for people who want to find their lost friends and to get in touch. Good luck and have fun! We are on it so find us!

Maryam Kamel [‘97] & Philip Fletcher [‘82] (ex-pupils)

 Esther Puts School In Spotlight

After receiving a letter from the grandmother of pupil Charlotte Keech, TV presenter Esther Rantzen arranged for a BBC film crew to visit the school to shoot scenes for a new programme on special needs schools.

Charlotte’s grandmother, Rita Hendey, wrote to Esther to tell her about the plight of the school and what it has done for Charlotte as well as other pupils. The result of this was a phone call saying the BBC would like to film the school for a series focusing on special needs schools.

The series is likely to be shown in April/May. [The programme was broadcast one Sunday in June - Tony]

  Hearing Concern’s E-zine

Hearing Concern plans to start an "e-zine" service in March. This service is free to anyone with email facilities (members and non-members).

It’s a way to update people at short notice on news and events, stagetext and subtitled cinema shows, views, reviews - everything of interest to hard-of-hearing people.

To get on the list for this service, simply send a blank email to ezine@hearingconcern.org.uk and type "web" in the subject box.

Jacqueline Dore [nee Bairstow] (ex-pupil)

Garden Fete 2003
A Day Out For All The Family!

This year’s Garden Fete will be held on Saturday, 24th May.

There will be many stalls and attractions, including the Morris Dancers as they return to run their competitions. It is also hoped the rugby teams will be returning and taking part in friendly games again.

New for this year will be demonstrations from Majorettes and Performing Arts teacher Chris Wright will be bringing along her Dancing School too. There will be a Model Railway on display arranged through gardener Rob Yelland. There will also be some Card Creation Workshops in association with John Townley and there will be stalls to buy cards and materials from.

We are always looking for people to run stalls or to help man existing ones. If you can help us in anyway at all, please get in touch with the Editor or Jack Henderson, Chairman of the Home School Association.

If you have any items for the stalls, please send them into school anytime during the weeks leading up to the Fete. Perishables must be brought in on the day however.

PLEASE COME & JOIN US!
BRING ALONG THE FAMILY!
MAKE THE MOST OF A GOOD DAY OUT!

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