Mr Henderson has sent a message via his daughter, Christine Watkinson, on Facebook. He sends best wishes to everyone for the New Year. He is very grateful for all your Christmas cards and continued support, but is sorry to those he has not managed to send cards to. He is overcome by the numbers he continues to receive.
9 January 2011
We are sad to report the death of George Millington who passed away in Southport at 6.45pm on 8 January. George was married to former pupil Maureen Hegarty.
We send our condolences to Maureen, her family and friends.
Update 13.01.11: George’s funeral will be taking place at Christ Church at 10am on 20 January.
31 December 2010
The Reunion Committee is meeting on Sunday, 2 January. If you have any issues that you would like them to discuss, please email info@bshira.co.uk.
10 December 2010
In June we reported that Centremodel Ltd presented their proposals for the restoration of the school at a meeting held at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club. On 2 December their plans were submitted to Sefton Council.
The earliest date for a decision is 24 December; the application expiry date is 3 March 2011.
If you feel strongly about saving Birkdale School, below are a number of places to go to keep up with developments and/or to share your opinions:
18 October 2010
Maryam Kamel has been in touch to say she is enjoying a healthy lifestyle in Saudi at the moment. She goes to the gym, plays basketball and swims. Maryam says she also enjoys eating healthy food every day at the Day Centre in Saudi.
17 October 2010
Former pupil Mike Fahey has finally completed his MA course and his last exhibition at the University of Central Lancashire was held from 11-16 September in the Hanover Building.
The preview evening took place on 15 September and a few ex-pupils supported the event. Martin Cookson, Stephen Smith and Tony Wright all turned up to view Mike’s paintings. Mike wishes to say thanks for the support he received.
The following morning Mike got his results and he is delighted to report that he got Master of Arts with Distinction. As he said, someone, somewhere thinks he can paint! Well done Mike!
4 August 2010
A beach BBQ is taking place at Ainsdale on Saturday, 14 August from 3pm onwards. Entrance will be via Shore Road where there is car parking at £3.50.
If you are going and have any ball games or other type of games, please bring them along.
6 July 2010
A new Facebook Group has been set up led by former pupil David Jones, his wife Suzie and Todd Garner. They are in discussions with Centremodel Ltd., the developers behind the proposed restoration of the school into apartments, to retain the school building for the use of the deaf. A presentation is being prepared for the developers and associated interested parties, including Sefton Council.
To follow the developments of this, please click here. (You need to be logged into Facebook to see this page.)
24 June 2010
This week’s edition of the Southport Champion reports that following a meeting on 10 June Sefton Council will serve an Urgent Works Notice on the owners of the Grade II listed school building.
According to the newspaper, the council will use the powers available to them under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990* to get the owners to carry out much needed repairs necessary for the preservation of the unoccupied listed building. The notice must last a minimum of 7 days, and if, after that time, the owners fail to complete the works, Sefton Council can step in, carry them out themselves and seek to recover the costs involved.
*The Southport Champion newspaper had this written as 1980, but the year of that Act is 1990.
22 June 2010
Centremodel Ltd presented their proposals for the restoration of our school today at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club.
There were drawings and architect plans on display of what the proposed site could look like. Their aim is to restore the main building to roughly the way it was; it is a Grade II listed building so needs to be retained as much as possible. The main building will be divided into “affordable” apartments. There was a suggestion the clock tower could be turned into an exhibition area to house historical data about the building.
The Junior/Senior School and Gym would be knocked down to make way for new houses. More houses would be put up around the rim. The grounds are to include a bowling green and an open space for the public to walk through and sit in. It was mentioned some facilities may be by membership only.
Centremodel Ltd are preparing to submit a planning application to Sefton Council with these proposals, and their aim today was to seek views from the public on these plans.