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.

20 June 2010

The Southport Visiter announced on Friday that a public consultation about the restoration & development of our school will take place at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club on Tuesday 22 June, 1-7pm. The Sports Club is on Trafalgar Road (postcode: PR8 2HF).

Please support this event if you wish to safeguard the future of what remains of the building we know and love so much. Quite a few ex-pupils are already attending this meeting to show how strongly we feel about recent events and to push for better plans for the school site for the future.

21 April 2010

We are sorry to report the death of Mrs Joan Downs, who worked at the school many years ago. Her funeral is on Friday, 23 April at Southport Crematorium at 11am.

18 February 2010

Details of this year’s Reunion have been posted on Read Hear, the BBC’s digital text magazine for deaf viewers. It can be found under the Diary section.

If you know someone who doesn’t have internet access or know where to find Read Hear, please point them in the right direction. Read Hear can found in either of the following two ways:

  • if still using analogue TV: go to BBC2, select Text and enter 640
  • if using digital TV: on any of the BBC channels, select Text or the red button and enter 1040

The info about the Reunion will be on Read Hear over the next few weeks.

Obviously anyone who hasn’t got internet access will have to get someone else to email in on their behalf as there are no other contact details available in the advert.

7 February 2010

Former pupil Mike Fahey recently had one of his paintings on display in the PR1 Gallery at the University of Central Lancashire.

fletchfaheyOne of the visitors on Preview Night was another ex-pupil, Philip Fletcher, seen here with Mike and his “little” painting in the background.

Another of Mike’s paintings is on show at the Atkinson Gallery in Somerset from 21 February until late March.

23 January 2010

With news of the next Reunion taking place at the Scarisbrick Hotel in October recently announced, many of you will be trying to make contact with friends to tell them about it.

There are currently three ways to keep up to date with what’s happening: by using this site you’re reading now, the message board set up by Charlotte Smith and the Facebook Group looked after by Mike Fahey. The first two have been around a while, but more people are getting interested with the Facebook Group.

For those that don’t know, Facebook is a social networking site which allows you to contact friends. You can share as much or as little info as you like. Users can tell everyone their news (known as Status Updates), send private messages, add photos and take part in discussions.

Users have their own individual pages and there are Groups where everyone joins in together. The school Facebook site is one such group. If you’re not already on Facebook, now might be the time to join. You need to sign up with an email address and a password (don’t use the same password as your email password though!) – it’s free to sign up & use Facebook. Hopefully, we’ll see more of you on Facebook soon!

19 January 2010

There have been calls for urgent repairs to be carried out on our school buildings. Sefton Council has written to the present owners reminding them of their responsibilities while owning a listed building. An Urgent Works Notice could be served on the owners, but if they don’t comply with this, the work will be carried out anyway. (Thanks to Sue Tinsley for highlighting this in the Guestbook.)

The next Birkdale Reunion, set for 2 October 2010, will now take place at the Scarisbrick Hotel on Lord Street, Southport. This is a change of venue from the Talbot Hotel that was previously advertised. Ticket prices & other details to be announced when finalised.

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