Dale School Centenary

Dale Through the Years Reflections on a hundred years of our school DALE COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL 1908 - 2008

Front cover photograph: Saarah Begum of Year 2.

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hy don’t we publish a book to celebrate the centenary of Dale Community Primary?’

It sounded such a simple idea. As it turned out, this vision of Sarah Coxson’s, our Literacy Co-ordinator, stretched way beyond that.

She had come to the realisation that if we wanted our children to perceive themselves as doing something valuable when they were writing, the most powerful means to achieve this was to make them published authors. Here was the perfect vehicle, in the form of a centenary celebration. The opportunity couldn’t be missed.

It wasn’t long before we engaged the expert support of project manager and parent, Hannah Fox to help us realise the dream. As the editorial committee began

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its work and contacted past pupils and staff, arranged interviews and began to sift through the artefacts and records in school, I began to realise the enormity of the task we had set. This involved our entire school community: a thoroughly inclusive enterprise. Each year group began to delve into Dale’s rich history and respond to historical stimulus in their own ways.

Everyone was to have a voice.

Dale is a school with a rich and extensive history and has gone through various incarnations, from Clarence Road Infant School and Dale Secondary Modern for Boys, to its current status as Dale Community Primary School.

Through those varied years there are many tales to tell.

I worried that we would not do the school and its stories justice. The editorial committee told me not to worry and

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YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 6

1908-1919

1920-1939

1940-1959

1960-1979

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got on with the challenge of working with professional writers and reporters, negotiating with archivists and designers. They grew in stature within the school. They brought in additional members when some of their leading members left the school. They worked tirelessly both in school and at home bringing their ideas to the table until eventually the book you hold in your hands was finished. Sarah’s vision was complete. She had produced the result she had worked for and all with the help of her editorial committee with ages ranging from 7-11: a remarkable achievement.

This book has been a real labour of love and the end result is one of which we are all proud. As you read through the book, I hope you will appreciate the work of the children and those who have supported them in

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YEAR 5 1980-1999

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SPORTS & PE

their task and that you are able to feel just a little of the magic of Dale and the special place it is. And as for what I think of the book? I know the children were right; I had no need to worry. The book was safe in their hands.

Thank you Sarah, the Editorial Committee, all those who willingly shared their memories with us and the fantastic professionals who worked with us including former Dale pupil, Nicola Rippon, for her historical words of wisdom. Particular thanks to Hannah and Ian, Mike and Lindsay for helping us to bring this book to fruition, a book which truly celebrates Dale Community Primary School in its 100th year.

Linda Sullivan, Headteacher.

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RECEPTION & YEAR 1 2000-2008

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CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

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YEAR 2

1908-1919

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In Derby at this time - The Edwardian age ends with the death of Edward VII. His son, George V, is the new king. Derby meteorologist George Clarke Simpson is part of Captain Scott’s ill-fated trip to the South Pole. Opponents of the Suffragettes blame the movement for an arson attack on Breadsall church. With the outbreak of the Great War hundreds of local men volunteer to fight for their country in a wave of patriotic fervour. Many choose to fight with the Derbyshire Yeomanry or the Sherwood Foresters.

The Wheeldon family of Peartree are convicted of plotting to poison British Prime Minister David Lloyd George.

What did we do in Year 2?

For the children in Year Two, it was important to make the decades we were studying relevant to the children’s lives today. The starting point was obvious - the school building itself. We transformed ourselves into history detectives! Armed with clipboards and digital cameras, we set off to photograph original and interesting parts of the school. The images the children captured were intriguing; rusting ventilation ducts, original coal fire hearths in classrooms, curved bricks on the corners of the building, and mysterious plinths marked ‘Girls’, ‘Boys’ and ‘Infants’.

From there we went on to make direct comparisons between the lives of children born a century apart.

Questions the children wanted answered included: What were lessons like then? What did children wear?

What games did they play? Did teachers really use the cane? We found the answers through a variety of experiences. As well as using the internet and drama, Mrs Brownhall brought the era to life. She talked to the children about the life of her grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Collins, who was born in 1885. She brought in a range of artefacts: photographs, christening gown, a book presented as first prize in a geranium growing competition - the list was endless, and the children spellbound as they listened to stories of a life so different from their own.

Drawing: by Ben Harris of Year 2.

One aspect of the era that was the most challenging for us to tackle was World War I. We decided to approach it through asking the children to imagine how it must feel for children to say goodbye to their fathers, uncles and brothers who were going off to war and in return, how those soldiers must have longed for news of their families. We painted and wrote postcards.

The most moving discovery came through reading the school log books, which recorded the death of a former pupil. It brought into sharp focus the links between our school and wider events, and the fact that our pupils will go on to shape the future of our world.

It cos t £10,8 00 to the sc b hool i uild when n it was 1908 as Cla k rence nown Ro Infan t Scho ad ol.

08 Drawings on this page: by Aisha Bhatti of Year 2 who drew people from Victorian times.

Drawings on opposite page: by Ebony Clayton, James McCausland, Faris Mushtaq, Bilal Ali, Gagandeep Atwal and Yahya Faisal all of Year 2 who drew World War 1 aeroplanes, flags and postcards to their fathers.

Dear Dad, I am missing you so much.

When I was at the train station with my mum, my brother and my cousins, I was so upset and I was crying so much and much because I missed my dad so much.

When my dad was on the train, he waved to me and I waved back to him.

Sara Dear Father I am missing you dad, so come back tomorrow because we are having a party. We are going to play lots of games and we are going to make lots of food. Mum said are you wearing warm socks? Are you wearing warm clothes? What have you been doing so far? What food would you like us to bring you? What is going on so far? How is the weather?

Love from Hajra Dear father I went to the park and I did some skipping. Altogether I did 35 skips. I also played hide and seek with my friends. We had lots of fun. Hope you are okay, I miss you.

Love Gagandeep

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YEAR 2

1908-1919

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YEAR 2

1908-1919

What can I see?

I can see the boys have got watches in their pockets.

I can see the girls are wearing ribbons in their hair.

A hundred years ago they used to sit in rows but now we sit in groups.

By Sharaaz Ahmed

What can I see?

The girls are wearing ribbons, today we don’t wear them.

The boys have brushed their hair to one side.

The children are sitting in rows.

The girls are wearing white dresses.

The children are not smiling in the picture.

Today we are asked to smile.

By Usamah Saqib

What can I see?

Boys and girls are sitting together, today we sit anywhere.

The girls and boys are sitting in rows, today we sit on a carpet.

Some of the boys have pocket watches, today we have a clock.

There are only some displays, today we have lots.

By Siraaj Iqbal

Photographs on opposite page: Year 2 had a tour around the school and looked at the old things that are part of the school for example, the entrances.

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YEAR 3

1920-1939

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In Derby at this time - Modern Derby takes shape. All Saints’ Church becomes a cathedral. The first traffic lights are installed.

Elizabeth Petty is elected as the town’s first female mayor. Marks and Spencer opens its Art Deco premises on St Peter’s Street. The building of several new cinemas heralds the golden age of the silver screen. Much of the town centre is submerged in several feet of water as Markeaton Brook bursts its banks. Work begins on a new bus station, police station, magistrates’ court and civic offices.

Derbyshire win cricket’s County Championship and the era ends with the grave news that the nation is again at war.

What did we do in Year 3?

We started by researching 1920-1939, particularly inventions from that time.

The children chose subjects they wanted to study, which included toys, fashion, new media such as television, transport, music and dance.

The children wrote a report about different aspects of this period.

As a way of giving this research context to the school we decided to look at the school log book from this period. We discovered that public holidays were celebrated and recognised very differently from today.

The school would frequently close, for example when Prince George visited Derby. We re-enacted the royal visit from 1928 using film footage of the actual event.

We made hats, flags and bunting, and had a street party celebration which the children really enjoyed.

Using the earlier learning about the transport and holidays, we imagined what it would be like to go on holiday.

How would we have travelled?

What would it be like?

How would you feel?

What would you do for entertainment?

Photograph: Prince George played by Paul Harris of Year 3.

The children created models of trains and cars, made photo boards, performed a Punch and Judy show and choreographed a Charleston dance.

Whilst drawing postcards that might have been sent home, they wrote about how they might feel as eight year old children on holiday seeing the sea for the first time.

When taking part in this project, the children felt stimulated by everything they discovered and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We hope you enjoy the results.

I reme can m ber m day a y fi in the t school, st rst andin playg g for m round y I could name to b waiting e call n ed they k ot underst and h . n e w had n my na ow ot be en th me as I ere b efore Betty !

Salmo a Dale

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Opposite page: Entry in the logbook for 1928 and Year 3 re-enacting the Royal visit.

This page drawing: by Sophie Weaver of Year 3 Below left: Ralph Storer, aged 6 in 1918.

Below right: Betty Mead (née Storer), aged 5 in 1925.

Centre: Ralph and Betty now!

Far right: Betty came to our Centenary Day and presented the school with the Storer Clock, along with her daughter Kay.

“I stood in the corridor and my mind went back to 1925 and my first day at school. I hung on to the rail in the cloakroom with one hand and to my mother with the other.

I lived in Haddon Street so it only took me about five minutes to walk to school. I felt incredibly grown up when I turned eight and was allowed to go on my own!

Dale Primary School was built by Harlow, Stone & Storer Ltd. and it was the first job that my father was in charge of estimating when he moved to Derby from Wirksworth.”

YEAR 3

1920-1939

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YEAR 3

1920-1939

Excerpts: Isobel Fox of Year 3 wrote about dancing in the 1920s.

Amaan Khan wrote about transport at that time.

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“In 1927 when I was five, I started my school life at Porter Road Infants (then known as Clarence Road School). Mrs Sangster, a very kind-hearted little lady was the First Class teacher.

Mrs Nadin was Headmistress of the junior school – she was rather severe and not at all kind-hearted.

The senior schools were ruled by Mr McCarthy with a rod of iron – he was very strict!”

“The only real memory of the infant school was the free milk and cod liver extract. In the first year, we had to lie down for a short time at the beginning of the afternoon.

I think we had air-raid shelters in the playground. Discipline was good and unlike today, misbehaviour could result in ‘the cane’ which hurt, and was therefore to be avoided.

The maths teacher, Mr Rasmussen, used to shout at pupils, sometimes calling people by very unsavoury names.”

Phylis Oldknow, started school in 1927.

William Austins, started school in 1939.

Photograph: Mrs Mason and her pupils dressed as 1920s ‘flapper girls’ and danced the Charleston.

From left to right: Sanaa Saqib, Husnaa Raza, Isobel Fox, Mrs Mason, Zeinab Hafez, Feruz Mahmoud and Ammarah Ali.

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YEAR 4

1940-1959

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In Derby at this time- Wartime shortages result in rationing and housewives are forced to queue for hours just to obtain basic food supplies. The first bombing raid comes in June 1940. By the end of the war there have been 148 air-raids, 50 civilian deaths and 4,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed. Peacetime brings victory for Derby County as they win the FA Cup. The new Council House is opened by Princess Elizabeth. George VI dies and Derby celebrates the beginning of a new Elizabethan era with hundreds of street parties. The new Derby Playhouse and the Hippodrome theatres are booming.

What did we do in Year 4?

The starting point for our work on the 1940s stemmed from the children’s interest in World War Two. We had a wonderful four weeks learning about the countries involved, the reasons why it started and ended, and the key figures involved. The emotional hook for our children was “what was it like for children at Dale School during this time?” They were gripped through their discovery of facts in the contemporary school log books.

We were astounded by the empathy our children showed to an experience far removed from their lives today. A trip back in time to Nottingham Brewhouse, coupled with a visit from a past pupil of Dale, brought alive the experiences needed to write both the evacuation and shelter letters.

Children’s emotional responses were further enriched through drama and music sessions. The children’s passion for the era resulted in emotive pieces of writing in which they demonstrated sensitivity and maturity.

This journey for both staff and pupils was deeply moving and has left lasting connections with our school’s past.

We hope you enjoy sharing a selection of our work.

We have used to the g dancing Schoo irls from Ha with my m l, and I us rdwick a e a Frid tes at the d to meet ay nig youth ht. In club o dare them n days n more ot be late you f t were han three or school, you w times . If ould g et the you cane Brian .

Shaw a Dale

Opposite: The logbook from the time shows that the school was closed for seven months when the second world war broke out.

Photographs: Year 4 visit to Nottingham Brewhouse.

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Fiona Dickson attended Dale School between 1952 and 1954, aged 5-7 years. She recalls that it was a girls-only infant school back then, and all the teachers were female.

She lived at the top of Porter Road, and used to walk home every lunchtime – often on her own: her mother only came to collect her if her baby brother needed fresh air.

She remembers that one afternoon she was given some scissors, probably for cutting some paper, but she cut her hair instead. The Head Teacher was very cross and took Fiona home, but her mother thought it was very funny, and struggled to keep a straight face.

Fiona played the triangle in the school orchestra.

“I wanted to play the drums,” she remembers, “but I wasn’t good enough, so I got the triangle instead!”

Fiona remembers milk and orange juice (she was a milk monitor); she remembers a sandpit outside, dancing and singing, swimming, parents’ evenings, a big hall (where did it go?).

Nathan & Joshua Mannall researched some of the differences between Dale School then and now: They used to have free milk and orange juice every day, and milk monitors. They didn’t have homework, but they did have parents’ evenings. There was no after school or breakfast club. They had a one-hour lunch break; there were no school dinners: either you brought a packed lunch or you went home.

Two school friends, who came to Dale in the late 1940s, have met up again after almost sixty years – thanks to the Dale Centenary Celebration.

Norma Slater and Kay Dexter lost touch at the age of nine, when Kay’s family moved away from Derby.

They didn’t meet again until the school’s Centenary Open Day in July 2008. An old photograph of the two girls on holiday together had appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph, and the two old friends were reunited.

“We have a lot to catch up on!” they said, and promised they wouldn’t wait so long before meeting up again.

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In the Second World War, Derby was targeted

by German bombers, and many children were evacuated out of the area. Here, children from today’s Class 4DB and 4JB write letters home describing how it might have been.

Dear Mum It was a long journey. A German plane had crashed onto the railway track. I got here late, at 11 pm, feeling scared and unhappy. Then we all went to a Village Hall where all the people were waiting.

Mr and Mrs Williams chose me to go with them.

Mr and Mrs Williams are kind people. They don’t make me do any work. They bought me books and a pencil case for my birthday. Uncle Bert is so nice, but not nicer than you. I would rather be with you.

I really want to come home. I miss you. Please make some clothes for me.

Please write back.

Give Granny a hug from me.

Love Emily

YEAR 4

1940-1959

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YEAR 4

1940-1959

Terry Southall was a secondary school pupil at Dale between 1954 and 1958.

He came in to school to share his memories with us.

Sophie: What were the teachers like?

Very, very strict, you were never called by your first name, it was always your surname; Mr Baxter used to say, “Boy, boy, come here boy” - things like that.

Ayesha: How were the classes organised?

It was all boys, no girls, we were all in different coloured classes; red was for Nelson - you all had your different houses.

Sophie: What were school dinners like?

Every Friday, without fail we’d have fish. We also had cottage pie, roast beef, there were all kinds of things and they were lovely meals. There was always a sweet afterwards and we used to like the custard because it was so creamy.

Ranj: What was the worst school dinner?

Definitely tapioca. Nobody liked that.

Ayesha: What are your memories about school?

If you were naughty, you got the cane, and that hurt!

And I got the cane many, many times. You would have to go to the Headmaster’s office and that’s where it would be administered.

My favourite memory of school would have to be PE, we had PE three times a week - we had a football team and a cricket team (I played for both). It was a nice school.

Ms Coxson: Can we go back to the part where you said you were caned a lot?

There was one teacher there, even if you were speaking, he would tap you on the shoulder and because you had turned around he would say, “Boy, come on out boy”. He had a stick - it wasn’t a proper cane - it was like a lilac stick, off a lilac tree, with all different notches on it and he used to whack you across the hands with it until they started to bleed. Eventually he got the sack.

If you got caught smoking in the toilets, you got a real good caning. Our Science teacher was Mr Swift and he was the one that used to do that, he would say “Right! The cane for you! Two strokes!” You got caned for anything – talking especially – so there was no cheekiness in school in those days!

Ranj: Apart from PE what was your favourite subject?

Maths and English and Music of course. I was in a school choir here as well.

Ayesha: We have a school choir now as well Sophie: Did you ever get bored at school?

No, we didn’t have time to be bored. We weren’t allowed to stand up from our desks until that bell went. And then when the bell went we were told we could stand up and go out in a single line – no running!

Photographs opposite - clockwise from top left: The stairs up to the old headteacher’s office; Terry walks through the playground with members of the Editorial Committee; walking up the Year 4 stairs to Terry’s old classroom; Terry’s hands showing the results of the cane; pupils look shocked; Terry shares memories in the Hall.

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YEAR 6

1960-1979

Portrait by Valerie Dalling: Dan Aberg and Kheyyam Ahmed prepare for Year 6 assembly at the Centenary Open Day.

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In Derby at this time - Immigrant families from across the Commonwealth, in particular Pakistan, India and the Caribbean, make Derby their new home. Construction of the inner ring road necessitates the demolition of the ancient St Alkmund’s Church. Dr Beeching’s railway cuts close stations at Nottingham Road and Friar Gate. One of Derby’s main employers, RollsRoyce, crashes causing panic in the town. Derby County win two League Championships. The new Eagle Centre opens in the town providing Derby’s first indoor shopping centre. Derby joins in the celebrations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Thousands of Derbeians watch the Queen bestow city status on their hometown.

What did we do in Year 6?

The Swinging Sixties and the Glam-Rock Seventies were our focus years in Year 6. Two decades of explosive pop music, art, fashion, innovation and discovery! The cultural landscape changed rapidly over this period, with many of the children’s grandparents and parents moving to Britain for the first time.

We decided that iconic images and artefacts would be a good starting point for generating ideas about these decades. So, surrounded by platform-soled shoes, National Health glasses and Beatles LP covers, the children began to brainstorm questions and areas of interest. It wasn’t long before we were finding out some of the incredible milestones from this era: immigration from the Asian sub-continent, World Cup victories, the first man on the moon, decimalisation... the list went on.

Children started to respond to these objects and images: in words, in pictures and in drama. We even learned how to do The Twist! Some staged a 60s fashion show, inspired by the model Twiggy. Some used the pop art of Andy Warhol, to represent their ideas. Some wrote poetry based on 60s and 70s school images – satchels, plimsolls and Sports Days.

Others sang Lennon & McCartney songs or marvelled at the TV programmes Playschool and Mr Ben. All the children were fascinated by psychedelic colours, the giant steps for mankind and the groovy beats.

We soon uncovered some more personal stories from these decades, as children interviewed their families about their experiences of these decades. We revealed stories of immigration, of leaving homelands, of settling in new and unfamiliar places. From these moving human stories, children generated timelines of their own family histories. The stories brought home to the children what significant times these were.

I tho enjoy roughly at Da ed my tim le e my he and sobb e a d rt ou had t o lea t when I ve t secon dary o go to schoo l.

Lisa W eb ale p ster u 1970- pil from 1976

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1973 My dad is born in Pakistan Mahrukh 1977 My grandparents get married Lauren

The 1960s was a very significant time for our community as many of our parents or grandparents arrived in Derby during this period. Our sample timeline reflects some of the journeys involved.

1968 The start of my mum’s life Aneesa 1967 My mum is born in Nottingham Charlotte

1947 Grandparents migrate to Pakistan from India Ayesha

1950

1944 Mrs Rerrie starts school in Jamaica

My gran was the on holiday, in d bar, on the an gl En ry er M is Blackpool. Th North Pier in grandad, y m et m e is where sh and my arried in 1977 they were m y to be rb De to oved grandma m They still love d. da an gr with my d t my granda each other bu ’s an gr y m gets on imes. nerves somet Lauren

1969 My mum is born Zahra

1964-65 Grandparents move to England Hanaa

1960

1972 My mum is born Sadia

1970

1966 My mum is born Dan

1967 My dad is born Zahra

e My dad cam e first th r fo try un to this co born. as w I n he w time in 1997, ould w he at ried th My dad wor but he finally try un co is th not settle in the weather it! He found got used to e Pakistan is us ca be ange to be very str ld. Sooner co ry ve Derby is very hot and , passed ish gl d learnt En or later my da bric cutting fa a d di st, his driving te ssed his ctory and pa course in a fa azing! am at th – isn’t taxi licence hing yt er arly ev And that is ne d. da y m t ou ab Iqra

1980 My mum moves to Norwich Charlotte

1980

1980 Mum and Dad marry in Karachi Ayesha

1970 My mum starts school Dan 1975 My mum moves to Caithness in Scotland Charlotte

When my ts moved grandparen 44 years ago, to England, eir ll wearing th they were sti y grandad M s. he ot cl Pakistani and my ship in 1964 came here by . They 65 19 in e plan grandma by kistan Pa in e r hous still have thei consider ll sti ld ou w and there. moving back Hanaa

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2007 We go to Pakistan Sidra

1988 My mum and dad marry and come back to England to live.

Aneesa 1997 My brother, Amman and I are born, the first generation of my family to be born in England.

Kheyyam

1984 My mum comes to England, when she is eight years old. Mum and dad marry in Pakistan in 1995 and I am born on 12th December 1996 Zara

1981 My brother Farhan is born, then my family move to Dubai Ayesha

1987 My mum’s first son, Zaran, is born. Her second is born in 1988.

Kheyyam

2006 My sister is married in Bradford.

Sidra 1991 My mum and dad marry Mahrukh

1998 We move to England for a better education Ayesha

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1990

1984 Mrs Rerrie starts working at Dale school

1984 My dad comes to Derby Waqaar

1987-1988 My mum works at the Maddermarket Theatre.

She then does lights at Norwich Art Centre and meets my dad.

Charlotte

1993 Mum and dad marry Sadia

1996 I’m born!

Sadia

1994 My parents move to England Sadia

1995 My sister is born Dan

1996 I’m born!

Zahra

1997 I am born in Pakistan Ayesha

2001 My family and I move from Pakistan to England.

Sidra

2007 We move to London Ayesha

2008

2008 We came back to Derby because it is better than London!

Ayesha 2006 My parents marry Dan

1996 My parents marry Jai

2005 My mum has a kidney transplant after years of illness.

Now everything’s FINE!!

Charlotte

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The sun never shines in England.

That’s what someone told Mrs Gill, before she came to the UK for an arranged marriage. So when she left India, she thought she was saying goodbye to the sun for ever. She had a nice surprise when she got here and found the sun shines here too!

Sun

Goodbye Sun

Sun god of fire You are here Phoenix of power You threw down Your light upon England Sun god of fire

Sun Sun This may be the last time I will see you Someone said You don’t shine in England

Sun, god of fire I will miss you Phoenix of power Throw down Your light upon England Sun god of fire

Dan Aberg

Sun Sun This is the last time my eye will catch you Sun Sun I am feeling panic-stricken at the thought of leaving you behind Sun Sun I will really miss you Sun Sun Don’t let the darkness swallow and destroy me Sun Sun Come with me We can make a home in cold drizzly England and brighten my life there Tayba Bashir and Sabah Farooq

An Arranged Marriage Is he handsome?

Is he pleasant?

Is he kind?

Is he cruel?

How does he dress?

How does he travel?

How does he eat?

How does he sleep?

Is he romantic?

Or does he pick his nose?

Is he clean?

Or does he have smelly socks?

What’s his name?

Ranj Karzan

YEAR 6

1960-1979

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Iconic school-day artefacts from the 60s and 70s create a certain atmosphere.

Some pupils reflected on the moods that these images suggest.

60s music and fashion inspired these cinquain poems.

Art

The Beatles

Art. Andy Warhol World famous designs Spectacular pop-art pictures Fabulous!

Beatles, Great Singers, Brilliant, fantastic, amazing.

Best 60’s band ever, Revolutionary.

Sohail Amin

Amrit Sagoo

Drawings: Soup can by Maryam Naz and platform shoe by Haseeb Malik.

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At the beginning of this project we thought of ways to gather memories from people who had been to Dale.

We sent letters to newspapers and secondary schools, distributed leaflets and posters to the libraries – even gave interviews on Radio Ikhlas! Here are a few of the responses we had back about this era.

Nicola Rippon 1974-1980

Baljinder Sagoo

Hervinder Sagoo

Most of my time was under the stewardship of the wonderful Miss Clarke, the final year under Mr Randall.

Mr Ian McMahon, who I know is still at the school, was one of my teachers. I have very many happy memories of the school; of country dancing, school choir, summer fairs and the school pantomime.

We all used to be very scared of Miss Clarke, the Head Teacher. I was a pupil in Mr. McMahon’s first class at Dale School. We all used to really enjoy playing in the gardens that we had then.

We used to have the Liverpool kit as our school kit and now a lot of my friends are now Liverpool fans. My teachers were Miss Fitzgerald, Miss Molineux and Miss Vij – everybody fancied her.

Elizabeth Phillips 1975-1982 I remember getting my leg stuck in the big iron gates of the school when I tried to kick them open to get back into school after lunch. I expected to have the fire service come and cut the gate, but a very clever dinner lady came and rescued me with some soapy water.

Lisa Webster 1970-1976 My headmistress was Miss Clarke.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Dale and sobbed my heart out when I had to leave to go to secondary school.

I remember we had a Mr Holbrow – he was from Canada and he used to tell us lots of stories about Canada. He also made us stand up in class and read out loud. I used to be terrified! Another teacher was Mrs Ashmore. She used to teach us outside on nice sunny days. I had a brilliant time at Dale School – and still miss it 30 years on!

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YEAR 6

1960-1979

Simon Mosley 1971-1978 I remember being surprised at getting a card from Great Aunt on my first day; clearly other people saw it as a significant time. I think I simply thought of it as the next stage of my life.

In my class, there were people who could trace their origins to Africa, India, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Ireland and Normanton.

I remember wearing a shirt and tie, a knitted grey jumper and short tailored trousers.

I also have a vague recollection of a cap. We had a House system, with Spartans, Vikings, Romans and Trojans – yellow, red, green and blue I think – and we had House points, House captains and monitors. Very public school.

I can still feel the excitement of running home in my first year to tell my parents I could read.

Mrs Allsop was our teacher and I remember that when I finished the maths cards that she taught me to knit. I was very proud of the multi-coloured scarf that I produced but I’m not sure what Ofsted would have made of it.

I was slippered by Miss Clarke for fighting whilst in the infants but I served as a monitor in my last year of juniors so I must have been forgiven. I also remember two fantastic residential trips, the one to Minehead was the first time I had been away from my parents for any length of time. As a result of these visits we were exposed to a number of different experiences that we wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to enjoy. Teachers, such as Mr Nightingale, gave us the opportunity to broaden our horizons.

I remember loving History at school; whenever we had a topic to produce I would always give it a History slant. Whilst other pupils concentrated on dolphins and whales and the like in our topic on The Sea, mine was full of mini-biographies of people such as Drake, Columbus and Raleigh.

I remember my first goal on the playground. I crossed the tennis ball from the right wing and it evaded everyone and crept into the goal painted on the outside of the toilet wall. I was 5 feet tall for the rest of the day! I went on to represent the school for two years, scoring five goals in one game and captaining the school team in my final year.

Once again, something that I did at Dale stayed with me as I captained football teams for the next 25 years. Thank you, Mr Hinds.

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YEAR 5

1980-1999

33

In Derby at this time - A massive summer thunderstorm inundates Derby with torrential rain, overwhelming drains and flooding many properties. A city centre pedestrianisation scheme, and the landscaping of the Market Place create a carfree shopping district and improve air quality. Japanese car maker Toyota opens a new factory on the old Derby Airport at Burnaston. Derby’s higher education college is transformed into Derby University. The development of out-of-town retail parks, business parks and new leisure facilities change the shape of the city centre and its outskirts. Derby County moves to its new home at Pride Park.

What did we do in Year 5?

What did we do?

We got lost in the 80s!

Year 5 were fortunate enough to claim the decade of the century...the 80s.

The team were instantly split, some being children in the 80s whilst others were having children in the 80s.

How can views of the 80s be so different?

“Miners Strike” vs “Whitney Houston” “Maggie Thatcher” vs “Luminous Socks” “Falklands War” vs “The Gold Run from Blockbusters” Children were at first reluctant to run along with the teachers’ 80s enthusiasm.

Attitudes changed though, as one child exclaimed, “Some of this 80s music is actually pretty good, Miss”.

Moonwalking around the classroom with a Sony Walkman and foam headphones was suddenly cool!

The children began to experience music getting slower and slower as the batteries died out.

The teachers wondered why the playground was suddenly deserted. One hundred children hiding behind the toilet block playing ‘Sardines’, their new favourite game!

Photograph: Year 5 perform their assembly at the Centenary Open Day.

Eighties classics such as British Bulldogs, Queenie, Lurky Lurky and the Big Ship Sails became regulars on the playground.

The 80s were making a rather cool comeback!!

Teachers suddenly gained a new aura of coolness!!

It all came together with a great assembly and a chorus of ‘Karma Chameleon’ from Culture Club. The CD had a few scratches and jumped a little... “You wouldn’t have got that from a cassette” said one teacher. “You would from vinyl though!” said the 60s child.

treme I am a n paren dously pr oud t of my atten fou d the la ing the sc r girls hoo st 1 extre 2 years an l over mely d be all the successfu ing l in ir sub jects.

Mahr o of Hu ssain t and – c of Go urrent Cha verno ir rs.

Paren

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We looked into playground games that they used to play in school. We wrote down instructions for today’s children to play yesterday’s games.

How to Play the Game Who Wants to Cross the Red Sea?

We used our imaginations to spark a series of poems called ‘We Won’. They were supposed to be about sports and games, but not all of them were.

You will need: a playground or garden ten friends or maybe more What you do:

We Won

One person has to decide who is going to be ‘it’.

He/she has to be in the middle.

We won the Uttoxeter horse racing, Which really was a surprise.

My enemies told me I would lose They were obviously telling white lies

The person in the middle says: “Who wants to cross the Red Sea?”

Line of Symmetry came third, Thunder Cloud was second best…

But my horse, Poppy Seed, Was better than all the rest

The person in the middle describes something that someone is wearing, like “only if you are wearing a Dale jumper”.

It was so much fun And guess what… WE WON! Chloe Filcock and Orla Fox

The people who are not in the middle say: “We do!”

The people who have got a Dale jumper walk to the other side. Then the people who have not got a Dale jumper have to run. They have to try to get to the other side without getting touched.

If you get touched you are on, with the person who’s already ‘it’.

The last person to be left is the winner and is ‘it’ for the next round.

Sania Dad

YEAR 5 Drawing: by Richard Bateman.

1980-1999

36

Mrs Sandland worked as a teacher at Dale during the 70s and 80s. She kindly came in to see the Editorial Committee for an interview, bringing with her lots of photographs and memories.

Ayesha: What has changed?

Mrs Sandland: Practically everything - this (the library) was the staff room, you could come in on either side of the school and you didn’t have to know any passwords or anything (chuckles). At one time through there (points down the corridor) was the hall and then it was used as two classrooms. There is such a lot that seems to be different that it is hard to take it all in, such a lot.

Sidra: If you don’t mind me asking, how many students got the cane?

Mrs Sandland: Nobody. Mr Randall was Head then and he wouldn’t have the cane.

Henna: Who was your best friend and why?

Mrs Sandland: I was very friendly with a lady called Mrs Dryhurst, who I still see now; and a lady called Mrs Stevenson, who was here for a very long time and took Reception. I’m still in touch with her.

Husna: How many children would you have in a class?

Mrs Sandland: Normally thirty something. Just once, for a whole term, I had twenty-five and it was wonderful.

(Laughter) It was so lovely I have never forgotten it.

I lived around this district when I was little and over there, where there are now hard courts and things, in the war they were allotments. I remember seeing the boys working in them – growing vegetables and things.

YEAR 5

1980-1999

I saw them when I was walking past, up and down on Clarence Road.

I thought that the children’s English was very good in school, but get them out of context and it was not so good. I was allowed to take small groups out, but only for a day because we didn’t take infants away from home. We went to farms and all sorts of different places, like when we went to see a lock on the canal.

Sometimes we went to my house. Some of the children played in the garden – I’ve got a little pond, and afterwards somebody talked about my swimming pool! (chuckles) They made friends with the dog, and my son had got a rabbit, so they played with the rabbit, and that was really nice. I enjoyed those afternoons with them.

The saddest thing was when a little boy died.

Jai: That was my uncle.

Mrs Sandland: It was very, very sad - you don’t forget things like that. Was it your uncle? I remember him.

I’ve got a photograph of him.

Ms Coxson: What was your happiest memory?

Mrs Sandland: If you thought that your class had done well when you had them, that was good… When people left and then came back and had been happy and looked happy – that was nice, that was good. And people who remembered you.

Hasan: Were you a jolly teacher or were you a quiet teacher?

Mrs Sandland: Probably quiet - I don’t remember standing and laughing all the time.

Mike: Is your memory overall that of a happy school?

Mrs Sandland: Yes, yes.

37

Photographs: A selection of images showing school trips and visits in the early 80s.

38

SPORT & PE

As you can see from this page in our logbook written in July 1922, sports and PE has always been an important part of Dale’s life. Sports Day of course has always been a traditional school activity, but Dale has also striven to achieve the best in team sports too.

39 Photographs: A selection of images showing Sports and PE activities through the years.

YEAR 3

1920 - 1939

40

SPORT & PE

Mr McMahon has been mentioned in countless conversations involving memories of Dale, his fashion sense and facial hair often the subject of these discussions! More importantly, he has played an invaluable role in the children’s lives. When members of the editorial committee were given Polaroid cameras to take images of people or things that were important to them, ’Mac’ featured in many of them.

Dale has always prided itself on its physical activity opportunities. Numerous teams of cricketers and tennis players and cross-country runners have been coached and encouraged by Mr McMahon, and Dale’s trophy cabinet is testimony to their many successes.

In cricket, those teams have really excelled. In 1997 and 1998, the Dale team won the National Championship for Kwik Cricket, which even merited an entry into the illustrious pages of Wisden. In addition, teams have made it through to seven national finals for soft-ball cricket, and three for hardball finals, against many prestigious public schools.

In tennis, representatives of the school won the Derby inter-city competitions for seven consecutive years from 1992-1998.

Down the years, children at Dale have been ball boys at an England vs West Indies test match at Trent Bridge, as well as meeting their cricketing heroes: Waqar Younis, Ian Botham, Robert Croft, Mike Gatting, Mark Ramprakash and Devon Malcolm.

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“ My Best-Ever Moment in a Game at Dale School... was when I scored the winning goal for the school football team at JJB. Mr McMahon had chosen me. I felt nervous but excited as I was playing. I didn’t think I was going to score, because I have never scored a goal for a proper team before.

My goalkeeper kicked it to my friend. My friend was running. I was behind him. I started running, overtook him, he passed it to me.

I slid and kicked it in the bottom right-hand corner! Everybody was cheering and calling my name.

I felt proud and so was my dad. It was a wicked day.”

Brandon Taylor

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RECEPTION & YEAR 1 2000-2008

Drawing: Reception and Year 1 drew pictures of the school. This drawing is by Hasnah Khan.

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In Derby at this time - Derbeians are encouraged to be more “green” with the introduction of organised household recycling. Derby’s skyline undergoes a transformation with several major construction projects. The vast Westfield Centre opens to delight shoppers, while Quad caters for the visual arts. The controversial demolition of the 1930s bus station makes way for work to begin on the Riverlights scheme. Work on the new “superhospital” between Littleover and Mickleover nears completion. Many former industrial premises are converted to apartments as Derbeians return to live in the centre of the urban area. Derby’s population reaches almost 230,000.

What did we do in Reception and Year 1?

Where we live The children looked at their home address in relation to the school. They drew a route from home to school, including street furniture, that also showed which friends live near them. The children identified that they belong to this community and used the displayed maps to discuss amongst themselves who lives near who!

Toys of today We looked at the toys of the past and compared them to the toys of today. They enjoyed playing with the toys they made in the classroom. They brought in their toys from home and we made a book about our favourite toys. They found out that ‘the game boy’ is more interesting than ‘the cup and ball’.

At the end we performed a play about ‘our school today’. They enjoyed the song and acting out being the teachers.

We asked the children about the important people in our school. The children made a list and walked around school taking photographs of the different members of staff. They asked the staff their job roles and decided to perform a play to the parents to show them what Dale School is like in 2008.

The children discussed how their parents had said Dale had changed: ‘It’s really nice and bright!’

We discussed other things such as clothes and music.

The children learned about the differences between the toys they enjoyed and those their parents played with.

The children discovered how important everyone is, to make the school a happy place.

My mem favourite or was in the y is when I gold in r e my te eception n book a ache r was nd prou of m d Nab e. eel H anif – a Da from le pu 2002 pil -2003

44

45

RECEPTION & YEAR 1 2000-2008

Drawings: Reception and Year 1 drew a route from home to school.

These drawings are by Faiza Kauser, Maariyaah Hussain, Alisha Irfan and Fatma Messaoudi.

46

CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

The Centenary Tapestry From the moment the idea of a fabric tapestry displaying the family names of all the pupils currently in school was mentioned, we were hooked!

During July 2008, the whole school celebrated our centenary year with a number of special events.

We planned an Edwardian Picnic in the Park, but were foiled by The British Summer and retreated to the upstairs hall! Our old-school competitive sports day went down a treat, particularly the Mums’ and Dads’ races.

However, in itself this was a massive undertaking because ultimately it was an idea that the parents and carers had to buy in to. Convincing the staff was one thing but convincing the parents was another.

Initially we relied upon the good old letter home, detailing the idea and what was requested from the parents. However, after a month or so we only had several solitary bricks in our collection box. At this point we decided to change tack and raise the profile of the project. Display boards at key locations in school were used to exhibit completed fabric bricks and give ideas on how parents could make their own. Templates were cut and handed to parents in the mornings and drop in sessions were arranged. These proved very popular. The school supplied different types of fabric and sewing equipment and many parents took the opportunity to complete their brick on-site with friends over a cup of tea and some choccie biscuits.

Within a period of a few weeks we had managed to collect a few hundred bricks and the completed tapestry is not only a beautiful piece of art commemorating our centenary but a testimony to the hard work and community spirit at Dale.

The Learning Mentor team (pupil wellbeing support within the school)

47 Photograph opposite: An assembly in front of the magnificent centenary tapestry. Photographs this page: A selection of images from our Edwardian Picnic.

48

Photograph opposite: The choir performs. Photographs this page: A selection of images from our Open Day.

49

Dale Centenary Choir Children were invited to audition for a special choir to celebrate our centenary. Over 150 children, aged 7-11, came to the auditions, so many, we couldn’t just choose them all!

Our centenary celebrations reached a climax with an Open Day – bringing together former pupils, staff and special guests – including many of those whose voices you have heard throughout these pages. Children performed assemblies; the choir sang songs from down the decades; a special edition of The Dale Express was published. All in all it was a huge success.

The challenge was for us to choose from so much talent! Eventually we selected 70 children to be our centenary choir. Over the next six weeks, this dedicated group of children learned 1,546 words, rehearsed for 660 minutes, gave up their lunchtimes to practise, made props, and showed so much commitment and passion that by the performance we knew they were going to be stunning. On the day, they performed twice – in the choir and in their own year group assembly.

Throughout the day they gave 110%, giving fabulous high quality performances and we were so very proud of them. As some of the lyrics they learned say, “There’s a place, waiting just for you, it’s a special place, where your dreams all come true.”

Dale is that place!

Below is the set list: Knees up Mother Brown Oh I do like to be beside the seaside Run rabbit run Pack up your troubles Singin’ the Blues I’ll get by with a little help from my friends Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep Karma Chameleon Reach for the stars

CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

50

ed here e plac ky to b student. c lu ry h d e I was v ond year B.E pped throug e c as a se moment I st mething e f so l.

From th I felt part o inary schoo or, rd the do an just an o rm friendly th wa d bigger nique, you an as a u tches w for o Dale h ere that ca n re h n he atmosp ou! I’ve bee ’t imagine y n infects ears and ca fantastic re ry 6 supe The pupils a ry special. ve g. leavin families are e oing g and th n 2-o ird 9/0 Jess Ba

On our Centenary Open Day we encouraged people to leave us their thoughts and reflections about our school.

On S p the e orts Day gg a and race n – I ca d spoon Amm me 1 an K st! han 2

A small selection are shown here.

008

t ning win cricke n e k r i d w chil al k The nation hip at s the mpion and e cha t Bridg . n e o r t n T bas on Edg ah Mr

le, My first day at Da e m co el w the warm e th m fro d ive I rece children when I walked in.

Mrs Hall 2001

CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

I first c a as a p me into D ale arent imme a diate nd knew ly I ha the rig d h daug t school fo chosen hter. T r my h of Da le wa e whole e thos s, and of a w s e nurtu lcoming, till is, one ring s choo caring, Mrs H l. o lness

at school for I have worked a dinner lady. as s ar ye over 19 the old dining r be I can remem ooms. Lots of room and classr ve worked ha le op lovely pe me great so here. As well as n up into ow gr ve ha o kids wh ise me! gn co adults and still re Margaret King

1988 - present

M

Mc

Miss C la come rk allowin g to Da I was le. Be me to disab cause led th tried e to specia make me LEA g l Clark school an o to a invite d Mis s d here instea me to co me d.

Anne F ox 19 68

- 73

51

n me r whe ade e b em m I rem y friends ion cept m e r d in an l e o cho gam up a e whole s th and 007 d in!

01 - 2 e in h 20 jo g in S raj p

ee Jasd

When I first started sch ool I was very shy a nd I didn’t want my mum to le ave I am very g . Not any more! ood now a nd confident.

Mr Iqbal is always funny but unfortunate ly when I leave rea dy for seco ndary I will miss all of the tea chers and will visit som etime!!!

Farah Shah

Miss M arriot pock stitch et e with n s along th d e wa ursery lls on th em. T rhymes here blank we s and t in the rhym re he ch es ildr to find the w en had Noree ord. n and Sybil K

eeling

home for Everyone went tly lived near. os dinner as we m ys and girls from We had the bo which was in e an orphanag ed to give Porter Road. I us the boys of e on my milk to for him, we rry so because I felt 1/2d a week for it 2 y pa had to t any. so they didn’t ge Noreen Wellings

as hen I w 1933 w ther used in re he mo I came ember my nd the m ed rou five. I re boy who liv k to bring a ee ere to give xpence a w route th r si corne hool. On the ith very w sc l o scho me to zers. private boys in bla l in was a schoo ssed re to d t h ly e ug smart as bro remember th w y o n One b e. I ca s much c a y w o it R a Rolls m sure und. I’ playgro ose days... th bigger ...I c a whic n remem h ber w ston were v e ha e e of sla . We had ry thin p d slates iece , te th a an so a pe a ncil. t was sh other pie f got If a c y ped e ou a could very fine wrote o like n draw rub aw scratch it you a th in the r gs, sum y. We us at you e u s start bbed th and wr d to do o ed a e gain m awa te word Pete y an s . r Bre d en 1 933

1934

2001

I re m com emb e I re ing to r real m ly the emb schoo enjo y e dan mayp r dan l ever ing y o c the cing. le an ing a day.

I dd r enj schoo used oin ound o t g l Les yed a in ne o repr coun t s e wa ons w fter-sc ball an sent try s so ere hoo d re rry Lisa to l alway l prac ally Cle eav s fu tice me n ew . nts hen and I (né eK I wa ing s 11 ) 1 !!

98 3-

198 9

My m e taking mory of Da le is to the the whole schoo panto seein l mime g much everyone and s miling – eve grow so n-ups n the .

Miss Hourd

2008

ool sch e g th r the rtin e Sta spap ss. e w e p n x r 002 le E rshad 2 Da A aan

Fez

52

CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

Editorial Committee Linda Sullivan, Hannah Fox and I first met on 26th November 2007 to discuss bringing this writing project to fruition – exactly a year prior to the publication of Dale Through The Years.

After putting out the message that I was looking for budding editors to help shape the content and design of the book, a dedicated body of pupils presented themselves.

They have risen to the challenge and worked tirelessly – seeking copy, interviewing former pupils, writing, editing – all under the expert tuition of the Living Derby team. We have met regularly, spending many productive days in the school library, poring over contributions and debating the merits of certain designs. They have astounded us all with their commitment to and boundless energy for this project.

We have been working on putting all the information in from 1908 up to 2008. We have talked to some of the teachers who used to be at Dale. We have kind of been designing the front cover of the Centenary Book - like what colours should it be, and what material. We have taken photos of things that are important to us and have also been collecting children’s work that they have done, for example a drawing of an aeroplane or some poetry. We’ve also been collecting details from other people who were at the school who can tell us what it used to be like here. We’ve sent letters to secondary schools for the pupils and teachers to tell us about when they were at Dale and the things that have changed. We have also interviewed people that used to be a member of the school as a teacher or a pupil - we have been asking them questions about what the school used to be like and how it’s changed through the century.

Sidra Kousar

Sarah Coxson

I have oems ep , n som ear 1 writte e edited Y ear 5, hav r 4, Y I have and I ear 3, Yea k! n wor e been 2, Y io r t a p e Y Rece m e hav 6 and much. W row up I a lf. r a e Y g o e s I s y it n he it m ed enjoy so hard. W and edit s like g nd ook workin write a b of new frie e never to ts I’v going e made lo j, and Jai. le life. v n o a a h R Ih my w me. phie, in o S d , r it a g Amr d so h helpin worke k you for x Than Lakin Leah

We have: Put up posters to get people to write and email us.

Sent letters to headteachers of secondary schools to find out about past students.

We talked about the questions we would ask in an interview, as well as how to act in an interview.

We met Mike, Lindsay and Hannah and started practising editing.

We interviewed Mrs Shirley Sandland, a former teacher at the school.

We started looking at and editing people’s letters.

We started editing the work that is going in the book.

We took photos of things that mean something important to us.

Amrit Sagoo

53

Ranj Karzan

Amrit Sagoo

Orla Fox

Fezaan Arshad

Husnaa Raza

Sharon Bhopal Haseeb Bashir

Hasaam Zahid

Leah Lakin Sidra Kousar

Amman Ahmed

Maryam Hussain Sehrene Murad

Henna Kanwal

Sophie Weaver Chloe Filcock

Faiza Mahmood

Ayesha Zaheer-Khan

Falak Khan

Rimsha Saleem

Jai Singh

54

CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

nt Mrs Sullivan is importa er. she is the Headteach

The school is important we learn here.

This was the school’s 90th birthday picture.

The Storer Clock celebrates our centenary

The raffle tickets - they are for sitting nicely.

Mrs Hazell with our school bell.

Mr McMahon he teaches us sports.

We worked with Paul Klee pictures.

Our trays - we keep school stuff in them.

We love books!

Year 5

Year 4

Year 3

Here and now. The editorial committee went around the school photographing their favourite aspects of Dale.

e

Our sports board shows us what we’ve achieved.

Mr McMahon was a sports teacher here in the 1980s!

Miss Swinburn was born in the 70s.

Mrs Eley was a dinner lady here before.

Year 6

The Muga wasn’t her years ago.

The playground is where friendship & fun starts.

The trophy cabinet shows all of our achievements.

Mrs Randhawa helps us with our work.

Mr McMahon keeps us fit and works hard for us to enjoy PE

This board gives us lots of information.

55

The groups were not allowed to tell each other what aspects they had chosen – but look at the similarities!

The Sports Notice - it tells us what everyone’s doing!

The Muga is for our sport and games.

Our classroom has been here for 100 years.

These are the school cooks who make our dinners.

This dress - it is for the centenary dance.

The Year 2 Edwardian display looks good.

We like this display of work.

The dinner ladies let us play lots & lots of games.

This art project is for our assembly.

Our Year 4 World War Two display.

The quiet area is a place to relax.

The office staff helps us lots.

This is our snack which makes us strong & healthy.

The trophies Dale has won.

Mrs Brocklehurst was young when she came here.

Us! We help the school.

Mr Jamil is my favourite teacher.

Miss James’ class.

Mrs Mason was teachi ng here in the 80s.

ich This our school sign wh Dale. to ple peo s me lco we

56

T

his special book speaks volumes about community. In these pages are voices from the distant past and from the citizens of the future, all linked by a proud sense of place: Dale Community Primary School.

When people walk through the doors of our school, they are struck by the positive, friendly atmosphere and by the shared sense of purpose. Our book captures that unique atmosphere, expressed by a hundred different voices in words and images.

And we are proud of it.

In learning from the stories of our past, we have learned that our own stories are as valuable.

We have unearthed a treasure trove in our back yard.

My initially vague thoughts of producing a book were teased into focus by the wonderful Hannah Fox, who has tirelessly guided the editorial committee in the right direction. She, along with our writer-in-residence Mike Wilson, project worker Lindsay Steele and graphic designer Ian Fox, have given us the confidence and the official stamp of quality to see ourselves as real writers with real purpose. Thank you.

We are the proud custodians of Dale’s history and, with this book, we pass on that legacy to the next generation.

Sarah Coxson, Literacy Co-ordinator.

Living Derby aims to be a sustainable Community Interest Company that uses creative arts to connect people and place. Photography, poetry, creative writing, film-making and visual art are used in communities and workplaces to document our changing city, and to build up a picture of Derby as it grows and changes.

This Centenary Book is the perfect reflection of Living Derby’s values: that creativity is a vital force in our lives, our work and our city. We found Dale School to be a truly celebratory place, engaging pupils, staff and Dale’s wider community in genuine participation.

We believe that creative collaborations like this generate an energy; that the process is just as important, to be valued just as much as the endproduct. But we are also pretty pleased with the end-product!

This book would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of the project team working with us.

Our thanks and gratitude go to Mike Wilson, Ian Fox, Nicola Rippon, Valerie Dalling and Heather Duncan. That said, the project team and Living Derby were ultimately inspired by the belief and trust shown in them by Sarah Coxson, Linda Sullivan, the pupils in our Editorial Committee, and the fantastic commitment and support given without exception by the staff and children of Dale Community Primary School.

Thank you, we’ve loved every minute!

Hannah Fox and Lindsay Steel, Living Derby Project Team.

57

Dear Mrs Sullivan, Just a note to say how much I enjoyed meeting your Year 4 classes last Friday, when I spoke to them about being a war-time pupil at Clarence Road Infant’s School.

It was a really joy to spend time with them and answer their questions.

I found them a real credit to the school and their parents. Hoping to join in the Centenary Celebrations on Friday afternoon as I have first to go to a morning funeral of an old friend in Melbourne.

Please pass on my thanks to Mr Singh for the arrangement and for his kindness in showing me round.

I also enjoyed the happy atmosphere in the staff room.

You have a lot to be proud of!

Yours sincerely, Alan Stewart.

Dear Mrs Sullivan, I would like to say ‘thank you’ from Kay and myself for the warm welcome you gave us when we visited your school yesterday. I would also like to thank your staff and the children - it was lovely to see so many happy faces!

Walking round the class rooms brought back so many memories and I am so pleased that I am still well enough to visit the school that I first went to 83 years ago!

I hope that Kay and David will be able to give me a lift to see you again in November. And I must say thank you for the lovely flowers you gave me - it was a surprise and the first time I have had a presentation from a head mistress!

My very best wishes to you all.

With kindest regards, Betty Mead (née Storer).

To all the staff and children.

I would like to say a big thank you for the enjoyable morning my friend and I spent with you on Friday.

You all put a lot of hard work into it to make it so successful. It was interesting talking to the teachers and the children were delightful and so polite.

I remember being introduced to “Winnie the Pooh” in my first class and I think the school started my love of reading and words, that I carry with me to this day.

I loved school whichever one I attended, so you started it all.

I’m sorry a few of the old ones weren’t there, they missed a treat, it certainly created a lot of memories.

Thank you again.

Yours sincerely, Noreen Welling (née Acford).

First published 2008 by Cub Publishing, Banks’ Mill, 71 Bridge Street, Derby, DE1 3LB Supported by Rolls-Royce plc and Derby City Library Service.

ISBN 978-0-9558017-3-0 Editorial material copyright © Dale Community Primary School 2008.

‘In Derby at this time’ historical text copyright © Nicola Rippon 2008.

Edwardian images on page 10 reproduced by courtesy of Essex Record Office.

Archive images copyright © Dale Community Primary School 2008.

Supplied images copyright is retained by their owners.

Portrait of Dan and Kheyyam on page 24 © Valerie Dalling 2008.

All other reportage project photographs © Hannah Fox 2008.

The rights of Living Derby CIC as project facilitator, and the individual contributors as authors of their work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduces into a retrieval system, or transmitted, on any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the Publishers cannot under any circumstances accept responsibility for errors or omissions.

Design and print management by Fox Graphic Design Ltd. Derby.

Printed in Great Britain by Colourstream Litho Ltd, Derby.

DESIGNED AND PRINT MANAGED BY FOX GRAPHIC DESIGN. www.foxgraphicdesign.com

I

’d heard about Dale before I came here.

I’d heard it was full of ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things: how the teachers let children think and speak up for themselves, let them learn and shine; how teachers were proud and amazed and humbled by what everyone at Dale could achieve.

Since I’ve been working on this book, I’ve been proud and amazed and humbled too. It has been a privilege to be part of the project, and my Dale-Fridays have been the highlight of my week!

When you first walk in to Dale and feel its welcome, you know this is a special place. I felt the warmth and energy when I first came here, and many contributors to this book have made similar comments.

Looking back over the history of the school, and hearing so many people’s memories and stories, it has become clear to us all: Dale has always been special, touching the lives of hundreds of teachers and thousands of children and their families.

So Dale Community Primary School doesn’t really feel like it’s a hundred years old – it’s too busy and fun and exciting and full of life for a word like ‘old’. Dale is a hundred years young!

Happy birthday, Dale. Best of luck for the next hundred!

Mike Wilson, Writer-in-residence.

£15

ISBN 978-0-9558017-3-0