Local History

Something from Strutts: Strutts School Reunion Plans

Since the last Strutts School moved to more modern accommodation in 2008, members of the local community have worked hard to preserve the wonderful building which has been an integral part of Belper’s history for over a century. Although Strutts was purpose built for education, its adaptability for other uses was quickly recognised and it is now a popular community building which regularly hosts meetings, classes, talks, sports and the various disciplines within the Arts.

There has been necessary intervention to secure the safety of the building. The roof has been repaired, a lift has been installed and some classroom decoration has taken place, with more ambitious improvements planned for the future.

The iconic Strutts building retains its charm.

Meanwhile we are always looking for new fundraising ideas to meet the need for further preservation along with opportunities to welcome participants and visitors.

If you were a student of the Grammar School or Middle School you might well be interested in paying us a visit, so we are pleased to announce that a reunion is currently being considered. The proposed plan is to meet at Strutts on Saturday September 2nd in the School Hall, have lunch, a tour of the building and then spend time chatting, sharing memories or browsing the large quantity of memorabilia, including many photographs, which has kindly been donated to us.

This event is also open to Life Members and Current Annual Members of Belper Strutts Society, and further details of ticket costs and times will soon be available on our website (strutts.org.uk) and on our Facebook page.

However, despite these ongoing and necessary changes, the integrity of the building has, we feel, been preserved and its educational legacy has not been forgotten. Those people who attended school here will certainly see changes, but, nevertheless, there is still much that is familiar. The central hall, the honours boards, the stairways, corridors and quadrangles are largely the same; many of the classrooms have hardly changed and the library still has its trademark oak bookshelves and, of course, its magnificent stainedglass windows.

Please come along. If you would like to register an initial interest in attending, please get in touch via bssocnews@gmail.com

By Joan Hardy Strutts Society Committee www.strutts.org.uk

Many thanks to Mr Kenneth Stennett for his donation of Strutts School holiday memorabilia. We really appreciate this.

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