End of era for Hucknall’s Beardall Street Primary as open day gives visitors chance to say goodbye

In a celebration of its long history, past pupils, old teachers and former staff were invited to a special Open Day to share experiences, remember old times and learn about what the future holds for current Beardall pupils and those of the future.

Classrooms were opened and the school hall held displays of photographs for visitors to ‘Take a Trip down Beardall Lane’.

“It was a wonderful event which created a lovely atmosphere around the school,” said headteacher Katherine Collins who has been leading the school for three years. “We are so pleased we decided to hold the event as we had a good turnout of old pupils and staff including those now at Holgate and National and the school’s former deputy head, Mrs Enid Clay, who started here as a pupil back in 1932 before returning as a teacher.”

All guests were invited to write in a memory book to record their time at Beardall which will move with the pupils to the new school.

Former pupil from the 80s, Michelle Krogulec (nee Gillott), remembers her days at Beardall as happy ones and the school has ties with many members of her family.

“My 70 year-old father, Frederick, went to Beardall before me and my own children now go there too,” said Michelle, who attended the open day and reflected on the past with one of her teachers from that time, Mr Abbott. “And my mum Valerie works there.

“It holds great memories for us all and I’m very sad to see it close. However it is very dated now and the new building holds greater opportunities for the children with much more space inside and out.

“But I am concerned about what the furture holds for the building - it mustn’t be knocked down.”

Beardall Street Primary will become Beardall Fields Primary when it opens to pupils on Monday 8th September but there is a lot of work to do in the meantime.

Mrs Collins added: “The schoolis still busy running as normal but as soon as the children break up for the summer we will start the big pack!