The Phoenix weathervane at Lympne school
Today, 25 September, is the long awaited service of dedication of the new school building in Lympne replacing the one destroyed by fire on 13 September 2006. Everyone was safely evacuated from the fire but the building itself was completely destroyed and for two years Lympne school was in exile in Folkestone.
Many people have helped the school through its difficult time – parents, local businesses, Roger de Haan, the parish council and the school governors led by Glenn Clark. The staff of the school have also been wonderful in holding the school together and headteacher Joyce Rhodes deserves special congratulations. Joyce and her team coped magnificently with the fire and its aftermath. They then had to set up a ‘temporary’ school from scratch (a 15 mile round trip away from Lympne) which they ran successfully for two years. Simultaneously they planned the new school which rose from the ashes. A last minute hurdle was the discovery that the roof of the new building had been built 800 mm higher than its planning permission allowed. A compromise was reached on this and the children were able to start at their new school building in September 2008.
Pupils at Lympne school, John Davies, chairman of Kent County Council, Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council, Joyce Rhodes, headteacher of Lympne school, Bishop Stephen Venner
The Rt Reverend Dr Stephen Venner, the Bishop of Dover, unveils a commemorative plaque helped by two of the pupils. The children sing songs, read poems, make music and dance. In the audience are some of the firefighters who attended the fire three years ago, John Davies, the chairman of Kent County Council, Robert Bliss the Leader of Shepway District Council, local district councillor Shirley Newlands and, from the parish council, Colin Hunter. We all join in the final hymn and afterwards we are treated to tea and cakes and a tour of the new building.
The new building is full of light and the classrooms look very smart. There’s still work to do in the grounds and I hope to return to see the planting that has been promised to soften the view for the immediate neighbours.
It is a very happy day and one I am delighted to share.
District Councillors Robert Bliss and Shirley Newlands at Lympne school
