SOME weeks ago I printed pictures from Wolfenden School, which is closing this summer, and will re-open in a new building in September.

I had not spotted at the time that in fact Wolfenden is amalgamating with Chalfont Community School (also closing) to form the new Valley Primary School.

I have quite rightly been contacted by Mrs Alison Mangan, Y6 Teacher at Chalfont, who sent me this picture of Class 2 in 1934 (before, I understand, Mrs Mangan joined the staff!).

She also sent me a newspaper report from when the school opened in 1891 as a Board School "intended to provide for 1,000 pupils, supplying a long-felt want to a district the population of which is rapidly increasing."

The report gave details of the building, among which was the statement that the main entrance "has a porch with a moulded arched doorway, finished above with a battlemented parapet; the spandrel in the arch over the door infilled with the Borough Coat of Arms."

And Mrs Mangan wonders, because the Coat of Arms was registered in 1890, whether Chalfont was the first building to have this included.

As at other schools when they celebrate a special occasion, or close, Mrs Mangan is asking former pupils and staff to contact her, giving details they attended Chalfont; biographical details of their lives since leaving the school (optional!); any photographs, certificates etc. they have.

"Could they also send me a SAE so that I can inform them of reunion dates, and send them an order form if they wish to purchase 'Closure'/'Commemorative' items, e.g. mugs, pens, photographs of the school."

You can contact Mrs Mangan at the school, in Chalfont Street, Bolton, BL1 8JS.