Helsby primary school plants tree to celebrate centenary

Oct 21 2010 Chester Chronicle

HELSBY Hillside Primary School was honoured this week with a visit from MP Graham Evans to plant a new tree on the school’s grounds.

Weaver Vale MP Mr Evans said he was “very proud” to be asked to assist with the planting of the school’s centenary tree, which is part of school’s celebrations for their 100th birthday this year.

The Liriodendron Tulip tree was donated to the school by the Friends of Hillside, and Mr Evans was accompanied at the planting by the school’s headteacher Craig Richardson, Reverend Margaret Faville and governor Louise Bentley.

Assistant Headteacher at the school, Claire Britton said that the event was a great success.

“It was a great day,” she commented.

“The children were really excited and luckily Graham even had time to have a quick chat with the pupils before he had to go back to London.”

The tree-planting was just one event in the school’s exciting calendar of centenary celebrations, which began with an Edwardian Spring fair and open-day in May.

“The fair and the open-day were Edwardian-themed to celebrate the school’s history,” added Claire.

“At the open-day we had some great photos and log-books from the school’s past which we were able to make into exhibitions.”

The school hopes that the tree will act as a lasting milestone for the centenary, and are also planning to put together a time capsule of pictures and items from the school and the celebrations to be opened by future staff and pupils.