Duke’s praise for new school

8:56am Thursday 18th September 2008

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A ROYAL visitor opened the new environmental garden of a Weymouth school to applause from pupils.

HRH the Duke of Gloucester received a warm welcome at Holy Trinity Primary School in Cross Road when he took a closer look at the school's sustainable features.

He was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet Colour Sergeant Lucy Eaves, head teacher Mark Cheesley, the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Tim Munro and all the pupils who lined the school playground.

The Duke, who is an architect, also met the architects of the school's building and garden, school governors, Dorset County Council representatives, Inspector Pete Meteau, parents and teachers.

On a tour of the school the Duke was shown the building's use of recycled Portland stone and a display panel where children can monitor the water levels in the tanks which collect rainwater to use for the school's toilet system.

He was also shown a wind turbine that is in the final stages of installation among many other sustainable features.

Five-year-old Ellie Hope and 11-year-old Stuart Cookson invited the Duke to sign their visitors' diary.

Stuart said: "Meeting the Duke was good because sometimes you don't get royalty to school and today we did.

"The school has a new building and it's nice because new people came in and we could make new friends."

Head teacher Mr Cheesley hoped the Duke had been able to establish a flavour of the pride that the whole community has in what is now an excellent place for pupils to learn."

He added: "Our environmental garden, which incorporates this wonderful Dorset Cereals edible playground is the start of a project which will grow and grow over time.

"With the work from the people in our school community it will be a great resource for learning well into the future."

The Duke was shown how the school's garden included materials from the Dorset Cereals gold award winning edible playground such as strawberries, salad and winter vegetables.

Designed by Nick Williams-Ellis, the garden enables children to learn about and experience the thrill of growing and cooking their own fruit and vegetables.

The Duke was also given a booklet depicting Holy Trinity School's 150-year history.

He said: "It's been a great pleasure to come and see your splendid new school.

"I think it draws attention to the fact that today's schools have to provide an extra lesson that the schools I went to didn't really consider.

"This generation is going to grow up in a world where we'll be very aware that the resources that we have need to be shared and used much more effectively than in the past."

He added: "I wish the very best luck to all those who come here, apart from the slugs, locusts and other things you don't want."