St Giles to the Rescue
07/07/2012
St Hilds Church of England Primary School in Gilesgate, Durham had to close its doors 
and find alternative locations to hold its lessons after torrential rain on Thursday 28th July. The recent floods caused foul water drains to close the school and it's neighbours, including St Giles Church came to the rescue.
Head Teacher Suzanne Lithgow said: “Within an hour of the rain starting, drains couldn't cope and they backed up under our school and foul water came up through manholes within school. The building is now extremely contaminated from raw sewage.”
The result is that staff and children not allowed back into school until the building has been deep cleaned and that might mean it can’t re-open until September.
Suzanne said: “Local schools and the church have come to our rescue, Gilesgate Primary School have a community room which they have given to us to use for all of our Nursery Children, Whilst St Giles, has kindly arranged for us to use the church hall, church and grounds for our Reception and Year 1 children. Gilesgate Sports College have housed all of our children from Year 2 to Year 6 - including giving us resources.
Community spirit with everyone rallying around has been out of this world and we would like to, on behalf of our governors staff and our parents, thank them for everything they have done.
The staff from our school have been absolutely wonderful to ensure children are having a fantastic adventure!!. It just shows that community spirit is alive and well and we are all very pleased that we have such a tight knit community.”
Pictures By: Keith Blundy / Aegies Associates
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