Our village school may be quiet for now over the Christmas holidays but work on the joint project between the school and the BM Local History Group is continuing fast.

The 'Best Years of Our Lives' project will produce a book, a film, an exhibition and content for websites about the history of the school and education more generally in Bishop Monkton. The project will culminate with the book published, the film screened and the exhibition launched around half-term in May of this coming year.

Much has already been done -

- Children in all year groups in the school have been learning about the school's history (which dates back to 1849) in lessons and assemblies. This included a special assembly in November where four former pupils and staff at the school came and talked to children and answered their questions about what the school had been like years ago.

- Members of the Local History Group have been delving into the school's own archives and historical records elsewhere to find out more about the early history of the school and also about private schools which existed in the village as far back as the 1700s. They have already unearthed previously unknown snippets about the origins of the school and about life in the school during the past 150 years.

- Conversations with people associated with the school as far back as the 1940s have been taking place and many of the people who have already contributed will be interviewed on camera in the New Year to record their memories for posterity.

- The story of the Mechanics Institution, now a private house, is being delved into because it was once an imporant centre of adult education for the village.

- Filming different apsects of the life of the school now has started. The School Christmas Production was filmed as well as a Carol Service in the Church featuring the School Choir.

The project is still keen to hear from anyone else with stories to tell about the school or the Mechanics. Please contact either Annabel Alton [email protected] or Colin Philpott [email protected]