Did you hear the story about the generous Teessiders who rallied round to create an amazing school library out of an old bus?

St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School in South Bank is so popular it’s bursting at the seams and its old library is often called into use for other purposes, including an after-school club.

Reading lead Melissa McCarthy wanted to find somewhere more suitable for children to read and came up with the brainwave of writing to local bus companies.

Gary Chisholm, from Stagecoach North East, replied instantly with the offer of a bus. The problem then was how to adapt the bus for its new purpose.

Learning lead, Melissa McCarthy, with pupils outside the newly renovated SMC reading bus

Fortunately, St Margaret’s teacher Helen Adams’ husband Alex is the UK operations manager of Canadian-owned Titan Trailers, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of trailers for the logistics and recycling industries.

“At first I said we’d be able to put in some bookcases and shelves and a build a few trailer-shaped plant pots,” said Alex.

“But when I thought about it, I realised we had the skill set to do a bit more and take it on as a community project. I told our guys on the shop floor and said we would appreciate any help they could offer out of hours.

“We then contacted various suppliers who help Titan Trailers. Everybody was happy to chip in, and with the skill-set of our staff, we could fill the gaps.”

PPG Paintline supplied the paint in the school colour, purple, and Titan staff painted the bus in their onsite paint shop.

They then removed the seats and Redcar firm Jack Mannix supplied a new fitted carpet. Park Electrical provided most of the electrical equipment and Titan’s contract electrician, Dave Gill, together with his son and a friend, put in more than 100 hours to fit state-of-the-art lighting and heating and a top-quality sound system.

Interior of the state-of-the-art reading bus

They even managed to repair the push button “bus stopping” sign and bell, a favourite with children throughout the ages.

Render Alarms installed a fire alarm system that could be connected to the school’s existing system.

“As soon as I approached them, there were no questions asked, they just said whatever you want, we’ll help,” said Alex.

“It was typical Teesside generosity, all more than happy to do their bit for a local school, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the end result.

“What started off as a couple of plant pots has grown into something quite special. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve done and hope the children enjoy it.

Alex was confident that Titan’s Canadian owners, Mike and Sandy Kloepfer, would support the venture.

“Mike came over at Christmas and was slightly surprised to see a big purple bus in his yard,” he said.

“But he was very happy. The Kloepfers are a very charitable, philanthropic family and have spent several million dollars of their own money building accommodation for Ukraine refugees, who were also given work with the firm.”

Some of the workers and businesses who helped in the project joined parents and carers for the official opening of the library bus on World Book Day (Thursday March 2), when children dressed up as their favourite literary characters.

Headteacher Clare McNicholas said St Margaret’s children will benefit from the hard work and generosity put into the project for years to come.

She said: “Reading is paramount in children’s development. We want children to be passionate about reading and become lifelong readers.

“It’s at the core of our curriculum and we want them to enjoy it and we think this will ignite that passion and interest.”

Miss McNicholas couldn’t speak more highly of the amazing team of volunteers Alex put together.

“I’d like to thank Stagecoach North East, Titan Trailers and all the firms who played their part.
“I was just going to get joiners in to add some shelving, but Alex has project-managed everything to perfection and gone beyond our wildest dreams.

“His lads came in at the weekends and gave their time free of charge. He worked out that it’s about £25,000 worth of work.

“Children can do reading and phonics lessons in the morning, we can have a library club at break-time, dinnertime and after school, and parents can come in to read with the children.

“It’s been transformed inside and is completely unique. It just looks amazing – in fact, I wouldn’t mind moving my office in there!”

The library is now chock-full of brand-new books donated by families and friends of the school.

“We always get fantastic support from our families and the parish and extended school community,” said Miss McNicholas.

“We put together a book wish list and people have donated masses and masses of new books. It’s been like Christmas Day, every day, with massive deliveries coming from Amazon.”

The excitement didn’t stop there for pupils at St Margaret’s, as Middlesbrough Football Club captain Jonny Howson, along with mascot Roary, got in on the action and paid the school a visit to see the library for themselves.

MFC captain Jonny Howson, Roary and pupils enjoying the new reading bus

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Ancient Egyptian organ jar loaned to Teesside schools in museum first

An ancient Egyptian jar used in the mummification process has been loaned to schools in a pioneering pilot to take artefacts into classrooms.

The schools had requested archaeological artefacts to help create exhibitions.

The ancient Egyptian artefact is currently on display at Middlesbrough’s Dorman Museum

A canopic jar, once used to store body organs, was displayed alongside work by the children as part of the event called British Museum in your classroom.

Each jar was used to store a different organ from the body – the liver, kidney, lungs and stomach.

Hundreds of years ago someone muddled up the jar and its lid, which was only discovered by the British Museum when youngsters at Billingham South chose it to come to their school.

The children were also able to get advice about how to set up their exhibition from an expert.

The event was held on Wednesday and the jar has since been returned to the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough, where it is on display alongside other artefacts, until 26 February.

 

Source: BBC News

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