School's memory lives on (From Free Press Series)

School's memory lives on

THE Dingestow-based Seddon House Pre-preparatory School may have closed its doors for the final time this week - but its memory will live on thousand of miles away in the Gambia.

When a decision was made in March to close the school after 20 years, the head teacher Susan Keywood, looked for a unique way in which to preserve its legacy.

And while the building will no longer reverberate to the sound of school children's voices, this successful independent school will now live on in the West Coast of Africa, near the area where she herself was once a schoolgirl.

Seddon House will re-open in September as a newly-built extension to an existing local school.

The Sare Ngai Lower Basic school will then be able to cater for six villages near the town of Bansang in the Central River Division and will have about 150 children in grades one to three.

With the help of the Foreign Office and a shipping company the school will be packed up and sent out in a few weeks time.

Mrs Keywood said: "I am absolutely delighted that my idea has been made possible, both for myself, my colleagues and for the many parents and children who have been saddened by news of the schools closure.

"When I was asked to give a name for the new school wing we chose Ty Seddon, tamaid bach o Gymru. 'Seddon House, a little bit of Wales' seemed very apt."

Mrs Keywood will travel to the Gambia to attend the formal opening of the new school wing. I have enjoyed the 20 years here very much," added Mrs Kedwood.

"It has been a tremendous experience and I am obviously going to miss it, as we are like one big family.

"When I was aged six, I lived in Nigeria and with no English school to attend, I went to an all African school and ever since I've an empathy for West African education.

"I've never forgotten these memories and one of my favourites is of me sitting under a tree and learning the way Africans learn.

"What has always struck me was the enormous amount of poverty then and now.

"I went back to the Gambia four years ago and it appeared that nothing had changed in 50 years."

The government has provided the funding to build the school's new wing and Seddon House's donation of chairs, desks, physical education aids, musical instruments, science materials, pencils, paper, paintbrushes and books will all be used to equip the building.

While the school is being transported to the Gambia, the parents have organised it so that the uniforms are being donated to a school in Uganda.

"Even though it is sad that this school is closing down, it is satisfying to know that we are able to help more unfortunate schools in another part of the world - and its nice to be in that position."