Shine a light ... Christmas came early for pupils at this small Lancashire school

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at one Lancashire school thanks to the generosity of a local business.
Photo shows (from left) Tom, Lily, Alex, Evie, Alexis, Joe, Cara and Hector from Calder Vale school with the donated Christmas decorations and sleigh. 
Photo: Kelvin StuttardPhoto shows (from left) Tom, Lily, Alex, Evie, Alexis, Joe, Cara and Hector from Calder Vale school with the donated Christmas decorations and sleigh. 
Photo: Kelvin Stuttard
Photo shows (from left) Tom, Lily, Alex, Evie, Alexis, Joe, Cara and Hector from Calder Vale school with the donated Christmas decorations and sleigh. Photo: Kelvin Stuttard

It's been Christmas every day this week at Calder Vale St John's Primary School, near Garstang.

Head teacher Rebecca Scholz was determined her 21 young pupils would have a Christmas to remember - despite the restrictions of the Covid pandemic.

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She explained: "We put out an appeal on the 'Our Calder Vale' Facebook page for Christmas decorations because we want to make our school look as Christmassy as possible this year."

Joe from Year One  at Calder Vale school admires the special  Christmas decorations Photo: Kelvin StuttardJoe from Year One  at Calder Vale school admires the special  Christmas decorations Photo: Kelvin Stuttard
Joe from Year One at Calder Vale school admires the special Christmas decorations Photo: Kelvin Stuttard

She explained the Covid pandemic meant many usual Christmas treats - such as the trip out for lunch in Scorton and a visit to the pantomime at The Duke's in Lancaster had been cancelled.

She said: "I wanted to make it look extra Christmassy this year."

To her delight local resident Mike Bamber, managing director of Leyland based KeyMT Installation, which supplies Manchester and Gatwick airport with their Christmas decorations, came forward with an offer which exceeded all her expectations.

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She said: "As the airports are using much less this year, he offered to come and install them here."

The school was told it could choose how many trees it wanted. Rebecca said: "They brought five trees, one for every classroom, the hall, the library and the school entrance. It's beautiful."

For added sparkle Mike's company loaned a huge sleigh with the school's logo added, which has now been "parked" in the school hall.

Rebecca said: "In the morning when the children arrived they all spontaneously climbed in the sleigh and started singing 'Away In A Manger'. It was just lovely to see."

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She added that the huge wooden sleigh had also become a favourite area for pupils with special needs: "The sleigh has become a lovely calm down, relaxed area to chill out."

All the trees loaned by the company came pre-lit and decorated.

Rebecca added: "It's a lovely example of a local business man doing something really generous during this horrible time."

Mike said he knew festive cheer is much needed this year and said: "I would like to say what a joy it was to see the children so happy with the decorations and the sleigh and it was a pleasure to help."

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He continued: "We are an airport contractor and work extensively at Manchester and Gatwick. Both had terminals closed this year and the decorations were scaled down. We had a lot of stock lying round which we put to good use - much better than just being stuck in our warehouse!"

The company does its own printing and has prepared a six metre backdrop of the North Pole for Santa's outdoor grotto and the company has re-painted a special throne for Santa.

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