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'We'll be watching over you'

From the archive, first published Thursday 4th Jan 2007.

were so moved by teachers' and pupils' mammoth efforts to ensure their Baildon school was rebuilt that they have vowed to help make 2007 a happier and safer year for them all.

Securahomes, which specialises in monitoring systems for homes and businesses, is to install £800 worth of monitoring systems which will link Baildon C of E School in Coverdale Way to the firm's headquarters and tracking centre.

The system has smoke detectors, burglar and panic alarms.

Securahomes' marketing manager Simon Fletcher said: "When we read about the school's tremendous effort to pick up the pieces and get everything back to normal for the children we just felt we wanted to get involved and do our bit to help.

"They've done fantastically and had such a brilliant response to their appeal so far from the community and far and wide that we wanted to be a part of it.

"We're sure our system would have prevented the fire from doing its worst in the first place because we would have picked up the earliest sign of smoke on our 24-hour monitoring service and got help quick."

Securahomes will also be giving the school 12 months of free round-the-clock monitoring worth more than £3,000.

Donations to help the school have now shot above the £10,000 mark, overwhelming fundraisers who launched the appeal after November's fire.

The school saw classrooms hit by a blaze which destroyed computers, books and teaching materials, forcing a brief closure.

But thanks to the efforts of staff, parents and friends, all 350 pupils were back in class just a week later - some in portable buildings, the school hall and gymnasiums.

The school has also been sent a £5,000 cheque from Bradford & Bingley and countless other donations large and small from the community.

Estate agents Dacre Son & Hartley also pledged to give the school £100 for every home they sold in Baildon.

Headteacher Michael Curtin said he was filled with optimism for the start of the new year and the new school term.

"It's another example of just how generous the community has been. We have still got other offers to take advantage of when the time is right including a CCTV system.

"It's not just the big offers of help that we are so appreciative of, it's the cards, the best wishes, the offers of people coming down just to help sort through books.

"It all reflects the goodness of the community."

Some of the classrooms should be rebuilt by Easter, but the nursery and reception areas will probably not be ready until September.

Mr Curtin said: "When we experience all this goodwill and see all this rebuilding work going on it fills us with great optimism."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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