The Bells rang out in Stoney Middleton

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 17th Jun 2007

Recorder recital

The bells rang out in Stoney Middleton to welcome the pupils, teachers, parents and friends of Stoney Middleton School to a service of Thanksgiving for saving the school on Friday 15th June.

The congregation was welcomed by the Reverend Robbie Jones, a grandparent and Mrs Sue Fitzpatrick, acting head teacher. Mrs Fitzpatrick introducing the theme of the service, the Story of David and Goliath, explained that while studying the old testament stories during the past term the children had immediately understood the modern significance of the defeat of the Philistines by the Israelites.

After an opening hymn, "Give me Oil in my Lamp" and prayers, three of the senior children read out their individual thoughts which they had written on hearing that the school had been saved.

This was followed by a magnificent recorder recital involving all the senior children conducted by Mr Black and a hymn "Think of a world without flowers".

Five senior pupils narrated and acted the Story of David and Goliath, Samuel I - Chapter 17 which introduced the address by Rev Jones who took this opportunity to thank everyone from the school, the village and further afield who had helped in the campaign to keep the school open.

The three pupils leaving to go to Lady Manners this year reflected on some of the more amusing memories of their time at Stoney School. Mrs Fitzpatrick told the story of the Emergency Services. One of the leavers who when he first arrived was heard racing round the playground at break shouting "Nee-Naa-Nee-Naa" was asked what was happening and he said: "I am a police car". The next day when the same thing happened he said: "I am a fire engine" and on the third day: "I am an ambulance" On the fourth day there was silence. Asked why he replied: " Nee-Naa broken down".

Micheal Wright, Church Warden, presented each of the school leavers with a Bible on behalf of the Parochial Church Council and Peter Hobson, Chairman of Governors gave each of the pupils an illustrated book of bible stories given by the Friends, Parents and Teachers Association to commemorate the saving of the school.

The service finished with prayers and the hymn "One more step along the world I go" which we were still singing as we drank a welcome cup of tea or coffee.