THE FOUNDERS of a city independent school have said they felt honoured to witness the next chapter in its history.
Douglas and Mary Ann Garrad attended a ceremony to mark the start of work on a new £1.25million hall at King’s Hawford School – 60 years after they opened its doors for the first time.
The timber framed development, called The Barn, is due to be completed by December this year and the school’s 330 pupils, aged from two to 11, will use it as their new sports hall as well as for concerts and theatre productions.
Mr Garrad said: “I am very happy to see how the school my wife and I founded so many years ago is going from strength to strength. It really is investing in its future.
“Mary Ann and I were very excited and honoured to have been asked to be part of this special occasion marking the start of the next stage of Hawford’s history.”
It has been designed to be in keeping with the rest of site’s traditional and historical structures but with a contemporary feel.
The 4,700 sq ft building will fit a five-a-side football pitch and 220 removable seats for spectators.
It will also be an economically friendly ‘Eco-building’ powered by roof mounted solar panels and heated by a recovery ventilation system.
Headmaster Jim Turner said: “The Barn represents a major investment for us and when it’s completed it will give fantastic multi-purpose sports and drama facility for our pupils.
“We were delighted to welcome our founders Douglas and Mary Ann Garrad for the celebration of our first dig. We are also very grateful for the support from all our pupils’ parents, who have been extremely positive about the plans and how important a role The Barn will play in the school’s future.”
