Islington Tribune - News: Former pupil returns to find school is flats

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 25 April 2008

Geoff Bedingfield, Janet Barnes and Pam Bartlett toast Claringbull Court

Former pupil returns to find school is flats!

A FORMER pupil found his old school in a rather different state than he left it when he returned on Thursday.
Geoff Bedingfield, 49, who attended Sacred Heart School in Holloway in the 1960s and is now a treasurer of the Sacred Heart Church next door, opened the landmark Claringbull Court housing development, built on the old school’s site. The building, designed by Penoyre and Prasad, houses 11 affordable accommodation units.
Bill Bassenger, of builders Kind and Co, said: “By the standard of most social housing this goes far beyond what is usual.”
Mr Bedingfield, who has been heavily involved in the Sacred Heart Church for more than 30 years, cut the ribbon for the new building with Janet Barnes, the daughter of Jack Claringbull, after whom it is named. Mr Bedingfield said: “I was eight when I moved from my first primary school to Sacred Heart where the teachers seemed to really care about each child’s education and you felt you were part of a real community.
“It’s fantastic to see a place where I learnt so much turned into affordable homes that are so desperately needed in this part of Islington.”
Pam Bartlett, 62, who is due to move into one of the flats, also attended the opening.

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