Centenary Garden

29 June 2000

Blessing by Bishop Lindsay

THE NYEWOOD SCHOOLS MILLENIUM GARDEN - A PERSONAL VIEWPOINT

I can't remember when I first heard of the idea of marking the Millennium by planting a garden. I can vaguely remember talking to somebody in the playground about how we should mark the point in time - in some way. Catherine and I talked about it one night, our thoughts included planting a maze for the children and a small wood at the far end of the playing field.

That was nearly two years ago and in the intervening period I became a school Governor, and while we thought, others actually planned something. As is usually the case, everyone thought a garden would be a great idea, but certain people came to the fore and proved to be the driving force. John Willis and Gary Smart of course, Glenn Taylor (Chairman) and Maureen and Richard Jones. With the concrete skills of John Willis who needed Charlie Dimmock! It was decided to ask The Bishop Of Horsham, Bishop Lindsay to dedicate the garden on the 29th of July, this would give us all a target to aim at.

I was called away early in the year and on my return we had a scale map of the sort of garden we wanted and what's more, somewhere to put it! Mrs Leeke was happy for us to move the pagoda to form a feature of the garden. With the loss of Lynsey Bolland still in our minds a quiet part of the garden with a seat would remind all of the school's loss.

Would we get enough helpers, tools, good weather and have enough time? Well it looked close on all counts at times, it proved hard just to start and transfer the paper to earth until things started to resemble the drawings. Up to this point I have been resisting using phrases that can be over used and so devalued, but I saw a team and community spirit which the newspapers have told us has all but disappeared in this modern age. Whilst digging and brushing up on wheel barrow skills we had a chance to get to know each other a little better and progress past the usual basic "Hellos" People gave one of the most precious things, TIME.

After ten years of married life moving around the Royal Dockyards we planned to put down some form of roots, and moved to Bognor Regis on December 16th 1992 (we followed the black cloud forming over Sainsburys) Why ever Bognor some people have said, and to be honest it just seemed to happen. Our eldest son James came home from school one day and suggested right out of the blue, that he thought it would be a good idea if we all went to Church as a family. St Wilfrids was nearest so off we went, and we were encouraged with friendly smiles and curiosity!! It proved to be the gateway into a community that we had up to that point always been on the periphery of.

I'll always be grateful to Nyewood Schools first for taking our children (they are given back after 3!) but mostly for giving them the encouragement and environment to learn by example. One of the first things I noticed about Nyewood School was that school did not start at 0850 and finish at 1520, besides the unseen and so untold, hours of preparation by the teachers; parents and teachers worked together. Bishop Lindsay dedicated the Millennium Garden for the children who will laugh and cry in it. It stands as an example of what can be achieved if everyone puts in something - however small and says that the Church was working in the last Millennium and promises much more for the next.

I am glad I `crossed the line` of reluctance and helped in my own little way, and whatever the future holds it will mark a point of promise for all involved with the Schools.

Chris Inwood