The foundation stone of Northam’s new junior school, the starting date of which was brought forward to be included in the 1967/68 building programme following pressure about conditions at the existing school, was laid on Tuesday by Mr George Northcott, chairman of the Northam Urban Council, who was a pupil at Northam school over 60 years ago.
To be known as St Margaret’s and sited in Seaview Road, the new school is expected to be ready by next summer.
The new school will be an educational show piece when completed – “We are thrilled with it” said the headmaster, Mr George Harrison. All the 260 children of the present school were among those assembled for the ceremony on Tuesday. Others present included members of the Urban Council; the Vicar of Northam, Rev J M Lucas, chairman and other School Managers, parents and friends.
Mr Northcott was invited to lay the stone by two pupils of the present school, Alister Whyte and Trudy Hookway, and the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, Ven A F Ward, was asked to bless it by the head pupils, Geoffrey Cloke and Hilary Barber.
The full Gazette article is dated 12 July 1968