IT was a day to remember at Lindley Junior School.
The caretaker arrived yesterday morning to discover there was no heating or hot water.
The fact that it was only a minor problem was cold comfort to the staff and 484 pupils; the automatic system had switched off all power to the boilers.
The last thing headteacher Pat Thompson wanted was to close the school and send everyone home, so it was all hands to the pump - resulting in a day the children will remember for a long time.
The day’s scheduled menu of roast turkey, pasta bake or cottage pie was a non-starter as the kitchens were out of action. So the kitchen staff rolled up their sleeves and set about providing a last-minute alternative for the 340-plus children who take school meals.
They sped off to Sainsbury’s supermarket and descended like a plague of locusts, snapping up every loaf of brown bread the store had for sale.
Trips were made to greengrocer’s for salad and sandwich ingredients and neighbours Lindley Infant School baked cakes. The result - much to the pupils’ delight - was a giant picnic in the dining hall.
Miss Thompson said: “Sandwiches were the only option and our catering team have been superb. The picnic was such fun, the children really enjoyed it because it was different and exciting.
“Everybody was absolutely brilliant - the only other option was for us to close the school and we try desperately hard not to do that. It was hectic but great fun. Just another normal day at school!”
Last summer the school had new heating infrastructure installed, but retained the boilers. The problem lay with a small metal coil. Engineers carried out the repair and restored the heating by midday.
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