Failing ofsted!

[fra828]

That's an amazing story...Neill! Yes, JR it's very heartening to see Down's people in shows like this; they CAN integrate and achieve, but there is still lot of negativity around, especially it must be said , from certain members of the medical profession.

[Great Plum]

I always find it bizarre that having a public bridleway around most of the Mile is deemed fine...

It's probably a quite troublesome process to have this removed. However, a number of nearby public footpaths have certainly vanished over the years, including ones through Shelley's Wood (now replaced by a bunch of "Get orf moi laaaand" type notices), The Lag and The Bird Sanctuary. There also used to be a right of way between the stile on the far side of Big Side and the Mile. This has been moved to the track running alongside The Bird Sanc. Time for some barbed wire and searchlights, perhaps.

I believe the school have tried a few times to route around the edge of the playing field but no joy...

[fra828]

When I was young man i/c a Vehicle Park North of Loughborough, I became friendly with the Editor of the Loughborough Echo, and we quaffed many pints in the "Black Boy"
He had two sons, the elder was brilliant at everything -- Academic, Sports, Good looking, etc
The other son had Downs Syndrome, and was the most delightful person you could meet,cheerful, kind, always helping his Mother and, although he was not in our company at the Pub, was an asset to any gathering.

At the age of 21, this taught me a lot, and has greatly influenced my involvement in Mental Health and Learning Disability, in my later years, as did the arrival at a Christian Fellowship Barbeque at my house, by a guest, who was an hour early -- this chap swept the floor in the Machine Shop, and was considered "Dim"--------- What to do with him ?
He noticed I had an Organ, in the lounge and asked if he could play it --- I thought "Great ! this gets him out of the way !"
He sat at the organ and played "Jesu joy of Man's Desiring" --- PERFECTLY !!!
"Who taught you to play ?" I asked. "I've got a Record and I copied it" he said ---- I was dumbfounded ! What a waste of Talent ! If only somebody had realised this man's innate ability, when he was young !!!

MORAL --- Don't judge a book by it's cover !

That's an inspiring story Neill. My daughter, Laura, is gifted in her own way, she's just written her Christmas cards, with very little help with spelling etc. - 25 of them(!) She loves jigsaw puzzles and she plays football with local special needs club, plus she's a dab hand at housework, very useful! Sorry off topic!

[dinahcat]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 922352.ece

[anniexf]

Thanks for the link, dinahcat - I was able to find my grandson's primary school. It's 278th., up from 286th. last year, so I'm very pleased.