Visit to old school provided me with plenty of memories... and the contents of science block
THE kids have finally gone back to school and so have I – and what a voyage of rediscovery it has been. I couldn’t find my old school tie, and those teenage trousers would be a tight squeeze now, but what an amazing trip down memory lane it was when I returned to The Ecclesbourne School in Duffield.
I was a pupil there from the age of 11 in 1989 to the age of 18 in 1996 – seven fun and fascinating formative years.
I arrived at Ecclesbourne, a fresh-faced shy boy – believe it or not! – straight from a primary school with only 30 pupils.
Consequently, to find myself in big school with 1,200 students was quite a shock.
I felt trepidation and schoolboy nerves back then, and that old familiar knot in my stomach emerged yet again as I travelled back in time to revisit Ecclesbourne.
But this time duty called – professional duty that is. I had been called in to assess and clear the contents of an old science block for auction. Hansons often carries out home visit valuations but this was a home visit like no other.
My old school was like a ‘home’ for a large chunk of my life, as it is for everyone.
The place where you learn, forge
contents items
friendships and make memories.
Whether you loved or hated school, it’s an enormous part in your life and nostalgia overwhelmed me – especially when I was greeted by two former teachers, Mr Minton and Mr Nichols.
I was absolutely thrilled to meet staff who were there in my day. As soon as I was back inside the school building, I lost all sense of time and fell straight back into the late 1980s, particularly when I met my old RE teacher, Miss Owen, who taught me all those years ago.
As well as being very shy at school, I was not particularly academic. Perhaps that’s why, as I approached Ecclesbourne, that familiar twist of anxiety returned, just like the old days.
It was certainly nerveracking entering the B Block of our science department. I was awful at science and fortunate to scrape two Cs at GCSE. I remember struggling with the Bunsen burner. The first room we went into was my old classroom, my form room for two years in the early 1990s.
It was strange to see those familiar school desks and take in the sights and sounds of the classroom where teachers battled to make this young Hanson improve his grades – not an easy task!
These were the days before mobile phones and the internet took up every minute of our time.
My eyes took in all the old science equipment, including vintage microscopes which Hansons has now cleared ready for auction.
Perhaps some former Ecclesbourne pupils might like the idea of owning a piece of nostalgia from the school? Fancy sitting at your old school desk? Well, it’s not an impossibility.
Desks bearing that oh so familiar
school-day graffiti, even the remnants of chewing gum stuck out of view – apologies if that was me – are going under the hammer along with vintage science equipment and science lab stools.
Before I left, I popped into the headmaster’s office - but not because I was in trouble, just to say hello. I once had dreams of being a history teacher and one day I’d love to take a history lesson at my old school.
It’s an honour to be asked to manage the sale of items from Ecclesbourne. I hope former students, friends and acquaintances from those memorable school days may wish to acquire some retro memorabilia, particularly from those dizzy days of the late 80s and early 90s.
If they do, they can bid now. A timed auction is already under way featuring 27 furniture lots from Ecclesbourne’s science block.
Items have been grouped together such as a set of three school science lab workstation tables, estimate £30£50, or a set of six pine workstation stools, £30-£50. The scientific equipment is due to be auctioned in Hansons’ April 15-20 Antiques and Collectors Auction.
If you would like to buy a slice of Ecclesbourne nostalgia, please visit www.the-saleroom.com and browse a catalogue entitled: ‘Hansons Timed Auction including items at Bishton Hall.’ This sale is due to end on March 29 at 8pm.