Maidenhead Advertiser

The history of PM buried near school

Burnham: Pupils put spotlight on abolitioni­st Lord Grenville

- By Jade Kidd jadek@baylismedi­a.co.uk @JadeK_BM

MP Joy Morrissey has shown her support for a project by pupils at a Burnham primary school to boost the recognitio­n of 1st Baron Lord William Wyndham Grenville.

Lord Grenville, who was the UK Prime Minister from 1806 to 1807 and pushed through the law abolishing the slave trade, is buried at St Peter’s Church.

Pupils decided to embark on a project after discoverin­g

Lord Grenville’s crypt is concreted over and feeling ‘disappoint­ed’ by the placement and appearance of a sign for him beneath a noticeboar­d in the village, year six pupils at St Peter’s CE Primary School have set about changing this through their project.

As part of the collaborat­ive

community project, which is being helped by St Peter’s Church vicar, Rev Janet Minkkinen, pupils would like to create an art piece to sit on top of Lord Grenville’s crypt, change the sign, and create informatio­n leaflets with details about him and his work.

Visiting the school on Thursday, September 30, Burnham and Beaconsfie­ld MP Joy Morrissey spoke to pupils about the project and was presented with a book of letters they had to written for her expressing how they felt about Lord Grenville and what they would like to see happen.

Mrs Morrissey then walked to St Peter’s Church with the pupils to see Lord Grenville’s crypt and also viewed the sign beneath the noticeboar­d.

The pupils have also written letters to Boris Johnson about their project, hoping to gain his support.

Year six teacher Helen Grove, said: “When we say abolition of the slave trade it’s such a simple sentence, but it's a huge global impact.

“Who could be more powerful really for us to have in our community?

“This was not just nationally it was internatio­nally, it

affected so many people and I think that's why the children are so incredibly passionate about it.”

Discussing the MP’s visit, she added: “I was immensely proud of how they were just able to articulate how they felt, and what they wanted to happen.”

Headteache­r Tanya Morris, said: “I am so proud of the children’s profound sense of social action. Year six have applied their embedded school values and are genuinely passionate that Lord Grenville should be commemorat­ed in a more suitable fashion.”

MP Joy Morrissey, said: “I was immensely touched by the passion and dedication of the

year six pupils at St Peter’s School, who have taken up this important cause to make sure we recognise and celebrate a great step forward for our society. I will be campaignin­g for Lord

Grenville and his momentous actions to be remembered both in Westminste­r and

Burnham.”

If any members of the community would like to share their ideas and support the project, contact Helen Grove via the St Peter’s CE Primary School number: 01628 602295.

I can understand her caution, given the response to her one effort as PM at raising funding for care.

My most recent letter on the subject to Theresa was forwarded by her to Matt Hancock, who responded with a plethora of platitudes about what the Government is doing – without once addressing my very specific question – no surprises there.

Meanwhile Boris’ ‘oven-ready plan’, made on his entry to No 10, to resolve the care sector problem ‘once and for all’, turned out to be nothing more than an increase in general taxation, nominally of National Insurance, which happens to be the same thing, targeted primarily at those least able to afford it – including those working in care.

He is unable to say what he will do with the money he is raising, other than to prioritise the NHS over the care sector with minimal immediate action on either.

Meanwhile I find myself wondering what the Government has done with the £350 million weekly windfall his infamous red Brexit bus promised would go to the NHS? Surely Boris would not have been lying?! DAVID HOWGRAVE-GRAHAM Thanes Crescent

Maidenhead

 ?? ?? Joy Morrissey MP, Rev Janet Minkkinen and St Peter’s CE Primary pupils. Ref:133860-21
Joy Morrissey MP, Rev Janet Minkkinen and St Peter’s CE Primary pupils. Ref:133860-21

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