Here in Lancashire I am pretty remote from the core of Old Centaurs in Derby but a friend there keeps an eye on the DET and sends me anything to do with the old school.

Your redesign of the web site is first class and the DVD produced by George Tomlinson and Brian Skeldon based on your own efforts is another great effort which will enable me to pass on the history to one or two of my old school chums who are not computer orientated but who do have access to DVD players.

Just how fallible our memories can be has been shown to you and I by Don Stott's recollections of the plaque to the WW1 fallen and the Armistice Day ceremony in Abbey Street and Pasty Astle's brothers name on it. Neither Ken Herbert or myself had this recollection.

It is sad that so far only one school magazine has emerged, that for Christmas 1939 which is numbered 22. As it says on page 12 I had just left school and on page 4 Joe Higgins, the school caretaker, contributes an article about his difficulties in providing warmth in Darley.

To all of us at Abbey Street the diminutive figure of Joe Higgins the caretaker, affectionately known to all of us as 'Sarge', was a friendly sight who kept the boiler and essential services running. Obviously he made the move to Darley along with the school.

On page 25 is an article, Camp Shorts 1939, about the Summer Camp at Abergele in North Wales. I was there and so was 'Sarge' along with teachers Haj Elsey, Vic Morris, Mr. Ridgewell and others I now forget. It goes to show how integrated were the boys, the caretaker and the staff. I particularly remember a camp fire sing-song led by Haj in which little Sarge, and he was less in stature than many of the boys, gave an hilarious turn.

This Summer Camp Site was maintained by the Derby Education Committee for the benefit of all Derby schools during the summer months but the uptake of our Central School was such that we took it over for a week for our sole use.

My own exploits in a group which, under the leadership of Mr. Ridgeway, set off on foot to climb Snowden, I will endeavour to make the subject of an account in the near future. It was a mix of glorious success against the odds and ignominious failure in cloud.

That is all for now. Today, 16th August, has been a happy family celebration of my 83rd birthday. Memories are sometimes elusive, even misleading, but very precious and friends even more so.

Regards,

Arthur.