Local Events and Other Local News

This page of the website contains details of events and activities involving not only the SGSA directly but including those which are external to the SGSA but which may still of interest to those living and working locally.

Events will be added here as they become known and contributions to this page should be directed to SwanageGrammarAlumni@yahoo.com for inclusion here.

One significant event, agreed by the Committee, was to commission a SGS memorial stone containing a time capsule. The commemorative stone was unveiled in Days Park on Saturday 19th July 2014 by our patrons. A transcript of the speech can be found by clicking here and a pictorial record can be found by following the link in the Photo Library page or clicking here

In addition, a personal memory of the unveiling can be read by clicking here

SGSA commissioned Haysom Purbeck Stone to refurbish and repaint lettering in April 2022. Later in the year, SGSA obtained a commitment from Swanage Town Council that it would continue to maintain the SGS memorial stone and were pleased to receive a donation from SGSA funds.

Another significant event has been the re-introduction of secondary education in Swanage through the Government's "Free School" scheme, and which has been a great success story. All credit must go the group of parents, teachers, teaching assistants and governors of "Education Swanage" who have made this possible.

Sadly, the Welfare Housing Trust (who owned the old school buildings) withdrew their offer to gift it to this project.

The Northbrook Road site was purchased by Barratt David Wilson Homes and in 2021, permission was given for the demolition of the school and creation of 90 new homes.

Whilst many older buildings suffer the ignomy of the demolition ball, SGS goes out with pride, being dismantled brick by brick. Such is the status attached to our fine school that the developers have carefully erected scaffolding around the whole building and are intent on preserving the valued bricks for use in the houses they are building. Click each image below to view the full size version:

SGSA worked with Barratt and Swanage Town Council to propose that former teachers' names feature as street names on the new development.



Mayor Tina Foster (ex SGS) receiving the weathervane on behalf of Swanage Town Council from Barratt Homes Site Manager, Brian Melrose on 12 December 2022

So, not only have we the prospect of a few streets on the Northbrook Road development named after former SGS teachers, but also now we have the 'spirit' of SGS living on amongst the dwellings created by the house-builder, as an integral part of the lives of families in Dorset.

In December 2022 SGSA arranged for Barratts to recover the weathervane from the school and hand it to Swanage Town Council until a new location had been agreed in Swanage.

Some might simply call this 'recycling in action' whilst for others, and particularly former SGS pupils, it is a lasting legacy to add to the many personal cherished memories of Swanage Grammar School.